Paper (59): Transitioning Software Development and Operations Lab to Agile – Lessons Learned.
Abstract: UMD Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab) is an applied research lab employing 30 full time professional developers and project managers, as well as 60-90 students ranging across disciplines including computer science, computer and electrical engineering, GIS, digital art and entertainment, etc. The Lab is a leading big data visual analytics developer for state, local, and federal agencies to support transportation operations and planning efforts. For over a decade this functional organization followed traditional waterfall and spiral development processes. In early 2015, the CATT Lab transitioned to a cross-functional agile framework for managing all of the software projects and operations. With benefits came a lot of challenges. This presentation will outline the experienced improvements, obstacles, and lessons learned.
Biography: Nikola Ivanov serves as the Deputy Director at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab) where he manages operations and technical development, and oversees every aspect of software implementation from conception to deployment.
Nikola has extensive experience with big data and information visualization, focusing on translation of data into actionable information. Over the last decade, Nikola has worked with state and federal agencies to build situational awareness tools for transportation operations and safety, emergency management, and security applications, using big data.
Nikola is an active member of the National Academies of Science Transportation Research Board where he chairs a subcommittee dealing with Data for Transportation Operations. At the University of Maryland CATT Lab, Nikola is the primary data architect for the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System utilized by hundreds of transportation, safety, security, emergency management, and intelligence agencies across the United States.
Nikola received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering, Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland. He is a PMI certified PMP since 2014.
