Call for Papers UTSG 2025: 57th Annual UTSG Conference in Dublin 25-27 June 2025

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We are delighted to announce that the 57th Universities’ Transport Studies Group (UTSG) Annual Conference will take place at University College Dublin (UCD) between 25th to 27th June 2025. This prestigious event will be co-hosted by University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, bringing together leading researchers, academics, and practitioners in the field of transport studies.

Colleagues are reminded that the UTSG conference is a doctoral-student-friendly conference and as always, we strongly encourage research students to submit their work for consideration. Additionally, we are pleased to announce that the conference will feature a mentoring surgery scheme aimed at supporting colleagues at various career stages, including doctoral students.

We are excited to announce that the UTSG conference will feature a collaboration initiative for special issues with top-tier journals from Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and others.

Authors are invited to submit their research papers to the Conference. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Transportation Policy and Economics
  • Transportation and Environment
  • Transportation and Health
  • Energy in Transportation
  • Climate Change and Resilience in Transportation
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
  • Autonomous Vehicles & Future Mobility
  • Logistics & Freight Transportation
  • Public Transportation Systems
  • Traffic Management, Operations and Safety
  • Social Equity and Transportation
  • Emerging Trends in Air and Water Transport
  • Infrastructure Design and Maintenance
  • Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion in Transport
  • Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics
  • Others

Presenting your work at the UTSG Conference involves two stages:

1. Abstract Submission:

Authors must submit a 300-word abstract and six keywords that should clearly identify the objectives, background, methods, main findings, and conclusions of your work. The abstracts will be reviewed and authors will be informed of the decision by 9th April 2025. Only authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit either a ‘full paper’ or an ‘extended abstract’ using the appropriate templates available on the UTSG and Conference websites.

Abstract Submission Deadline: Monday 17th February, 2025.

2. Paper Submission Guidelines:

Authors of accepted abstracts will have two options for submitting their research work:

  *   A full paper (max. 12 pages long); this is the recommended option for authors considering the special-issue initiative.

  *   An extended abstract of max. 1500 words

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION SYSTEM:

Click HERE to access our paper submission system and submit your extended abstract or full paper.

Deadline: Monday 5th May 2025

Full papers and extended abstracts will need to use the corresponding UTSG templates. Please also note that Smeed Prize entrants must submit a full paper to be eligible (see, criteria below). Templates and further information can be found on the UTSG website.

Smeed Prize Submissions

[Open to UTSG member institutions in the UK and Ireland, only] Papers can be submitted for the Smeed Prize competition if they are prepared and presented entirely by an author who:

  *   Has carried out the work described in the paper while registered as a postgraduate student at a UTSG member institution, and

  *   Is either still registered as a student at such an institution or has had a viva since the previous UTSG conference.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Dublin!

This conference is an opportunity for academia & industry professionals to promote, share and discuss issues and developments in the field of transportation. For updates & information please visit https://utsg.net/

*Contact for UTSG2025 related matters: conference@utsg.net OR utsg2025@gmail.com 

The UTSG2024 Conference Programme is out!

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Dear UTSG friends,

To access the finalised programme, click HERE!

It will be a wonderful event packed with interesting talks and exceptional initiatives.

Looking forward to welcoming you on Monday, July 1st in Huddersfield.

Have a lovely weekend.

UTSG2024 Organising Team in Huddersfield

UTSG2024 Conference registration is now open!

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We are pleased to inform you that the registration for the 56th Annual UTSG Conference (UTSG2024) is now open!

You can register HERE.

Please note that you or one of your co-authors need to be registered in order to present your Abstract.

Early bird rates – available from now until 1st June 2024:

Academic: £300

Student: £250

Regular rates – available from 2nd June 2024:

Academic: £350

Student: £300

Other options:

Accompanying person*: £150

*This ticket gives your accompanying person access to the full conference, including the social events. 

At our conference website, we also have provided some practical information that may help you to plan and prepare your travel and accommodation. For more information please visit the website.

We look forward to seeing you in Huddersfield this summer,

UTSG2024 Organising Committee

UTSG2024 Abstract Submission Deadline EXTENDED!

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Dear Colleagues,

After many requests we are happy to announce an extension of 10 days for our call of abstracts for the UTSG2024 Conference in Huddersfield (1-3 July).

OUR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS IS NOW OPEN UNTIL 21 MARCH (23:59)!

