Simulation and modelling of innovative mobility services

Modern transportation systems require the utilisation of simulation and modelling approaches for evaluation and impact assessment prior to their deployment. Although such approaches exist for conventional mobility services and infrastructure, innovative services, concepts and technologies (e.g. drive-sharing, ride-sharing, crowd shipping, crowd delivery, connected and automated vehicles, Mobility as a Service) need tools that will allow decision makers to understand better their impact on sustainable development.

The aforementioned tools entail an integrated approach for modelling transport supply and demand, as well as the harnessing of data from Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications. Therefore, a combination of a multi-agent system architecture coupled with big data and machine learning analytics needs to be realised.

In this project, the successful candidate, in collaboration with supervisors and peer researchers will work towards the development of models that can be used for the simulation of modern mobility services in urban areas. The developed models will be integrated to form a simulated and control environment that will interact with real-world ITS through a big-data processing platform. It will allow the assessment of different scenarios of mobility services and have the capacity to produce key performance indicators for decision makers.

Vacancy information
The student will be co-supervised by Dr Panos Georgakis and Prof Keith Burnham. Their interests include, intelligent transport systems design, simulation and modelling, big-data analytics, adaptive and self-tuning control with applications to integrated transportation systems, modelling and control for diagnosis and prognosis, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Entry Requirements

Essential:

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science or similar discipline (UK equivalent of 2:1 classification or above)
• An active interest in the research areas described above.
• Programming experience (any language)
• A demonstrated ability to think independently 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, both in plain English and scientific language for publication in relevant journals and presentation at conferences.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in a STEM discipline (UK equivalent of Merit classification or above)
• Experience with transport microsimulation software.
• Experience with tools in the Hadoop ecosystem.
• Development, at project level, of agent-based systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience working in a collaborative research environment.

How to apply
Please click ‘Apply’ at: http://courses.wlv.ac.uk/course.asp?code=CN013R01UVD.

Please prepare to submit your CV; degree certificates and transcripts; names of 2 referees (ideally uploading 2 references at time of application also); cover letter explaining your interests, computer-science and research experience (including examples of previous project work).

Application/project enquiries: Dr Panos Georgakis, [Email Address Removed]