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Staff Profile

Dr Dilum Dissanayake

Senior Lecturer in Transport Modelling

  • Email: dilum.dissanayake@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5718
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 208 6502
  • Address: School of Engineering
    Room 2.19, Cassie Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Dr Dilum Dissanayake is Postgraduate Director for Civil and Geospatial Engineering and Senior Lecturer in Transport Modelling in the School of Engineering

Background

Dr Dilum Dissanayake is a Senior Lecturer attached to the School of Engineering at Newcastle University. Her research interests include data modelling and analysis with attention to travel behaviour (trip, tour and activity modelling), road-user safety (child pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and older drivers) and the role of new information and communication technologies (ICT) in supporting and influencing travel behaviour.

She is the Principal Investigator of eHUBS project (2019-22; €412k), eHUBS-CAPP Project (2021-23; €392k) and EPSRC funded Micro-mobility project (2019-23; £55k) and the Co-Investigator of SPARC project with University of Cardiff and BITS Pilani (India) (2020-22) (see Research page for details). In addition, she holds a prestigious Duo-India professor fellowship with IIT Roorkee (India) (2020-22), 

The novelty of Dissanayake’s research is the use of different data sources [Revealed Preference (RP), Stated Preference (SP) and combined RP and SP] to develop demand models [Multinomial Logit (MNL) and Nested Logit (NL) models] to create a fundamental understanding of and enable the replication of household-based travel decisions within single frameworks. The NL model that she has produced in her PhD thesis has been later used as a base for several PhD studies in economics, environment and business disciplines. Her initial research provided mechanisms to allow the interactions of the various decisions of individuals in a household to be modelled with sufficient accuracy to enable travel behaviour responses to transport policies to be investigated. She has also had experience in using the data collected by SP experiments to analyse road users’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for road safety improvement (The ICRA project funded by EASTS).

She uses variety of modelling techniques (Discrete Choice Methods, Hazard-based Duration Models, Generalised Linear Methods - Poisson and Negative binomial models) blended with statistical techniques (Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis as well as Multiple Correspondence Analysis) in her research. These methods and methodologies are particularly useful when analysing various types of data available in transport field (i.e. continuous, discrete, ordinal and nominal). While she used Maximum Likelihood estimation methods in the past, she made a step forward in her current research that incorporating Bayesian Inference, especially when analysing environmental attitudes and awareness of transport users.

Dr Dissanayake serves as an External Examiner for MSc in Urban Studies at University of Glasgow (2017-20) as well as Undergraduate and MEng Programmes in Civil Engineering at London South Bank University (LSBU) (2016-20).  At present, she acts as the Academic Editor of the Journal of Advanced Transportation and an Associate Editor of the journal of IET - Intelligent Transport Systems (since 2018). She also acts as a reviewer in Chief of the EASTS Journal (Travel Demand Analysis Group), and a peer reviewer of number of international journals (Transportation Research - Parts A, B, C, and D, Transportation Research Record, Transportation, ASCE Transportation Engineering, accident analysis and prevention), and conferences (WCTR, TRB Annual Meeting, EASTS). She received a Prestigious Bridge Fellowship from Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) to continue research on activity modelling with Japan and have been continuing to provide her support to JSPS as a reviewer for their grant applications.

I am interested in recruiting motivated individuals for the following PhD topics/areas:  

  • Electric Vehicle adoption
  • Social media for journey planning
  • Autonomous vehicles - attitudes and behaviours
  • Improving customer satisfaction for Metro services
  • Innovative approach to data clustering and identifying groups for future policies

 Roles and Responsibilities

  • Postgraduate Director for Civil and Geospatial Engineering
  • Member of School of Engineering International Working Group
  • Exchange coordinator (for Civil Engineering discipline)
  • Undergraduate and Postgraduate Tutor
  • Member of the Undergraduate BoE and BoS
  • Member of the Postgraduate BoE and BoS
  • Undergraduate Induction trip activities 
  • Open day activities
  • Postgraduate seminar organiser

