News

AI and RFID-Based Wait Time Monitoring at Paso Del Norte: A Cost Comparison

July 15, 2025

This technical memorandum provides a comparative analysis of two technology platforms designed to measure border wait times for northbound passenger vehicles at the Paso Del Norte (PdN) port of entry in El Paso, Texas. It summarizes the order-of-magnitude implementation costs for each system—one based on radio-frequency identification (RFID) and the other on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven video analytics—and explores how each can be integrated with upstream Bluetooth/WiFi-based monitoring systems. The analysis draws on recent deployments and cost estimates developed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) and is intended to inform future research and planning efforts focused on wait time measurement at land border crossings.

Rethinking the Chase: How UAVs Could Make High-Speed Pursuits Safer

April 17, 2025

Valeria Martinez

Swapnil Samant

Rafael Aldrete

by Valeria Martinez, Swapnil Samant and Rafael Aldrete

High-speed vehicle pursuits are among the most dangerous situations faced by law enforcement and the public. Each year, these chases result in crashes, injuries and, in too many cases, fatalities. In regions like El Paso, Texas, the frequency of such pursuits has increased sharply, raising concerns among policymakers and communities about how to respond more safely and effectively. [Read more…] about Rethinking the Chase: How UAVs Could Make High-Speed Pursuits Safer

New Biannual Report for FY 2021-2022

July 12, 2023

The latest biannual report for the Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research has been released. The report highlights the past two years’ of center research focusing on the advanced application of technologies and methodologies to expedite mobility, improve safety, and facilitate border-crossing efficiency at the U.S.-Mexico border.

New Report: Potential Benefits of Co-Locating Texas/Mexico Border Safety Inspections: A Study Directed by the Texas Legislature

April 14, 2023

This report analyzes the feasibility of co-locating federal and state inspections at Texas-Mexico border crossings and assesses the potential benefits in terms of improving the efficiency of carrier-motor-vehicle traffic flow. Findings indicate inspection rates rather than location most significantly impact crossing times.

It’s About Using Space Wisely: Cross-Border Trucks Face Different Challenges When It Comes to Parking

March 29, 2023

by Erik Vargas and Okan Gurbuz

In its 2020 Texas Statewide Truck Parking Study, the Texas Department of Transportation noted that trucks carrying 1.2 billion tons of freight worth $1.7 trillion each year in the Lone Star State. That means 140,000 trucks must park somewhere in the state every day for drivers to rest and sleep. Noted in the study, truck volume is expected to grow by some 80 percent by 2040, making today’s shortage of truck parking facilities a crisis down the road.
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New Report: Exploring Crowdsourced Big Data to Estimate Border Crossing Times

March 15, 2023

This report provides an in-depth assessment of market-available connected vehicle (CV) data (using Wejo datasets) to estimate border crossing times. Results indicate the Wejo CV data provide a promising source for monitoring border crossing times, especially as sample penetration rates improve.

The Right Tools for the Job: Predictive Planning for Transportation Infrastructure Can Save Lives

January 25, 2023

by Jeff Shelton

When extreme events occur, the transportation network is vital to relief and recovery. For example, when a hurricane makes landfall, getting citizens to safety—particularly from low-lying areas at risk for flooding—is top priority. But once the heavy rain is falling, what routes should they take? Which roads are most likely to flood? After how many inches of rainfall do we begin diverting traffic from Main Road A because it’s likely to flood in the next hour?
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New Video: Potential Benefits of E-Inspections

November 29, 2022

E-inspections of trucks offer an alternative to traditional weigh-station inspections, which require hands-on human interaction and delay drivers. Inspections can be automated to a great extent by leveraging technology without compromising safety, thereby achieving efficiencies and improving accuracy of inspection data. This video provides an overview of e-inspections, especially as they relate to cross-border freight traffic.

New Report: Economic Costs of Critical Infrastructure Failure in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Region

November 28, 2022

This report looks at the economic costs associated with the failure of the transportation infrastructure as a result of environmental catastrophe. Researchers modeled failure scenarios, developed a framework for assessing economic impacts, and studied ways to expedite mitigation strategies under the National Environmental Policy Act.

New Brochure: Evaluating Crowdsourced Data Sources for Cross-Border Travel

November 21, 2022

This brochure is aimed at acquainting individuals and agencies with the efficacy of various crowdsourced data resources available to help them evaluate cross-border travel, as well as these sources’ potential and limitations.