Network for Innovative Sustainable Transportation Co-Simulation

The Network for Innovative Sustainable Transportation Co-Simulation (NIST-CS) is an N8-funded community with the goal of establishing a network of researchers studying the application of collaborative-simulation (co-simulation) capabilities in sustainable transport applications across the North of England.

Overview

The objectives of NIST-CS are to:

  1. Establish a core network of established and early career researchers working in mobility simulation
  2. Engage with industry and policy-makers to identify key use cases for collaborative simulation
  3. Broaden the network to share knowledge across the wider N8 simulation and transport community
  4. Identify opportunities and outcomes for onward collaboration

We look across all transport modes (road, rail, maritime, urban planning, active travel) and across a range of simulation techniques, to deliver a range of outcomes (engineering design, optimisation, human-systems integration, policy and planning).

Core Members

Community Leads: Dr Zhongbei Tian (Liverpool) and Dr David Golightly (Newcastle)

Theme 1 – Operation and control: Dr Zhiyuan Lin (Leeds)

Theme 2 – Power and infrastructure: Dr Zhongbei Tian (Liverpool)

Theme 3 – Human performance and behavior: Dr David Golightly (Newcastle)

Theme 4 – Planning, governance and policy: Dr Alex Nurse (Liverpool)

Industry network lead: Victoria O’Kelly (Liverpool)

ECR representatives: Dr Jin Liu (Leeds) and Miss Nutthaka Chinomi (Liverpool)

News and Events

We are co-organising and sponsoring the 2023 Birmingham Decarbonisation Summer School on 24 – 28 July 2023 with ERAC-DICERicardo plcBirmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and the University of Birmingham IEEE Student Branch.

Apply for a place via the event website: https://www.cdice.ac.uk/2023-bham-summer-school/#EligibiltySS. The deadline for applications is 10 May.

Attendance is free of charge for eligible researchers. Funding for travel and subsistence costs can be applicated from C-DICE Networking Grant.

An information webinar will take place 11:30-12:30 on 28 April (register here).

Past events

NIST-CS hosted a series of in-person and virtual events during Autumn 2022. Each event presented work from NIST-CS, as well as keynotes from the wider research and industry community. The events explored different aspects of simulation for transport, shared knowledge and experience, and helped to understand benefits, challenges and capabilities of simulation to address transport challenges

Date and format Topic and themes
20 September 2022

10:00 – 12:00

Online

OPERATION AND CONTROL
Chairs: Zhiyuan Lin (Leeds) and Prof Ronghui Liu (Leeds)

  • Exchange established research on transport operation and its simulation strategies within and outside N8 universities.
  • Bridging researchers in transport operation with industries, identifying key demands and challenges of stakeholders.
  • Engaging more members into this network from both academia and industry.
  • Try to identify future roadmap for common targets of transportation system using potential co-simulation approaches and target future funding opportunities based on the collaboration established in the network.

Speakers and topics:

  • Dr Zhongbei Tian (University of Liverpool) – ‘Opening welcome – Introduction of NIST-CS’
  • Prof Ronghui Liu (Universit of Leeds) – ‘Research from the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds’
  • Dr Burak Boyacı (Lancaster University) – ‘User flexibility in carsharing systems’
  • Dr Zhiyuan Lin & Dr Jin Liu (University of Leeds) – ‘Train timetable rescheduling and rolling stock scheduling in UK railway network
  • Dr Yuanjun Feng (University of Liverpool) – ‘The stochastic container relocation problem with flexible service policies’
  • Dr Gemma Nicholson (University of Birmingham) – ‘Timetable and automated driving impact on resilience of high speed railways’
  • Ian Smith (Tracsis Rail Consultancy) – ‘Innovation projects from Tracsis
4 October 2022

10:00 – 12:00

Online

POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Chairs: Dr Zhongbei Tian (Liverpool) and Prof David Fletcher (Sheffield)

  • Put together a consortium to discuss the recent innovative industry and academic projects in sustainable transport power systems
  • Renewable energy sources and energy storage for railway, road and maritime, and air transport
  • Collaborate with EPSRC Decarbonising Transport through Electrification (DTE) Network+ to identify the future challenges and opportunities
  • Group discussion: Opportunities and challenges for Power and infrastructure in sustainable transport

Confirmed speakers and topics:

