Traffic management: a new centre of excellence
© 2015 EPFL
Traffic management: a hot topic in Europe with the involvement of EPFL
NEARCTIS is a network of excellence funded by the framework programme FP7 from 2009 to 2013. This scientific network has gathered researchers and partners from the industry and the institutions on the relevant topic of cooperative traffic management. One of the goals of NEARCTIS was the creation of a virtual centre of excellence (VCE) for its perpetuation. After more than one year of preparation, this VCE came to a reality with the integration of the topic “Traffic Management” within the European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI). This international non-profit organisation was founded in 2003 and gathers the major research institutes and universities from 19 European countries. ECTRI's aim is to help build the "European Research Area" (ERA) in transport by cooperation in thematic and process oriented thematic groups, task forces, Framework Programme projects, seminars and conferences.
Traffic management is a new thematic group which was launched in Brussels in 2015 and Pierre-Yves Gilliéron, from EPFL-TOPO, has been appointed as moderator of this group with the help of 3 rapporteurs: Juliette Renaud (IFSTTAR, France), Winnie Daamen (Tu Delft, Netherland) and Wolfgang Ponweiser (Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria). This group is composed of 22 members from the former core group of NEARCTIS, as well as members from ECTRI involved in traffic management. The main action plan is targeting three objectives: the definition of a research agenda to influence EC policies and programmes, the increase in participating in EU and international projects, and the provision of a platform for networking, training and scientific exchanges.
EFPL will be involved in this group with the support of the transportation centre (TRACE), and with a deep participation of Prof. Nikolas Geroliminis (LUTS) and Pierre-Yves Gilliéron (TOPO). It will be an excellent opportunity to enlarge the network of experts in traffic management and to get access to international research opportunities.