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD (Transport Planning), Nagoya University, Japan (Thesis Title: Urban Transport Policy Analysis for Developing Countries Considering Household Choices of Modes, Trip-Chaining and Vehicle Ownership)
  • MEng (Infrastructure Planning and Management), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (Thesis Title: Management of Routine and Periodic Maintenance for Highway Pavements)
  • BSc (Hons) (Civil Engineering), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Undergraduate Project: Productivity Study on Brickwork in Sri Lanka)
  • Diploma in Programming, Ins. of Data Management Computer Studies, Sri Lanka 

Previous Positions

  • Senior Lecturer, Dept of Civil and Env. Eng., University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (2004).
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Grad. Sch. of Env. Studies, Nagoya Uni., Japan (2001-03).
  • Doctoral Student, Dept of Civil Eng., Nagoya University, Japan (1998-2001).
  • Teaching Assistant (part time), Urban Plann Research Centre, Nagoya Uni., Japan (2000).
  • Lecturer, Dept of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (1998).
  • Lecturer/Senior Consulting Engineer, Stellar Tech, Tangalle, Sri Lanka (1997-98).
  • Master Student, School of Civil Eng., Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (1995-97).
  • Civil Engineer, Thai Leighton Limited, Thailand (1992-1994)
  • Research Assistant, School of Civil Eng., Asian Ins. of Technology, Thailand (1991-92).

Memberships

  • FHEA - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2009~)
  • Member of IATBR (International Association of Travel Behaviour Research)(2006~)
  • Member of EASTS (Eastern Asia Society of Transportation Studies) (2000~)
  • Member of JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers) (1999~)

 

Honours and Awards

  • Duo-India Professorship Fellowship (2020-22) to conduct collaborative research with IIT Roorkee, India
  • JSPS Bridge Fellowship (July-Sept 2012) to conduct collaborative research with Nagoya University, Japan.
  • ICRA-EASTS Award for the Best Research Proposal (2004-2007) on Interregional Valuation of Transport Safety in Asian Cities.
  • Award of Excellence for the Best Research Paper and the Presentation, Urban Planning and Transportation Session, Fourth International Summer Symposium, JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers), 2002.
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship to pursue Postdoctoral research at Nagoya University, 2001- 2003.
  • ICRA-EASTS Award for the Best Research Proposal (2001-2004) prepared on behalf of Prof Takayuki Morikawa.
  • Award of Excellence for the Best Research Paper and the Presentation, Urban Planning and Transportation Session, Second International Summer Symposium, JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers), 2000.
  • Japanese Government Scholarship to pursue Doctoral Degree at Nagoya University, 1998-2001.
  • Japanese Government Scholarship to pursue Master Degree at Asian Institute of Technology, 1995-1997.
  • Award for the Best Civil Engineering In-plant Trainee, University of Moratuwa, 1987.

 

Languages

  • Sinhala
  • Japanese
  • English

 


    Google scholar: Click here.

    SCOPUS: Click here.

    Research

    RESEARCH INTERESTS

    My research focuses on:

    • Travel behaviour analysis
    • Choice modelling (destination choices, mode/route choices, choice of access modes to Airports)
    • Travel demand modelling and forecasting
    • Investigating travel behaviour change
    • Value of travel time (VOTT) and its relationship with ICT use
    • Investigation of transport policies (transit subsidy, congestion pricing, telecommuting, land use planning)
    • Infrastructure engineering and planning
    • Traffic incident management
    • Transport safety (valuation, child pedestrians, Willingness to pay)
    • Transport and the environment
    • Transport and land use
    • Vehicle ownership modelling and forecasting
    • Developing country research (both safety, travel behaviour and tourism)
    • Planning and management of highway pavements.


