Transport Operations Research Group

The Transport Operations Research Group (TORG) is at the forefront of research in the delivery and implementation of smart technologies for monitoring traffic and travel along with related impacts in order to deliver more effective solutions.

TORG prides itself in an integrated approach, researching the science as well as the behavioural aspects to better inform transport management decisions and influence sustainable policies that will make a real difference to the community.

Services Offered

Instrumented vehicles - TORG has access to a number of vehicles that have been instrumented to collect various items of data for the analysis of driver behaviour and vehicle performance. These facilities include:

  • an integrated GPS/CAN bus analyser and associated equipment for extracting engine management data on a vehicle's performance together with time and location stamps
  • Pay-As-You-Drive on-board units
  • instrumented vehicles and test facilities
  • a range of sensor and environmental monitoring systems
  • access to an HGV instrumented with an integrated GPS/on-board dynamic weighing system developed by TORG for investigating pavement damage by lorries

Instrumented corridors - TORG has access to an experimental in-door wireless network to investigate in-door localisation and mobile information services. In addition, TORG has established:

  • an experimental outdoor wireless system around the main university campus to test a range of wireless sensors
  • Dedicated Short Range Communications equipment from the Department for Transport's DIRECTS demonstrations to continue research into road user charging and electronic tolling
  • development kits and capabilities for several smartcards, vicinity cards and RFID systems

Behavioural research facilities - TORG has access to a range of facilities to conduct aspects of behavioural research in transport. These facilities include:

  • a Virtual Reality cave for which TORG has developed a rapid prototyping facility to test ICT systems and services using immersive video mode
  • access to a wide range of state-of-the-art travel behaviour, traffic and environmental modelling software programs to investigate the various impacts of travel demand management strategies on mobility patterns

Further information: