110 UTT Students Explore Intelligent Transportation Systems on the Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway

On 14 October 2026, a delegation of lecturers from the Department of Urban Planning and Transport, together with 110 students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Transport Technology (UTT), participated in a field study visit to Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway Management and Operation One Member Limited Liability Company (CMO), a subsidiary of Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment Corporation (VIDIFI).

Lecturers and students from the University of Transport Technology taking a group photo in front of the headquarters of Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway Management and Operation Company

Connecting Education with Industry Practice

The visit was organised under a decision issued by the University Rector on student field study activities, based on the 2026–2027 academic year training plan and Proposal No. 88/TTr-KCT dated 2 October 2026 from the Faculty of Civil Engineering. A total of 110 full-time undergraduate students from classes 77DCCH21, 77DCCH22 and 77DCBC21 participated. For many students, this was their first opportunity to experience the operational environment of a modern expressway, making the visit particularly valuable for career orientation during their early university years.

The accompanying lecturers included Dr. Tran Trung Hieu – Deputy Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Transport; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Nga; Dr. Nguyen Van Tien; and M.Sc. Pham Hong Quan. The lecturers directly supervised and guided students throughout the approved visit activities, while class representatives assisted in organising and managing students during their time at the company.

Lecturers and students taking a commemorative photo in the lobby of CMO

At CMO, the delegation watched an introductory video about the Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway and received a briefing on regulations for entering the Operations Centre and server room. Students were then divided into four groups and took turns visiting the Operations Centre on the third floor, where Mr. Trinh Quang Mong – Deputy Head of the Operations Management Department introduced the Centre's organisation and operations. Through the monitoring screens covering the entire 105.5-kilometre expressway, students observed how operations teams monitor traffic volumes, detect abnormalities and coordinate real-time responses. They also interacted directly with the Centre's operating staff to learn about the daily responsibilities of expressway operations professionals.

Students learning about the operations of the Expressway Operations Centre

In-depth Seminar: ITS, Incident Response and Infrastructure Maintenance

Overview of the seminar held at the company's conference hall

The seminar focused on three main topics:

• Operations Centre, ITS and Digital Transformation: Mr. Chu Thanh Dat – Deputy Head of the Operations Management Department presented the traffic monitoring and control systems, communications infrastructure, servers and data used for expressway operations management. Students gained a clearer understanding of the role of CCTV surveillance cameras and Vehicle Detection Systems (VDS) in providing early warnings and enabling timely responses to incidents along the expressway.

• Incident Response Procedures at the Operations Centre: Mr. Trinh Quang Mong – Deputy Head of the Operations Management Department explained the procedures for receiving and responding to traffic and infrastructure incidents, including detection sources, target clearance times and communication channels used to deliver warnings to drivers. Live footage from cameras along the expressway was displayed in the conference hall, helping students visualise the entire process.

• Operations Management, Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance: Mr. Trinh Quang Mong also discussed routine and unscheduled inspections, maintenance planning for road surfaces, bridges and traffic safety systems, as well as key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to operations, safety and service quality.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung – Deputy Director of CMO introduced the company's functions, responsibilities and specific characteristics of managing and operating the Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway. He also emphasised the company's focus on digital transformation and advanced technology applications in operating Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), ensuring traffic safety, conducting rescue operations and maintaining infrastructure.

During the question-and-answer session, lecturers and students raised questions about ITS, traffic safety and expressway operations, including common types of infrastructure damage, traffic management during maintenance works on an operational expressway, and the use of operational data for maintenance planning. Company representatives provided detailed and practical explanations.

Applications of ITS in traffic safety and early warning systems along the expressway

Live footage from CCTV19 at Km33+405 displayed during the seminar

Career Orientation and Expanded Cooperation

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung provided students with career guidance in the field of expressway management and operations, a sector increasingly requiring professionals with both strong technical expertise and digital technology capabilities.

The two sides reached a preliminary agreement on several potential areas of future cooperation, including accepting student interns, organising regular field visits, collaborating on scientific research projects and inviting company experts to deliver specialised lectures. The programme concluded with the presentation of flowers and commemorative gifts, followed by a group photo.

On behalf of the visiting delegation, Dr. Tran Trung Hieu – Deputy Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Transport expressed his appreciation to the company's leadership and staff for their thoughtful hospitality. He also highly valued the practical knowledge shared with students by the company's experts.

Representatives of the Department of Urban Planning and Transport presenting flowers and gifts to thank the company's leadership

Representing the University, Dr. Tran Trung Hieu thanked the company for providing students with opportunities to gain practical experience. He reaffirmed the visit's objectives of connecting education with industry practice, supporting students' career orientation and expanding cooperation between the two institutions.

The field study provided 110 students with first-hand experience of an operational intelligent transportation system, helping them better understand the roles and responsibilities of engineers throughout the entire life cycle of transport infrastructure, from planning and construction to management, operations and maintenance. The activity also reaffirmed the University's commitment to strengthening industry partnerships and innovating its teaching methods towards practical application, contributing to the development of high-quality human resources for the transport sector.

Department of Urban Planning and Transport – Faculty of Civil Engineering