Transport Studies Group Research
Transport was a major contributor to the submission made by the School of Architecture and the Built Environment to the Town and Country Planning Unit in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008. Seventy per cent of the work submitted was judged to be of an international standard, and within that 25 per cent was regarded as internationally excellent.
Our work reflects a broad definition of research that incorporates applied research intended to inform public policy and best practice, as well as more theoretically based research. Our efforts transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. The research undertaken by Transport Studies focuses on policy, planning, behavioural, management and operational issues, addressing topics in road traffic and private car travel, parking, freight and logistics, public land passenger transport, and airlines and airports. Cross-modal issues include Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), survey and marketing research, public attitudes and travel behaviour and transport performance and evaluation. The Department’s increasing strength in recent years in logistics and air transport illustrates what can be achieved with well motivated and led teams of skilled research professionals.
We also undertake and/or offer support in:
- consultancy, including delivery of transport-related specialist and expert advice
- the supply of individual professional and specialist consultants and expert
- policy advice and development, standards, advice notes, publicity material
- designing, arranging, hosting and delivery of bespoke seminars and workshops
- project and programme management
Staff engaged in research in the Department of Transport Studies collaborate closely with colleagues in other departments within the School of Architecture and the Built Environment on projects encompassing broad issues such as sustainability and economic regeneration and development. There are also strong links with researchers in other Westminster schools, as well as with many other universities and research institutions in the UK and abroad.
We also work jointly with industrial partners, public bodies and government organisations engaged in the transport and related sectors on projects that can have real impacts on practices and policies.
We currently have eight PhD students attached to our department. Brief summaries of their topics are provided on the PhD student webpages. We are supportive of their work and encourage them to engage with the outside world and disseminate their work through presentations on their work at conferences in Britain or abroad as well as through publications.
If you would like to discuss opportunities for undertaking doctoral research in the Department of Transport Studies, then please contact Professor Austin Smyth.
Research strengths and areas of expertise
The department has a wide range of capabilities including:
- evidence-based research
- policy and scheme evaluation
- strategy and strategic planning
- demand forecasting, modelling – strategic and bespoke model development
- road and rail vehicle operation
- economic appraisal and education
- business planning and performance measurement
- commerce and public transport operations
- competition advice, market advice, benefits appraisal
- development of franchise plans and related risk allocation
- transport capacity allocation and route utilisation, fares policy
- capacity and performance planning
- comparative studies, risk analysis and benchmarking
- advice on regulatory changes
- transport scheme evaluation
- transport consents and public enquiries – transport policy studies and development
- technical support and input to policy and legislative development
- statistical advice and analysis
- data collection and database management
- information system and software development and management
- design, management and analysis of surveys
- qualitative social research – customer satisfaction surveys – social attitudes surveys
Our research interests can be grouped under Freight and Logistics, Air Transport and Air Traffic Management, Public Transport, Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning and Mobility Management, and Strategic Research. The increasingly international dimension to what the Department of Transport Studies offers reflects innovation in thinking, while the reputation and relative uniqueness of what we offer in key sectors such as air transport and logistics bodes well for new initiatives.
Freight and logistics
Research into freight transport, distribution and logistics began at the erstwhile Transport Studies Group (TSG) in 1978. Since then it has developed into one of the Group's major interests. The freight research within Transport Studies builds on the following strengths:
Research expertise in
- the relationship between supply chain decisions and distribution operations
- the impact of policy measures on distribution activity
- initiatives to improve the efficiency of distribution operations
- the environmental and social impacts imposed by distribution activities
Detailed knowledge of
- distribution operations by road and rail
- specific sectors of the freight transport and logistics industry
Good working relationships with
- distribution and logistics companies
- EU and non-EU research organisations concerned with sustainable distribution
Much of the research carried out in recent years has been concerned with the sustainability of distribution and logistics operations both in the UK and internationally. Professor Michael Browne has been Project Director for a variety of distribution research projects concerning sustainability issues. Dr Allan Woodburn specialises in research into rail freight operations.
