Shaping the Future of Transportation – XV Congreso de Ingeniería de Transporte

The XV Congreso de Ingeniería de Transporte took place on 14-16 June in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain), marking a significant event in the field of transportation to take a look at the current situation and advancements. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this event marked a return to in-person interactions, and part of CARNET’s team attended the event.

During the inaugural session, María José Rallo del Olmo, General Secretary of Transport and Mobility, highlighted the relevance of incorporating sustainability techniques within the transportation sector, shifting the focus from creation to maintenance, and the need for efficient and sustainable practices. She also provided insights on prevalent research topics such as the transition to autonomous vehicles, more efficient regulations for freight loading and unloading, and the importance of enhancing public transportation to make it more accessible.

Dr. Juan de Dios Ortúzar Salas emphasized that mobility should now be user-centred, and other presentations echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of designing systems for people. Therefore, conducting studies on their needs, perceptions, and habits is fundamental for efficient and sustainable mobility solutions adapted to their requirements.

As an academic-oriented congress, emphasis was placed on strengthening collaborations with universities. Recognizing the importance of academic contributions, the congress showcased their research efforts in the mobility sector. The participation of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) and its researchers was one of the strongest, as they presented a total of 13 papers. When considering the contributions from all universities from Barcelona, the total number of presentations increased to around 20, confirming the city’s position as a hub for transportation and engineering research.

The LogiSmile project, led by CARNET, was presented in this context. Titled “The LogiSmile Project – Piloting Autonomous Vehicles for Last-Mile Logistics in European Cities,” the paper provides valuable insights into the project’s first-year development. Attendees learned about the three pilots conducted in 2022, including details of the citizen survey conducted to learn about the acceptance of this technology. Additionally, the presentation outlined the project’s next steps for its second year, setting the stage for further advancements in last-mile logistics.

CARNET also presented a study on bicycle networks design for different user types and heterogeneous demand distribution titled “Design of bicycle mobility networks using continuous approximation techniques”. The research project aims to find a balance between user convenience (access to the network) and investment and management costs (agency expenses).

During the congress, the prestigious PTV Young Researcher Award was awarded to Seshadri Naik Moode, a doctoral student supervised by Prof. Dr Francesc Soriguera, from UPC. Moode’s presentation titled “Microscopic Modelling of Connected Autonomous Vehicles Platooning: Stability and Safety Analysis” providing insights on a technology that will provide great benefits such as better fuel economy, reduced congestion and increased safety, once incorporated into our roads. The recognition of outstanding researchers underscores the dedication to advancing the field of transportation engineering.

The congress featured a wide range of technical sessions covering various topics. Notably, the concept of low-emission zones received significant attention, with researchers exploring the most effective implementation strategies to minimize its impact on citizens. Vehicle movement modelling, encompassing aspects such as braking, acceleration, overtaking, and decision-making, was another prominent theme. Researchers showcased their efforts to enhance understanding and improve safety in these areas. Additionally, the congress addressed the challenge of limited user data by discussing predictive modelling techniques based on surveys and observations, enabling informed decision-making.

Overall, the XV Congreso de Ingeniería de Transporte provided a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and academic advancements visibility in the field of transportation engineering. The event reaffirmed the academia’s commitment to sustainability, efficient practices, and user-centric design, highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making to create effective and sustainable mobility systems.