TRB is organizing a one-and-a-half day conference to bring together representatives from research organizations to assess current research in applications of RFID technologies in transportation. Participants include university RFID researchers, government transportation professionals interested in current or potential RFID applications, and industry representatives working in RFID research and technology. The conference objectives are:

• Inform government transportation agencies about current and potential RFID applications that have potential to enhance the mobility of freight and people.
• Increase communication among researchers involved in RFID technology applications for transportation.
• Give government program managers a better understanding of University Transportation Centers programs and link those interested in RFID applications with university experts.
• Identify RFID research opportunities.

The conference is supported by the Office of Research, Development and Technology at the Research & Innovative Technology Administration.

RFID (radio-frequency identification) is a technology that has potentially sweeping impacts in the travel and transportation industries. Its applications cover a broad range:

• supply chain management (tagging of containers, pallets and individual packages);
• infrastructure (tagging of building equipment and components);
• safety and security (vehicle collision avoidance, electronic pre-clearance of vehicles and individuals through security checkpoints, privacy issues); and
• system operations (electronic toll collection).

Innovations and breakthroughs in the design, production and application of RFID are rapidly unfolding on a global scale.