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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Infrastructure Systems and Technology

Two automated shuttles
Two automated shuttles operating in the Canyon Village area of Yellowstone National Park were part of a National Park Service pilot supported by U.S. DOT Volpe Center staff. (Joshua Cregger/U.S. DOT Volpe Center photo)

About Us

The U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s Center for Infrastructure Systems and Technology improves the safety and efficiency of vehicles, systems, and infrastructure on our nation’s transportation networks.

We perform engineering and safety analyses of rail, freight, and port systems and infrastructure. We explore innovative applications of advanced communications, navigation, and information technologies.

We examine vehicle crash avoidance and electronic systems safety and resilience. We promote an all-hazards, systems approach to transportation cybersecurity.

Our Impact

Our Priorities

Our work supports the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes historic investments in the transportation sector: improving public safety and climate resilience, creating jobs across the country, and delivering a more equitable future.

From our rail modernization work with DOD to our support of the landmark Maritime Safety and Security Information System to our work on the transportation safety hazard analysis tool SafetyHAT—our team provides expertise critical to our transportation sponsors’ mission, with special emphases on safety, efficiency, and innovation.

Here are examples of the kind of excellence we advance every day:

  • Improving the in-transit visibility of marine vessels and aircraft
  • Reducing rail-grade crossing deaths and injuries
  • Assessing the safety benefits of advanced automotive technologies
  • Improving crashworthiness of rail vehicles and track stability for high-speed operations
  • Reducing physical and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the transportation system

Our Portfolio

We partner with key administration officials and other federal career leaders, adding value through technical excellence, innovation, and a commitment to public service. Learn more about our sponsors.

Our Organization

Our Center is organized into seven offices—each specializing in a different facet of infrastructure systems and technology:

Meet Our Team

View selected staff biographies.

Luisa Paiewonsky

Technical Center Director

Luisa Paiewonsky

Luisa Paiewonsky is the technical center director of Instructure Systems and Technology at the U.S. DOT Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA.
She directs the work of engineering, planning, and technology professionals, focusing on infrastructure modernization, automation, and advanced transportation technologies, maritime monitoring and security, military logistics, and innovative research programs. 
 

Read Luisa Paiewonsky's full bio here.

Last updated: Monday, October 7, 2024