A 300-word abstract along with 6 Key words are required in this stage. For more information, please see: Annual Conference: UTSG2024 – UTSG

Kind regards,

Local Organising Committee

UTSG2024 Conference

UTSG2024 Conference – Call for Abstracts

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We are pleased to announce that the 56th Universities’ Transport Studies Group (UTSG) Annual Conference will take place at Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield between 1 and 3 July 2024. Colleagues are reminded that the UTSG conference is a doctoral-student-friendly conference and as always, we are particularly encouraging research students to submit their work. Also, we will be holding a mentoring-surgery scheme to support colleagues across different career stages and doctoral students and a legacy scheme. The UTSG conference at Huddersfield will operate a collaboration initiative for special issues with top-tier journals including Travel Behaviour and Society (Elsevier), Transportation Planning and Technology (Taylor & Francis), and IET Intelligent Transport Systems (Institution of Engineering and Technology).

To present your work at the UTSG Conference involves two stages:

1. Abstract Submission Guideline:

Authors must submit a 300-word abstract and six keywords that should clearly identify the objectives, background, methods, main findings, and conclusions of your work. The abstracts will be reviewed by the UTSG Executive Committee and corresponding authors will be informed of the decision by mid-April 2024. Only authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit either a ‘full paper’ or an ‘extended abstract’ using the appropriate templates available on the UTSG and Conference websites.

Abstract Submission Deadline: Monday 11 March 2024. To submit an abstract, please click HERE .

Note: There is no need to attach a file at this stage but simply paste your abstract in the corresponding field. Authors submitting abstracts for the Smeed Prize (see, eligibility criteria below) must indicate that in the corresponding ‘Topic’ of the submission form.

2. Paper Submission Guidelines

Open: late April; Deadline: Monday 10 June 2024

Authors of accepted abstracts will have two options for submitting their research work:

  *   A full paper (max. 12 pages long); this is the recommended option for authors considering the special-issue initiative.

  *   An extended abstract of max. 1500 words

Full papers and extended abstracts will need to use the corresponding UTSG templates. Please also note that Smeed Prize entrants must submit a full paper to be eligible (see, criteria below). Templates and further information can be found on the UTSG website.

Smeed Prize Submissions

[Open to UTSG member institutions in the UK and Ireland, only] Papers can be submitted for the Smeed Prize competition if they are prepared and presented entirely by an author who:

  *   Has carried out the work described in the paper while registered as a postgraduate student at a UTSG member institution, and

  *   Is either still registered as a student at such an institution or has had a viva since the previous UTSG conference.

The best paper will be awarded £500 and the runner-up £250. Anyone wishing to enter the Smeed Prize should make this clear in a statement immediately following the abstract. Entrants must be supported by a confirmation message from the candidate’s supervisor to the utsg2024@hud.ac.uk. A full paper submission after the abstract acceptance is compulsory for the Smeed entrants.

FURTHER INFORMATION

More details about the conference, including delegate fees and registration will be announced in due course via email and on the Conference website. Please, feel free to email utsg2024@hud.ac.uk for any queries.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at Huddersfield!

On behalf the organising committee with my best wishes,

Prof. Alexandros Nikitas

Chair of the Local Organising Committee

UTSG Executive Committee Chair

Update on EDI@UTSG Workshop

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Dear Colleagues,

Given the rail strike planned to start on the 29th of January for 6-7 days, it is with reluctance we have made the decision to conduct the EDI@UTSG event scheduled on the 1st of February remotely instead of present in person.

Date:   1st February 2024, 13.45h to 17.00h

The link to the event will be sent to those who have already registered and any new registrations in dues course.

If interested in attending our virtual event, please register using the link HERE.

https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2Fe%2FiNhzNW1McT%3Forigin%3DlprLink&data=05%7C02%7Cn.dadashzadeh%40HUD.AC.UK%7Cfaa61f20c7894eedc63f08dc1c10d288%7Cb52e9fda06914585bdfc5ccae1ce1890%7C0%7C0%7C638416106244029765%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dawYmtE305%2FuiWi8aXCUvZVR0qpCgB53gx9iaJo9RNs%3D&reserved=0

Following on from the November EDI@UTSG webinar this virtual event will provide an opportunity to start putting EDI into practice and acting not just talking. The UTSG Transport Community will learn from those who have experience with EDI issues and the challenges faced in the workplace. Professor Glenn Lyons of the University of West of England will give an opening address followed by Jennie Martin MBE who will share her experience working in the transport technology environment. Dr Vi Parker will deliver an interactive session explaining the use of the EDI Toolkit recently launched at Newcastle University. This will provide delegates an opportunity to ask questions and learn how to put EDI into practice through discussion and engagement.

This workshop will be of interest to the UTSG research community at ALL stages of their career, from PhD students through to Professors. Also, the workshop may be of interest to those who offer advice to research staff within your university so please pass on this invitation to your colleagues.

