Deadline: Applications will be accepted at any time until the position is filled.

Recent government investment in driver-less car trials (http://www.trl.co.uk/news-hub/transport-news/latest-transport-news/?id=801764918) is accelerating us towards a future of greater automation in the transport network. As a direct result of this investment, the Transportation Research Laboratory (TRL) (http://www.trl.co.uk/) and the Transportation Research Group (TRG) at the University of Southampton are offering this research project investigating how transportation infrastructure can sustainable support high numbers of automated vehicles in the network.

Existing transportation infrastructure is designed around non-automated vehicles. This includes not just the road-space but also the many thousands of traffic sensors, the control infrastructure (traffic lights, variable speed limits), the refuelling infrastructure and the integration between modes of transport (airports, train stations etc). This project will investigate strategies to redesign this infrastructure to support automated vehicles and deliver improvements in sustainability.

The candidate in this project will have access to facilities and training to enable them to explore the scenario of high numbers of vehicles in the transportation network using techniques including: computational modelling, experiments using the TRL’s vehicle simulator and experiments using TRG’s instrumented vehicle. The candidate will be able to benefit from extended placements at the Transportation Research Laboratory as well as access to GATEway research partners for case studies (http://www.trl.co.uk/news-hub/trl-press-releases/2014/december/greenwichs-digital-credentials-driven-home-after-trl-led-consortium-wins-%C2%A38m-trial-to-pilot-futuristic-automated-vehicles/).

The candidate will develop a broad understanding of both transportation infrastructure design/operation and vehicle automation. Ultimately the outcome of this research will be innovative new designs to transportation infrastructure – with a strong evidence base – that will support automated vehicles to maximize sustainability in the transport network.

If you would like to discuss this project further please contact Dr Simon Box, Transportation Research Group Email: s.box<στο>soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)2380 59 2175

This integrated PhD project will be funded through the Center for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems http://cdt-sis.soton.ac.uk. The studentship comprises support from both EPSRChttp://www.epsrc.ac.uk and an industrial sponsor.