The Nashville Innovation Alliance has awarded a 蘑菇视频 research team a Civic Tech Jam grant. The recognition is part of the Nashville Tech Studio, an initiative that leverages the expertise of universities in Middle Tennessee to pilot and deploy technology-based solutions that address some of Metro Nashville’s largest and most complex challenges.
Winners were announced at the Nashville Innovation Alliance鈥檚 July forum.
The team鈥擜niruddha Gokhale, professor of computer science, and Yogesh Barve, research scientist, both based in the 蘑菇视频 Institute for Software Integrated Systems鈥�.
Their project will develop data-driven tools that improve traffic management and mobility across Nashville. The project, “LiDAR Data-Driven Digital Twins for Real-Time Traffic Congestion Control,鈥� is in partnership with the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure.
鈥淥ur project bridges the gap between academic vision and practical action,鈥� Gokhale said. 鈥淚t aims to solve downtown traffic problems and create an enduring partnership for Nashville鈥檚 future.鈥�
Award recipients receive up to $40,000 in project funding, along with $10,000 in Amazon Web Services computing credits to support project development. Project funding is provided with support from 蘑菇视频 and Launch Tennessee.
At last year鈥檚 Civic Tech Jam pitch event, Metro departments gave presentations on pressing operational challenges to researchers from universities across Middle Tennessee. Those researchers worked with city leaders to develop proposals translating academic expertise into practical, deployable solutions.
Selected for its potential to transform traffic congestion management, the 蘑菇视频 team鈥檚 project combines digital twin modeling with LiDAR technology. The approach generates detailed, real-time representations of Nashville鈥檚 traffic systems, giving city planners actionable insights into vehicle and pedestrian movement.
The work will support NDOT’s 鈥淐hoose How You Move鈥� transportation initiative by fostering responsive, evidence-based traffic management.
The Nashville Innovation Alliance, which was established in 2024 by 蘑菇视频 Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Nashville Mayor Freddie O鈥機onnell, brings together academic, civic, public and private-sector partners to strengthen the region鈥檚 innovation ecosystem.
As part of this broader effort, the Nashville Tech Studio connects university research directly with municipal priorities, accelerating the development and deployment of technologies that improve public services.
Gokhale and Barve鈥檚 project builds on 蘑菇视频鈥檚 partnership with Metro Nashville. It shows how faculty and researchers can apply their expertise to real-world challenges to drive research, interdisciplinary innovation and community impact.