By attending the workshop delegates will have a richer understanding of EDI issues that have been faced by others and how they were resolved. Thus, through this raised awareness of experiences that those with specific characteristics can face in academia and research they will be better able to step into the shoes of people who are different. Delegates will learn how to better manage and embed EDI in their lives and equipped with the understanding of the EDI Toolkit will help the UTSG community to work as a team to cultivate a more inclusive environment. In this way we will learn why EDI is important in the UTSG community and how to make EDI our business.

Agenda

13.45    Welcome

“Setting the Scene”

Margaret Bell CBE, Science City Professor of Transport and Environment, Newcastle University

14:00-15.15      Session 1: EDI is our Business.

“Seeing beyond white male privilege in the transport sector,”

Glenn Lyons:  Mott MacDonald Professor of Future Mobility, University of West of England

“Women in transport technology:  a retrospective and some recommendations”

Jennie Martin MBE: Chair Bus Users UK, Parliamentary   Advisory Council for Transport Safety

15.15-15.45 Networking Break

15:45 – 17:00 Session 2: EDI in Action

“EDI Toolkit”                        Dr Vi Parker: EDI Training Lead, Newcastle University

“Putting EDI into Action”     Facilitated discussion and opportunity to ask questions.

“Way Forward”                      All

Looking forward to seeing you on the 1st of February.

On behalf of EDI Committee,

Dr Elena Alyavina

Lecturer in Sustainable Transport and Supply Chain Management

Huddersfield Business School

University of Huddersfield | Queensgate | Huddersfield | HD1 3DH

Pre-Call UTSG 2024: 56th Annual UTSG Conference in Huddersfield 1-3 July 2024

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Dear Colleagues, 

The 56th Universities’ Transport Studies Group (UTSG) Annual Conference will take place at the University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK between 1 and 3 July 2024. 

The Conference will have an international scope, so contributions from colleagues outside the UK and Ireland are very much welcome! 

Colleagues are reminded that the UTSG conference is a doctoral-student-friendly conference and as always, we are particularly encouraging research students to submit their work. Also, we will run a mentoring-surgery scheme to support colleagues across different career stages and doctoral students. 

The UTSG conference at Huddersfield will operate a collaboration initiative for special issues with top-tier journals including Travel Behaviour and Society (Elsevier), Transportation Planning and Technology (Taylor & Francis), and IET Intelligent Transport Systems (Institution of Engineering and Technology). 

The call for papers and more details about the conference organisation and initiatives will be circulated in January 2024. 

* Indicative submission dates: 

– Abstract (300 words) submission deadline: Monday 11 March 2024 

– Final paper/extended abstract submission deadline: Monday 10 June 2024 

We are looking forward to welcoming you at Huddersfield! 

On behalf the organising committee, with my best wishes, 

Prof. Alexandros Nikitas 

*Contact for UTSG related matters: utsg2024@hud.ac.uk 

EDI@UTSG present in-person workshop in Newcastle University

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Dear Colleagues and PhD students,

You are cordially invited to the UTSG Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) present in-person workshop. The details of the event are as follows:

Venue: Courtyard, Newcastle University, Room 2:21 Old Library Building

Date: 1st February 2024, 13:00 to 17:00

If you are interested in attending, please, let us know by filling in the registration form HERE.

About the EDI@UTSG workshop:

Following on from the November EDI@UTSG webinar, this present in person event will provide an opportunity start putting EDI into practice and acting not just talking. The UTSG Transport Community will learn from those who have experience with EDI issues and the challenges faced in the workplace. Professor Glenn Lyons of the University of West of England will give an opening address followed by Jennie Martin MBE who will share her experience working in the transport technology environment. Dr Vi Parker will describe the EDI Toolkit recently launched at Newcastle University. This will be followed by an opportunity of delegates to put EDI into practice through discussion and engagement.

This workshop will be of interest to the UTSG research community at all stages of their career, from PhD students through to Professors. Also, the workshop may be of interest to those who offer advice to research staff within universities.

By attending the workshop delegates will have a richer understanding of EDI issues that have been faced by others and how they were resolved. Thus, through this raised awareness of experiences that those with specific characteristics can face in academia and research they will be better able to step into the shoes of people who are different. Delegates will learn how to better manage and embed EDI in their lives and equipped with the understanding of the EDI Toolkit will help the UTSG to work as a team to cultivate a more inclusive environment. In this way we will learn why EDI is important in the UTSG community and how to make EDI our business.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 1st of February.

