Archived

What structural design changes can be made to vehicles/infrastructure approaches to reduce the transmission risks of future pandemics and increase resilience? What interventions could we make if a contagious agent was present which tends to spread through mechanisms different to those seen in Covid-19 which spreads via droplets and surfaces?

Background

Build confidence in the transport network as the country
recovers from Covid-19 and improve transport users’
experience, ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, and
inclusive
Context
We must put the needs and expectations of current and potential users at the heart
of the operation of the transport system, especially given the significant impact
Covid-19 has had on both usage and perceptions of public transport. Ensuring that
our infrastructure and the services which use it meet the varied needs of businesses
and the public, are attractive, affordable, sustainable and resilient is a crucial goal for
the department.
Key areas of focus are:
• Building confidence and improving the public transport experience
• Improving the experience for road users
• Building a transport network that works for everyone
• Continually improving the safety, security and resilience of the transport system
The research and evidence needs listed below are integral parts to help deliver our
key areas of focus and address how we make progress against initiatives such as the
National Bus Strategy, William-Shapps Plan for Rail, and the Inclusive Transport
Strategy. This is more important than ever as the risks from COVID-19 reduce,
people build the confidence to return to public transport and new travel patterns
emerge. Social and behavioural science and research is core to the delivery of all our
programmes, including R&D. This is critical to ensure the development and delivery
of policy includes the needs of all groups, especially those often marginalised.

Next steps

Get in touch with BridgetoResearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Areas of research interest 2021

Related UKRI funded projects


  • GCRF_NF359: Modelling the exposure risk tradeoff between public transit and private paratransit for transport decision making in the era of Covid19

    A safe and functioning transport system is vital to maintain economic activities in countries, developing or not. In most developing countries, the transport system is characterised by a crowded bus transit and micro-tra...

    Funded by: GCRF

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to model the exposure risk in different types of transport modes, which directly addresses the question of reducing transmission risks of future pandemics.

  • Research Hub for Decarbonised Adaptable and Resilient Transport Infrastructures (DARe)

    Our Vision is for climate resilient, net zero development of the transport system to be guided by systems analysis. When this vision is realised, decision-makers will have access to (and visualisation of) data that tells...

    Funded by: SPF

    Lead research organisation: Newcastle University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on creating a resilient and adaptable transport system, which could potentially include measures to reduce pandemic transmission risks, but does not specifically address this issue.

  • Future Resilient Transport Networks - FUTURENET

    Much current discussion about transport and climate change focuses on the impact of transport on climate change. Indeed, many mitigation measures are focussed upon the transport change, and many mitigation measures are f...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on the impact of climate change on the transport system, which is not directly related to reducing transmission risks of future pandemics.

  • TRACK: Transport Risk Assessment for COVID Knowledge

    Public Transport (PT) patronage is currently well below the norm, but as restart progresses the number of people using transport systems will increase. This could increase COVID-19 infection due to increased proximity an...

    Funded by: COVID

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

  • PHOEBE - Predictive approacHes fOr SafEr urBan Environments

    Safer urban environments are needed for all road users to ensure the European targets to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030 are met. Vulnerable road users require specific attention in an urban environment that is su...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: THE FLOOW LIMITED

  • Unicard Smart Mobility: Covid recovery for the transport sector through micromobility data

    This project is to develop and launch "Unicard Smart Mobility". It is an open transport data collection and visualisation platform and set of standards, designed to help Local Authorities (LA) adapt to the rapi...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: UNICARD LIMITED

  • Real-time data-driven insights to drive sustainable travel & bus network resilience post-Covid-19

    Buses running to schedule is a perennial problem faced by transport authorities. Major cities including Cambridge have struggled to gain insights into the root cause of bus delays, in order to better manage and operate w...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ALCHERA DATA TECHNOLOGIES LTD

  • Save-a-Space for social distancing in transport services

    This project addresses the urgent need for transport operators to be able to efficiently implement social distancing on their tram/rail services amid current COVID-19 restrictions and to optimally manage demand, access a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ACCELOGRESS LIMITED

  • Delivering a Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Pipeline for Resilient Future Mobility

    Public transport is the cornerstone of modern society, enabling people to access education, employment, healthcare, leisure activities, and more. However, public transport can be disrupted by extreme weather events such ...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

  • Covid-19 transport travel times

    TravelTime Technologies have already built and commercialised a technology platform, accessed by API, that enables clients in 40 countries to analyse their own data by travel time, not distance. As one example, the NHS u...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: TRAVELTIME TECHNOLOGIES LTD