Module Catalogue 2024/25

CEG8422 : Intelligent Transport Systems

CEG8422 : Intelligent Transport Systems

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Phil Blythe
  • Lecturer: Dr David Golightly
  • Other Staff: Mr Simon Edwards, Dr Shuo Li, Dr Yanghanzi Zhang
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Primarily this module introduces the key concepts of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Intelligent Mobility (IM) to students. An Intelligent Transport System is a system intended to provide safer and more efficient transportation, through the use of information and control technologies (ICT). Intelligent Mobility (IM) aims to ensure that both people and goods are moved in an optimised and environmentally friendly way, regardless of mode. Both rely on the innovative use of data and applications to enable operators and users to make smarter, more informed decisions, about transport networks.

In more detail, the module aims:
•       To provide an overview of the challenges facing the transport industry, how policy objectives are formed to meet these challenges, and how Intelligent Transport Systems and Intelligent Mobility have a role in solving them;
•       To provide insight into the broad range of ITS currently deployed to meet diverse objectives, and to enable understanding of how current solutions have developed and evolved (legacy ITS).
•       To provide an appreciation of how rapidly technology is developing, and how ITS systems will play a role in the ‘smart’ cities of the future, as ITS transitions from being ‘infrastructure’ centric, to more ‘people and goods’ centric, providing services to enable ‘Intelligent Mobility’.
•       A consideration of Human Machine Interface good practice in the design of the systems and services
•       To facilitate discussion and debate as to whether solutions deployed in one region or country are relevant and applicable in other locations across the globe, to highlight the need for interoperability of systems, and international standards.
•       To enable understanding of the processes in the development of a business case for investment in ITS from different actors' viewpoints
•       To facilitate an understanding of how ITS systems can be evaluated, to ensure that they are meeting, or will meet their objectives in the real world.
•       To introduce students to key research areas of ITS at Newcastle University and to provide ‘hands on’ experience of using data processing and analysis techniques from these systems.
•       To highlight the need to ensure that ITS systems operate safely and securely in an online world.

It should be noted that the range of examples, applications and services, covered by the module, may change from year-to-year to reflect the hot topics and political realities of ITS deployment and the key University research projects that are running in the academic year. It should be further noted that some of the topics listed in the outline syllabus do deliberately overlap with topics covered (in more detail) in the ‘Technologies for Future Mobility’ (CEG8431) module.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus for the module will broadly cover the following topics:
•Introduction to Intelligent Mobility and Intelligent Transport Systems
•The context for IM and ITS: Urbanisation, Congestion, Efficiency, Safety and the Environment
•How ITS policy has been formed, both in the UK, the EU and internationally
•Professional bodies dealing with ITS, both in the UK and Europe
•ITS in Action: Case studies of current ITS systems. UK policy drivers and the 5-pillars if ITS.
•The building blocks of ITS: Infrastructure, Vehicles and People, bound by ICT
•ITS for Safe Mobility and the role of e-call as a new paradigm in automotive safety in Europe
•ITS for Road pricing and road tolling
•ITS for Public transport, including the use of electronic payment and FINTEC
•ITS and its role in Freight and Logistics
•ITS for connected vehicles automation
•Evaluation of ITS schemes: Modelling and simulation versus Field operational Trials (FoTs) and In- Situ studies
•Human factors in ITS: Behaviour, Data collection, HMI Design, Elements of successful design

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended knowledge outcome is
indicated in each point. By the end of the module a student will be able to:
1. Have familiarity with the types of systems, services and techniques that are currently in-service, and understand how the landscape for such legacy systems will change in the near future. (M2, M4, M5 and M6);
2. Appreciate the policy drivers and the social and economic impacts of introducing new technologies or service delivery channels in the transport sector.. (M6 and M7)
3. Understand the context in which ITS is used and how it is likely to evolve and play an ever increasing part in sensing, managing and controlling transport networks of the future, providing mobility as a service to users, and in enabling the ‘smart’ cities of the future. (M4, M7, M8 and M11)
4. Understand how systems may be tested and evaluated to ensure that they function correctly in the real world, and to establish what impacts such systems may have in terms of network and behavioural effects. (M7, M11, M115 and M17)
5. Identify, develop and propose a vison for how one sector of ITS can address one of the ‘big challenges’ as a small group piece of coursework (M5, M7, M11, M17 and M18)
6. Have a deep appreciation of the role technology can play in helping to deliver policy more effectively and efficiently and also to understand the potential of new and emerging technologies could have in creating new policy options that were not feasible before. (M5, M7, M11, M17 and M18)

Intended Skill Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended skill outcome is indicated in each point. By the end of the module, it is expected students will be able to:

1. Learn and study/research independently which will be fully assessed through the examination (M1, M2, M5, M18)
2. Manage and organise time (M15 and M16)
3. Manipulate and analyse data (M2, M4, M15 and M16)
4. Appraisal and evaluation and essentially appreciate the range of ITS applications and services that could be potentially delivered, have high- level knowledge of the underlying technologies utilised by these, and be able to identify how a particular approach may support a given objective. Appreciate, at a general level, the key technologies that enable the collection, transmission, storage and processing of data required for ITS operation. (M6, M7 and M8)
5. Report writing and presentation of ideas and visions in group working (M17)
6. Improve decision making/problem solving capabilities and critically appraise and evaluate how a particular ITS approach may fare in the real- world, and be able to identify benefits or issues with a system in relation to economic performance, network performance, safety, security and environmental concerns. (M11, M15, M16)
7. Understand and apply both existing and emerging systems and services to a range of transport problems and situations with an appreciation of the benefits that such deployments could derive. (M14, M15, M18, and M19)

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:0010:00Content lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture14:004:00Students attend the whole of the group presentation, however each group will only be presenting for 20 minutes.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture11:001:00Module outro and feedback session.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture21:002:00Revision Session
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion126:0026:00Preparation for group presentation submission
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture11:301:30Welcome & Intro to the Module Introduction to Intelligent Transport Systems
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops11:301:30Connected ITS workshop
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork12:002:00Site visit 1: Tyne and Wear Urban Traffic Management and Control Centre (UTMC)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:00Online Question and answer/surgery sessions on all aspects of the module.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study150:0050:00Background reading for full understanding of module material
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Formal lectures are used to provide a high-level overview of the ITS sector, and to introduce key systems, technologies, policies and concepts. The deeper understanding of key sensor and communications technologies, as well as the analysis of systems data will be handled through structured ‘hands-on’ computer workshops and demonstrations, as well as lecture material. Broadening understanding of ITS systems generally, understanding how ITS fares on a global scale, the suitability of ITS systems in students home nations, and the design of Human Machine Interfaces, will involve collaborative discussion sessions. Driving home how ITS operates on a day-to-day basis will be handled through a site visit to the operational Tyne and Wear Urban Traffic Management and Control Centre (UTMC).

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1201A70Will be 3 questions to answer from 5 set.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prof skill assessmnt1M30Group presentation (15-20 minutes depending on group size), assessed by a panel of 3-4 lecturing staff with individual mark for each students performance included in the assessment
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The coursework report will test the students' knowledge and understanding of elements the taught material. The collaborative group work, culminating in a formal group submission with individual contribution elements, will reinforce and embed knowledge of the systems being studied, as well as providing practice in presentational skills required in the modern workplace. A good presentation would require clear coverage of how a particular system may fulfil its stated goals, whilst also appreciating both synergistic benefits, potential issues, its contribution to a larger set of policy objectives, and how similar systems have performed elsewhere.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.