UTSG EDI Committee







Special Issue: Advancing the Study of Intelligent Transport Systems: Selected Studies from UTSG2023

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IET Intelligent Transport Systems
Call for Papers

This issue of IET ITS will consist of 8-10 selected papers drawn from the 55th Annual Universities’ Transport Study Group Conference, hosted by Cardiff University in July 2023. The Annual International UTSG Conference is the largest academic transport event in the UK and Ireland. It is a forum where researchers come together to discuss research needs, research in progress and recent findings, and to give research students the opportunity to present papers on their work (www.utsg.net). We expect more than 80-100 papers to be submitted; the authors of the very best manuscripts that are aligned with the journal’s scope will be invited to have their papers considered for inclusion in this special issue. The papers submitted will be subject to a rigorous review process from the UTSG Executive Committee first and then from your typical review process. The papers of our special issue will reveal the range of academic research within the UTSG community, with differing research approaches and areas of study. The common denominator will be how the advancement of intelligent transport systems research is achieved; thus the title of the special issue. When we have the submissions available we will invite the very best papers to be submitted in IET ITS and hopefully we will be able to formulate a more tight thematic direction for the special issue. Our UTSG community will happily help us in building up the special issue by accepting and delivering promptly reviews.

Deadline for Submissions: 15 January 2024

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

– Sustainable Traffic Solutions

– Deployments with enabling technologies

– Demonstrations and evaluation

– Economic and behavioural analyses of ITS services and scenarios

– Data integration and analytics

– Electric vehicles

– Intelligent/Autonomous Vehicles

– Connected Vehicle Systems

– In-vehicle ITS, safety and vulnerable road user aspects – Mobility as a Service Systems

– Traffic management and control

– Public transport systems technologies

– Demand management and electronic payment systems – Transport policy and institutional issues

– Human machine interaction

– Education, training and outreach

For more information about the journal please visit IET Intelligent Transport Systems and read our Author Guide.

Please submit your paper via ScholarOne.

In January 2021, The IET began an Open Access publishing partnership with Wiley. The Open Access Article Processing Charge (APC) for articles accepted for this special issue is 2,200 USD. For further information on APCs, and support for APCs including Wiley’s institutional agreements and Research4Life initiative which offers waivers and automatic discounts for certain countries, please see our FAQs.

55th UTSG Annual Conference, 10-12 July 2023, Cardiff

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Goodbye Cardiff, hello Huddersfield!

Cardiff, 19/07/2023

UTSG2023@Cardiff was a week ago! (conference programme)

It has been an honour to organise the conference in Wales! And as Prof. John Preston said, UTSG2023@Cardiff was the first ever UTSG conference in Wales over the last 40 years! There was an overall positive vibe that this was indeed a historically great UTSG conference that crafted a family ethos for the transport academic community in the UK, Ireland and beyond. In July 2023, UTSG had a record-breaking and new standard-setting international conference with 130 attendees including colleagues from Germany, Belgium, Italy, Turkey and Australia.

Lee Waters MS, the Welsh Deputy Minister for Climate Change opened the conference. He discussed with the audience the net zero challenges in transport, the Roads Review and public transport service and infrastructure provision for Wales.

There were three exceptional keynote speakers:
Prof. Liana Cipcigan (Cardiff University) unpacked the challenges around ‘electricity as a fuel’ and towards decarbonisation of road transport while offering insights on a series of world-leading research projects,

Dr Ioannis Kaparias (University of Southampton) argued whether to ‘share or not share space’ including its history, underpinning policies and a lot of food for thought around shared spaces in urban environments in the UK and beyond. Last but not least, returning to his alma mater, 

Prof. Stephen Greaves (Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney) gave an informative (and fun!) lecture on e-scooters and the debates around their wider adoption in urban areas.

  • Smeed Prize Winner: Philip Churchman “Transition codesign for purposive road freight decarbonisation”, supervised by Dr Thijs Dekker, Prof. Jillian Anable and Dr Kate Panbourne, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds.
  • Smeed Prize Runner Up: Khatune Zannat “Investigating the relative precision of GPS, GSM and CDR data for inferring spatio-temporal travel trajectories”, supervised by Prof. Charisma Choudhury and Prof. Stephane Hess, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds.
  • Best Poster: Titayapa Meenapinunt, Margaret Bell, Gustav Bösehans and Dilum Dissanayake* “Cluster analysis of commuter’s travel behaviour with attention to their attitudes toward the environment, convenience, accessibility and safety: case study in Bangkok, Thailand”, Newcastle University and * University of Birmingham.
  • Best Poster Runner Up: Muhammad Adeel, John Parkin, Caroline Bartle, Fiona Crawford* and Mirriam Ricci
    “Socio-economic variations in commuting and working from home during the COVID-19: Panel survey evidence from the West of England” Centre for Transport and Society, UWE Bristol and * University of Glasgow.
  • Best Contribution – UTSG Chairs’ Choice: Achille Fonzone, Grigorios Fountas* and Lucy Tamsin “Determinants of Intention to Use Driverless Automated Buses and in Scotland”, Edinburgh Napier University, *Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Read more here: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/utsg2023/

Dr Dimitris Potoglou, Reader, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University