    FUNDING (Current and previous)

    • eHUBS - CAPP project (2021-2023) – Funded by INTERREG North West Europe; I act as the Principle Investigator (from Newcastle University) – €392k; CAPP project is built on eHUBS to expand the investigation into three new regions of Dublin, Inverness and Wallonia - consortium covers Netherland (consortia lead), Germany, UK, Belgium, France, and Ireland. 
    • eHUBS (2019-2022) – Funded by INTERREG North West Europe; I act as the Principle Investigator (from Newcastle University) – €412k ; eHUBS is focusing on Travel Behaviour Change with 92 physical eHUBS infrastructure in Europe) - consortium covers Netherland (consortia lead), Germany, UK, Belgium, France https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/ehubs-smart-shared-green-mobility-hubs/ 
    • Duo India Professor Fellowship to research with professor Indrajit Ghosh at IIT Roorkee (2020-22) – Funded by DUO-India Fellowship Programme
    • SPARC Project (2019-2022) – Road Tolling - Funded by SPARC Scheme (India); The consortia consists of BITS Pilani, University of Cardiff and Newcastle University 
    • EPSRC DTC funding (2019-2023) – £57k – PhD studentship starting in September 2019  https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2281091
    • Teaching Funding (2017) – Teaching and computer workshops for Stage 4 students at Durham University - £6k
    • JSPS Bridge Fellowship (2013) – Funded by JSPS to carry out research with 4 Japanese Universities - £12k
    • Research fund from Gateshead Council (2007-2008) – for a student project – £500
    • Catherine Cookson Foundation (2005-2006) – £2.5K
     

    PhD/MPhil EXAMINATION

    • Hutchinson L. (External Examiner - Southampton University - PhD completed in 2021); Thesis Title: Potential of wireless power transfer for dynamic charging of electric vehicles 
    • Watson I. (External Examiner - London South Bank University - PhD completed in 2020); Thesis Title: Sustainability and related factors of high speed railways  
    • Sam E. (External Examiner - Hasselt University, in 2019); Thesis Title: Road safety in Ghana: Analysis of passenger safety evaluations and public transport use  
    • Ubaidillah N. (External Examiner - ITS, University of Leeds, in 2019); Thesis Title: Determinants of car and motorcycle ownership and use in Sarawak. 
    • Afghari P. (External Examiner - University of Queensland, in 2018); Thesis Title: Detecting motor vehicle crash blackspots based on their underlying behavioural, engineering, and spatial causes
    • O'Brien J. (Internal Examiner - PhD completed in 2017); Thesis Title: Modelling the environmental justice of the spatial distribution of air quality
    • Dharmowijoyo D. (PhD Viva Panel - KTH Royal Ins. of Technology, Stokcholm - PhD completed in 2016); Thesis Title: The complexity and variability of individuals’ activity-travel patterns in Indonesia
    • Park D. S. (External Examiner - Southampton University - PhD completed in 2016); Thesis Title: A comparative assessment of modal shift policies (MSPs) in the passenger sector in Korea
    • Chen W. (Internal Examiner - MPhil completed in 2016); Thesis Title:  The role of sentiment analysis with Twitter data in improving the understanding of passenger satisfaction  
    • Narh A. (Internal Examiner - PhD completed in 2015); Thesis Title: Applications of chaos theory to forecast urban traffic conditions
    • Matar H. (Internal Examiner - PhD completed in 2015); Thesis Title: Indoor and outdoor exposure to PM10 in properties in the vicinity of urban streets 
    • Caygill M. (Internal Examiner - PhD completed in 2014); Thesis Title: Public attitudes to long distance travel nd perceptions of high speed rail 
    • Cairns J. (Internal Examiner - PhD Viva completed in 2013); Thesis Title: Emissions Abatement Technology, Fuels and Low Emissions Vehicles: Win-Win for Air Quality and Climate Change?
    • Wedagama P. (Internal Examiner - PhD completed in 2005); Thesis Title: The relationship between Urban Land Use and non motorised transport accidents and casualties 


