Battle of potholes…Michigan potholes rival those craters on moon

March 31, 2014 at 7:41 pm

The long and crazy winter is finally nearing its end but then the impact of this prolonged bad weather can be felt even after that last speck of snow is gone.. As shown in this below video by a Michigan driver, the potholes resulting from the winter weather are ridiculously deep and rattles your vehicles pretty badly..

These tire-munching monsters are not only wrecking the vehicles that go over them but they also cause severe damages to your wallet as well. If that is not enough, swerving drivers who intend to avoid these ginormous potholes pose serious road safety challenges to oncoming vehicles, especially in the night.. Plight of road surfaces, particularly in rural areas, is the same in many parts of the country where mother nature showed wrath.. It only means one thing –  the tax payers can expect some seriously high “patching” bills along with the vehicle repair bills as the spring blooms.  With many states already way deep in the red after exhausting their winter maintenance budgets (spent on salt, ice removal, etc), this is going to be really hard to digest..  The American  Automobile Association (AAA) warns that the annual tab for motorists in the USA dinged by potholes is nearly $6.4 billion. Nearly $4.8 billion is spent each year to repair damage to cars resulting from Americans ‘run-ins with potholes, utility cuts and other dangerous road conditions—almost four times the $1.3 billion a year spent on road repairs by state highway departments.”

So, how bad is it for the Washington, DC metro area? Listen to the AAA on these astronomical numbers: “Driving on roads sorely in need of repair costs Maryland motorists $1.598 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs, or ‘$422 per motorist,'” according to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. In Virginia, drivers spend $1.344 billion a year, or $254 per motorist, while It costs District of Columbia drivers $311 million a year, or $833 per motorists, according to ASCE.  Aside from the direct cost of repairs, don’t forget to factor in the time wasted on negotiating the workzones when the pothole crew work hard to fix the mess. In all, it is safe to say we are screwed!

All around brilliance – Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk’s CBS 60 Minutes Interview

March 31, 2014 at 6:54 pm

Thank god this guy chose to focus his energy and investments on transportation, one of the most-neglected fields from an investment perspective.  Elon Musk’s interview is a testament to what one man can aspire and do to inspire a generation with his ideas.

 

Bookmark worthy.. Infograph: Taxi Fares Around the World

March 31, 2014 at 6:12 pm

This neat infograph from Cheapflight.ca (H/T Business Insider) shows how much lighter your wallet will be when you have to hitch a ride from the airport to your destination in the city (downtown/CBD/etc).. Could definitely come in handy when you are planning that next vacation abroad.. Strangely, Asia is the home to both the cheapest (Delhi, India) and highest (Tokyo, Japan) taxi fare in the world.  It will be awesome if someone compiled a list that shows the cost of public transportation to the airport (such a linkage may be non-existent in some parts of the globe but I’m hoping the metropolitan cities listed below would definitely offer that connectivity).

Source: Cheapflights.ca

 

When cars were a novelty… “The Safest Place” 1935 Chevrolet Film About Car Safety

March 28, 2014 at 7:33 pm

H/T Bernie Wagenblast

This is vintage gold. The Chevy sponsored short film below helps show road safety from 1930s. Chevrolet also tries to convince us the new safety features of their latest cars make them the safest place to be, showing dramatic accidents to prove their point! Interestingly, the traffic fatalities statistics shows that cars were not actually the safest places to be in that era.  There were 34,494 fatalities recorded in 1935 in the United States, which had a population of 127 million at that time. With 228 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and adjusted fatalities per 100,000 population 27.1, was not an ideally safe environment for travel by car. In comparison, today we have about 34,000 deaths for a population of 314 million, with an VMT of 2,954 billion and adjusted fatalities per 100,000 at 10.833.  Thankfully the technology has come a long way to make the cars safer and we have a few more options than a Chevy to look to for a safer ride. Nonetheless it is pretty cool to see how things were back in the day.

Job Alert: Chief, Traffic Division – Baltimore City Department of Transportation @ Baltimore, Maryland

March 26, 2014 at 7:12 pm

via Young Professionals in Transportation

(Salary: $75,600 – $104,300)
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation, an urban multi-modal transportation agency with primary responsibility for the City’s roadways, bridges, transit systems, and traffic safety is seeking a dynamic professional to function as the City’s Chief Traffic Engineer and manage the Traffic Management Center.

