Life Downstream

Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

The first part of a PhD program is spent mastering the work of others. It marks the beginning of the process of narrowing down to an area of expertise. In my case, I’ve compiled experience with transportation topics including safety, policy, human factors, design, operations, and network analysis. Ultimately, I found myself most comfortable in safety and intelligent transportation systems. Last school year, I developed topics in conjunction with my advisor in each of these fields.

Emerging in the lead was the use of social media by transportation agencies. You’re probably thinking that’s a pretty light, fluffy subject—especially for someone getting a PhD in Civil Engineering. However, with time, even I’ve become more and more convinced that this research has its merits.

First, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 67% of Americans are regular users of social media. Because so many people use social media, it is important to know if they would use social media for transportation information. If they would, it is important to fully understand what they want to know and how they want to know it. For some agencies, developing social media outreach has been a shot in the dark. Sometimes it’s worked out for the better and, occasionally, it’s been a flop.

Second, some platforms of social media have potential for integration in vehicle infotainment systems. If key traffic information can be delivered to a driver hands-free through their own vehicle, using social media as the means, it could help folks make smarter choices about their routing or trip timing.

Third, as social media has developed as a platform as have other mobile technologies. Over half of all social media use occurs via mobile devices. Because people are spending so much time on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, there could be other, more useful technologies to develop.

Ultimately, the goal is to define the state of social media in transportation organizations, both highway and public transit. Developing this profile poses a challenge because so many agencies have taken so many different approaches to developing their social media programs. To address these differences, three different methodologies are being employed, including surveys aimed toward agencies as well as the general public. A finished product will find the most effective strategies, identify particularly successful Twitter and Facebook feeds, and describe how social media users of the general public want to receive information via social media.

While working on this research, from time to time, I may even solicit your help. It’s only social!