Air Transport and Air Traffic Management
This research area is run by a core team of three staff at Transport Studies Dr. Nigel Dennis, Andrew Cook and Graham Tanner specialise in the closely integrated research areas of Air Transport and Air Traffic Management. The former encompasses airline and airport research at the level of route planning, economics of operation and competitive analysis, whilst the latter specifically covers the operational practices and management of Air Traffic Control.
While Transport Studies focuses on a number of market niches in Air Transport and Air Traffic Management this remains an adaptive capability, in response to changes in the aviation market, in terms of the economics of route competition, of technical innovation in ATM, and of policy drivers – notably the growing awareness of and responses to the links between aviation and climate change.
Public transport
Research in public transport began at the former Transport Studies Group (TSG) in 1971. Since then it has developed under the leadership of Professor Peter White. ‘Public transport’ is taken to focus mainly on rail, metro, coach and bus systems but also includes taxis and private hire vehicles. Public transport research within Transport Studies builds on the following strengths:
Research expertise in
- monitoring of industry trends (ridership, financial performance, etc.)
- impacts of deregulation and privatisation
- measurement of ridership
- impacts of teleworking on public transport systems
- school transport issues
- use of smartcard data for management purposes
- the express coach industry
Detailed knowledge of
- use of smartcard data for management purposes
- the express coach industry
Good working relationships with
- Transport for London (TfL)
- organisations representing the transport operating industries including International Union of Public Transport (UITP)
Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning and Mobility Management
Transport Studies has had a long record of examining ways in which travel behaviour (and attitudes) can be changed using a variety of information, education and marketing based methods. Sophie Tyler and Georgina Christodoulou have established reputations in this field and related areas.
Key areas of recent research include:
- the link between attitudes and travel behaviour
- measuring progress toward travel behaviour change
- measuring the impact of campaigns (information, education and marketing)
- developing effective campaigns and other strategies which combine information and marketing with the introduction of new transport services (public transport routes etc.)
Transport Studies has worked to develop innovative ways to promote travel planning. Recent projects have included working with the health sector, local authorities, businesses and other organisations, such as residents associations.
Strategic Research
Professor Austin Smyth’s research interests encompass transport and urban sustainability, transport and urban planning policy development with particular regard to promoting equity in access to opportunities and social cohesion, transportation planning and modelling transport – land use interaction techniques, transport regulatory issues, the economics, regulation and planning of rail projects and systems, investment appraisal techniques, the study of peripherality and its impact on economic competitiveness, the relationship between best practice and supply chain management and economic competitiveness at the level of the firm.
Funding and support
Our external funding for projects has come from a variety of organisations including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (EPSRC) Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC),the Commission of the European Communities, Eurocontrol, the Department for Transport and other Government Departments DEFRA, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Scottish Government, Department of Education (NI), Local authorities, regulatory and control bodies such as Transport for London (TfL) and NATS, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, as well as transport operators in rail air and bus sectors, including LVNL, British Airways, Ryanair, Lufthansa Systems, DHL, BAA, Berlin Schönefeld Airport and Hochtief, as well as various other charitable foundations, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as well as a variety of local government and private sector transport operators in rail air and bus sectors.
Vision for the future
The Vision for Transport Studies provides for an expansion of funded research in a range of areas including;
- air transport and air traffic management
- logistics and supply chain management
- transport and climate change
- public transport
- transport economics and economic competitiveness
- transport and land use planning
- accessibility, travel planning and mobility management
Members of the department frequently give papers at conferences and seminars, publish books, and write articles for scholarly and professional journals on these themes. Full details of research and publications can be found on the Westminster Research pages and on individual Staff Pages.
Further information
Professor Austin Smyth
Head of Department
Department of Transport studies
T: +44 20 7911 5021
E: a.smyth@westminster.ac.uk
Ms Lucy McWeeney
Departmental administrator
Department of transport studies
T: +44 (0)20 7911 5073
E: l.mcweeney@westminster.ac.uk