  • Prof Liana Cipcigan (Cardiff University) – ‘EPSRC DTE Network+, A whole system approach’
  • Prof Andrew Cruden (University of Southampton) – ‘Future Electric Vehicle Energy networks supporting Renewables’
  • Dr Zhongbei Tian (University of Liverpool) – ‘Renewably Powered Railway – a case study of Merseyrail’
  • Noel Dolphin (Furrer+Frey) – ‘Transport electrification and charging infrastructure’
  • Prof David Fletcher (University of Sheffield) – Panel discussion: Roadmap to transport power systems decarbonization
  • TBC (ScottishPower Energy Networks)
  • TBC (Merseytravel)
20 October 2022
09:30 – 16:00Holiday Inn Liverpool City Centre
Lime Street, Liverpool, L1 1NQ
NETWORK AND ROADMAP – CO-SIMULATION OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Chairs: Dr Zhongbei Tian (Liverpool), Dr Alex Nurse (Liverpool) and Victoria O’Kelly (Liverpool)

Draft Agenda

  • 9:30-10:00 – Registration and welcome
  • 10:00-10:20 – Keynote: Claire Spooner, Head of Decarbonising Transport, EPSRC
  • 10:20-11:30 – Academic session (Chair: Dr Alex Nurse, University of Liverpool)
    • 10:20-10:35 Prof Joseph Spencer, University of Liverpool, ‘Liverpool 5G and energy technologies’
    • 10:35-10:50 Prof Tolga Bektas, University of Liverpool, ‘Transport simulation and decarbonisation’
    • 10:50-11:05 Dr Pietro Tricoli, University of Birmingham, ‘Smart power systems for maritime decarbonisation’
    • 11:05-11:20 Prof Panos Georgakis, University of Wolverhampton, ‘Collaborative modelling and simulation framework for urban logistics’
    • Panel discussion
  • 11:30-12:00 – Refreshment break and networking
  • 12:00-13:00 – Industry session (Chair: Victoria O’Kelly, University of Liverpool)
    • 12:00-12:15 Matthew Goggins, Assistant Director for Bus at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
    • 12:15-12:30 Francesco Sandrelli, Bibby Marine, ‘Bibby Marine Environmental Initiatives directed to reduce our Environmental Emissions/Impacts’
    • 12:30-12:45 David Powell, Merseytravel Programme Director – Rolling Stock
    • 12:45-13:00 Melanie Hockenhull, Head of Sustainability at Avanti West Coast, ‘Current challenges in transport sustainability’
    • Panel discussion
  • 13:00-14:00 – Lunch and networking
  • 14:00-15:30 – Innovation case studies (Chair: Dr Zhongbei Tian, University of Liverpool)
    • 14:00-14:15 Prof Stuart Hillmansen, University of Birmingham, ‘Hydrogen for transport decarbonisation’
    • 14:15-14:30 Dr Cagatay Iris, University of Liverpool, ‘Decarbonisation and energy management in maritime logistics’
    • 14:30-14:45 Dr Chia-Lin Chen, University of Liverpool, ‘Reflection on the wider impacts of rail for a Sustainable Mobility Future’
    • 14:45-15:00 Mr Huw Thomas, Durham University, ‘Studying the impacts of domestic solar PV penetration and battery storage capacity on the maximum capacity of electric vehicles in low-voltage distribution networks’
    • 15:00-15:15 Mr Jonathan Harding, University of Liverpool, ‘Emerging plasma technology for the decentralised production of green fuels’
    • 15:15-15:30 Dr Zhongbei Tian, University of Liverpool, ‘Renewable railway energy management’
    • Panel discussion
  • 15:30-15:40 – Closing remarks
  • 15:40-17:00 – Drinks and networking

Resources

Claire Sponer (Head of Decarbonising Transport, EPSRC) keynote talk at the NIST-CS Workshop on 20 October 2022 in Liverpool:

Download: Claire Spooner presentation slides (PDF)

Current partners

Academic Partners

  • University of Liverpool
  • Newcastle University
  • Durham University
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of York
  • University of Birmingham
  • Cardiff University

Industry Partners

  • Merseytravel
  • Ricardo
  • Riding Sunbeams
  • Tracsis Rail Consultancy

Contact

If you would like more information or are interested in joining the community, please contact the NIST-CS Community Leads:

Dr Zhongbei Tian: zhongbei.tian@liverpool.ac.uk

Dr David Golightly: david.golightly@newcatle.ac.uk