    PhD/MPhil SUPERVISION

    • Ayan, H. (Main Supervisor, from Sept'21), Demand for Light rail transit systems in the UK)
    • Burke M (Main Supervisor, from Sept'19), Cycling Infrastructure
    • Meenapinunt P. (Main Supervisor, from Dec'21), Mode choice behaviour in developing countries
    • Chakravarty A. (2nd Supervisor, from March'22), Air quality modelling using data clustering methods
    • Wang H. (2nd Supervisor, from Sept'18), Supply chain management
    • Bostaji, A. (2nd Supervisor, from Sept'18), Air Quality and public transport
    • Turner J.(Main Supervisor, from Dec'17), Trip sharing in rural communities, completed in 2020
    • Akgun N.(Main Supervisor, from Feb'16), Transport safety, completed in 2019
    • Ali F. (Main Supervisor, from Jan'15), Travel Behaviour, completed in 2018 
    • Sykes P. (2nd Supervisor), Uncertainty in decision making, completed in 2018
    • Yosritzal (Main Supervisor), Travel Behaviour, completed in 2014
    • Alkaabi A. (Main Supervisor), Traffic Incident Management - completed in 2013
    • Widyastuti H. (Main supervisor, from Nov'07), Transport Safety - completed in 2011

     

    ESTEEM INDICATORS

    • Duo India Professor Fellowship, 2020
    • Bridge fellowship, JSPS, 2012
    • Chief Reviewer, Committee on Travel Behaviour analysis and Forecast, Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS)
    • Expert Reviewer, African Development Bank
    • RAENG Travel Grant to participate the TRB Meeting, 2007.
    • Member of the International Scientific Committee (ISC) at Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS)
    • Member of IATBR (International Association of Travel Behaviour Research)
    • External Course Assessor, MBA, University of Sunderland
    • Reviewer, Committee on Transport in Developing Countries, WCTR Conference
    • Reviewer, Committee on Transport in Developing Countries, TRB, Washington DC.
    • Reviewer, Committee on Travel Behaviour and Values-ADB10, TRB, Washington DC.
    • ICRA Award to the project titled "Inter-regional Valuation of Transport Safety in Asian Cities", First Prize (2004~2007).
    • Reviewer, Committee on Environmental Concerns-A1F00, TRB, Washington DC.
    • Reviewer, Committee on Transportation Strategies Towards Mobility and Communities, ISSOT (International Student Seminar on Transport Research), Chiba, Japan.
    • Award of Excellence for the Best Research Paper and the Presentation, Urban Planning and Transportation Session, Fourth International Summer Symposium, JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers), 2002.
    • Member of the EASTS Research project titled "Travel Behaviour Analysis and its Implication to Urban Transport Planning for Asian Countries", (2001-2003).
    • Member of the Steering Committee, Chair of the Program Committee & a Session Chair (Transportation Strategies towards Mobility and Communities) of ISSOT’02 Symposium, Transportation Strategies in Asian Cities, Chiba, Japan (2002).
    • Award of Excellence for the Best Research Paper and the Presentation, Urban Planning and Transportation Session, Second International Summer Symposium, JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers), 2000.
    • Member of EASTS (Eastern Asia Society of Transportation Studies) (2000-)
    • Member of JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers) (1999-2003)
    • Editorial works, Ninth Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Bangkok, Thailand (1991).

    POTENTIAL PhD TOPICS

    I am interested in recruiting motivated individuals for the following topics/areas:  

    • Electric vehicle adoption
    • Social media for journey planning
    • Autonomous vehicles - attitudes and behaviours
    • Improving customer satisfaction for Metro services
    • Innovative approach to data clustering and identifying groups for future policies

    Teaching

    Undergraduate Teaching

    -        Computational Engineering Analysis (CEG3305, 20 credits)

    -        MEng Dissertation Projects – Civil Engineering (CEG8099; Contributor; 30 credits)

    -        BEng Dissertation Projects – Civil Engineering (CEG3099; Contributor; 20 credits)

    -        Construction Management (CEG3002; Module Leader; 10 credits)

    -        Professional Practice (CEG3703; Module Leader; 10 credits)

    -        Project Management (CEG8002; Module Leader; 20 credits)


    Postgraduate Teaching

    -        Transport Modelling and Traffic Flow (CEG8432, Module Leader; 20 credits)

    -        Transport Policy and Planning (CEG8436; Module Leader; 10 credits)

    -        MSc Dissertation Projects – Transport (CEG8499; Contributor; 60 credits)


    Publications