The Chief of the Traffic Division will lead a team of professional engineers, managers and  technicians to:

  • Authorize installation of Traffic Control Devices including signals, signs and pavement markings
  • Operate and maintain the city’s 1,350 traffic signals
  • Conduct Traffic Studies
  • Develop measures to enhance all modes of transportation in the City;
  • Implement the City’s Complete Streets Program
  • Oversee multi-disciplinary planning and design teams for roadway improvement projects, ITS projects, transportation safety projects, bicycle and pedestrian projects, and other transportation-related projects;
  • Oversee consultant resources through the planning and design project development processes;
  • Recruit and hire professional traffic engineers
  • Manage agency-wide data collection and GIS programs;
  • Manage the agency’s transportation safety improvement program;
  • Manage the agency’s transportation management center;
  • Manage the signal electronics and signal construction maintenance shops; Conduct training of staff and consultants;
  • Conduct traffic policy research and analysis on a range of topics;and
  • Other duties as required.

Desirable qualifications: Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, five years of experience managing engineering projects as a licensed professional engineer, certification as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, and a minimum of five years directly supervising senior engineers, junior engineers and engineering technicians. Consideration may be given to a combination of experience and/or education. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director and will have frequent contact with the Director of Transportation, the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, and members of City Council. This is a benefited, at-will position serving at the pleasure of the Director of Transportation.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover memo and resume, which specifically addresses the experience relevant to this position, to Kathy Litz, Baltimore City Department of Transportation, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 546, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 or email to: Kathy.litz@baltimorecity.gov. Submission deadline is March 31, 2014.

An equal opportunity employer.

USDOT Offers a Free Public Meeting and Webinar on the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program

March 18, 2014 at 9:49 pm

The U.S. Department of Transportation will host a free public meeting and webinar to inform stakeholders on the progress, products, and next steps of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program.

The public meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2014, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in Washington, DC. The public meeting will also be webcast at no charge.

Summary

Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Description

On March 12, 2014, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a Request for Information (RFI) that will be used to help refine the plans for one or more connected vehicle pilot deployments  (https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/03/12/2014-05414/connected-vehicle-pilot-deployment-program-request-for-information).

The Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program seeks to combine connected vehicle and mobile device technologies in innovative and cost-effective ways to improve traveler mobility and system productivity, while reducing environmental impacts and enhancing safety. The FHWA anticipates a procurement action for one or more pilot deployment concepts in 2015.

Purpose of Public Meeting and Webinar

The purpose of the meeting is to inform private sector stakeholders on upcoming opportunities and to seek input from public sector implementers as they prepare to integrate emerging connected vehicle and mobile device technologies into operational practice.   The meeting will provide information on the organizing principles and preliminary schedule of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program.  In addition, the meeting will provide a summary of challenges identified in the RFI and facilitate a further discussion with stakeholders regarding the most salient challenges. This meeting is being sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Programs Office (ITS JPO).

The meeting will take place at:

HOLIDAY INN CAPITOL 
550 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20024,
(202) 479-4000

To register, visit: www.itsa.org/cvpilotsregistration

For further information contact:

Carlos Alban
Transportation Program Specialist
Intelligent Transportation Society of America
1100 New Jersey Ave., SE, Suite #850
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-721-4223
Email:  calban@itsa.org

– See more at: http://www.its.dot.gov/meetings/cv_pilot_deployment.htm#sthash.D84C5YAq.dpuf

Job Alert: Senior Research Analyst, Local Policy – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) @ Washington, DC

March 13, 2014 at 5:26 pm

ACEEE, a leading national nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., seeks a qualified research analyst for its Policy Program. ACEEE is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of around 50 staff members founded in 1980 that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors.

Position Description:

ACEEE seeks a Senior Research Analyst to focus on local policy as a member of its Utilities, State, and Local Policy team. The position provides a balance of research, analysis, and outreach on energy efficiency policy in the United States as it relates to policy and program implementation by local governments and in cities and metropolitan regions. Efficiency policy issues within the scope of the position include those related to multifamily housing, utility incentive programs, local government operations, building regulations, water and wastewater service provision, and land use/transportation decisions. ACEEE’s local policy work also emphasizes issues of local job creation, economic development, and environmental health benefits of energy efficiency.

Focusing on energy issues across economic sectors at the local level, the research analyst will have a variety of research opportunities in one of ACEEE’s most dynamic and multi-disciplinary programs. The core responsibilities of the position include:

  • Acting as the day-to-day coordinator of a project to improve the energy efficiency of multifamily housing by sustaining existing relationships and building new partnerships between utilities and the housing community. The analyst will work directly with utilities to help improve their multifamily energy efficiency programs and collaborate with affordable housing organizations.
  • Serving as a core staff person for developing technical assistance research for local governments and other local implementation partners, such as energy utilities, and tracking local energy efficiency policy developments. Projects will include developing case studies and “how to” introductions to various energy efficiency topics.
  • Providing major contributions to the biennial City Energy Efficiency Scorecard and the related local policy database, which provide peer comparisons among U.S. cities on energy efficiency policy and performance metrics.

