Teaching and research in transportation engineering within the Department covers a wide range of topics, reflecting the diversity and the important socio-economic role of the transportation system in a modern society.

• Traffic and Safety research involves undertaking observations of traffic behaviour in the field (possibly before/after implementation of treatments) and analysing road, traffic and accident data using various computer software tools.
• Pavements and Asset Management research involves using a sophisticated full-scale accelerated pavement testing facility, the Department's highway materials testing laboratory, and measurements of pavement performance in the field.
• Transportation Planning research involves modelling travel behaviour using a variety of transportation planning software tools and predicting the effects (social, economic, environmental, etc) of policy, land use and transport network changes.

A list of potential topics for postgraduate transportation research is available (96K, PDF).

Refer also the Programme staff pages for an indication of specific research interests and areas of expertise. The list of current and previous student research will also provide some inspiration for research ideas. There is some flexibility in the topics, and the content and emphasis may change during such discussions.

We encourage you to consult the identified members of academic staff to discuss their interests in the topics listed well before your intended research period. Good grades in your previous coursework are generally required to undertake research of any kind.

The Department has a wide variety of transport facilities to help with your research, including testing and survey equipment and specialist software.

There is also a wide range of research resources via the Engineering Library.