Working at ACEEE, the analyst will lead projects of high visibility and credibility in the energy efficiency, housing and policy communities. As a researcher and project coordinator, the position offers unmatched access to national experts in energy efficiency as well as critical sources of primary data in government agencies and utilities. It also provides an opportunity to develop expertise and leadership experience on one or more topics of energy efficiency policy and programs. ACEEE and its Utilities, State and Local Policy Program are dynamic, growing, and comprised of a highly motivated and collegial team.

Expectations and Responsibilities:

  • Highly analytical and detail-oriented. The analyst will conduct rigorous and peer-reviewed primary research dealing with complex quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Excellent writing skills. The analyst is expected to produce several detailed research reports, white papers, fact sheets, and blog posts on energy efficiency policy and programs.
  • Superb organizational and project coordination skills . The position requires experience coordinating complex, long-term projects independently and as part of teams. The analyst must also balance multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Strong interpersonal skills . He/she will maintain close relationships with a large network of stakeholders across the country in federal, state, local government and in the private sector to inform research and broaden the reach of ACEEE research and technical assistance. The analyst must also coordinate and collaborate with numerous ACEEE staff members on cross-cutting research projects.
  • Articulate and thoughtful . As an author of highly visible reports, the analyst will conduct media interviews and present at conferences and events. The analyst must be able to clearly explain research and positions to laypeople, other experts, and skeptical audiences.
  • Highly motivated, self-starter . The analyst will have to stay apprised of energy efficiency policy and program developments in the utility, buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors.
  • Tech-savvy and quick learner . The analyst will also contribute to pages on ACEEE’s website including those related toLocal Energy Efficiency Policy.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree strongly preferred. Degree or rigorous coursework in policy analysis, urban planning, economics, engineering, and/or science;
  • Three or more years of work experience, with demonstrated project development, coordination and leadership experience;
  • Experience in policy analysis or planning, preferably including work on local government issues, including housing or transportation, and energy, environmental, and/or utility policy. Experience working with affordable multifamily housing and utility efficiency programs is strongly preferred but not required;
  • Experience with or sound knowledge of energy efficiency;
  • Demonstrated passion for clean energy, economic development, and environmental issues.

Preferred Start Date: on or about March 31, 2014, based in Washington, D.C.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To Apply: Send cover letter, resume, and brief (1-2 pages) writing sample to job_openings@aceee.org and use “Local Policy Research Analyst” in the subject line. We do not accept phone calls.

ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability.

See here for more info.: http://aceee.org/about/jobs/senior-research-analyst-local-policy

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Adding a new feather in my cap! Selected for the 2014 Vanguard Class!

March 11, 2014 at 5:01 pm

I’m truly humbled and honored to be selected for the Vanguard Class of 2014 heading to Chattanooga, TN during April 2014. What makes it extra special is that I’m one of the 40 emerging young leaders selected from a pool of 300 super-qualified applicants.

Hosted by Next City, this fifth annual Vanguard conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. is a gathering of the best and brightest young urban leaders working to improve cities across sectors, including urban planning, community development, entrepreneurship, government, transportation, sustainability, design, art and media. The conference will engage these professionals from around the country on series of presentations, workshops, tours and other activities over a period of three days.

Looking at the names and designations of others in my 2014 cohort, it is just beginning to sink in that this is a seriously big deal. The selectors have put a lot of faith in my potential for impact (Questions they asked during the evaluation process: will this person have their life changed by the conference? what can this person teach someone else from across the country? and will this person be leading the urban affairs field forward in 10 years?). The selection make me realize the challenges ahead and I’m determined to validate their faith in my abilities to deliver. My home town folks in India won’t even know what this means but it all started from that dusty corner of Southern India and I owe this to them.

Can’t wait to meet fellow 2014 classmates and get started on this new quest to reshape and redefine urban America. Below is the announcement posted on the Next City website.

Source URL : http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/announcing-the-2014-vanguard-class

Announcing the 2014 Vanguard Class

Chattanooga | 03/11/2014 7:00am | 0
DIANA LIND | NEXT CITY

Credit: Casey Yoshida, Cargo Collective

Next City has been hosting its annual Vanguard conference for five years and never before have we seen such a quantity of terrific candidates. (You can read more about the 300 applications we receivedhere.) Indeed, the growing demand for participation in Vanguard suggests that we need to find ways to expand future conferences beyond 40 attendees. As we begin thinking about the 2015 event, you can anticipate that we will broaden the participant pool.

We had to turn down so many young stars from around the country, and I can imagine many of them wondering why they weren’t picked. The selection process is more of an art than a science, but in a nutshell, our two guiding principles for choosing Vanguard participants are diversity (geography, ethnicity, profession, personal character) and potential for impact (will this person have their life changed by the conference? what can this person teach someone else from across the country? and will this person be leading the urban affairs field forward in 10 years?).

We have always sought to make Vanguard a conference for emerging leaders, and so even those applicants with enviable resumes weren’t necessarily our top picks. Likewise, we have been committed to linking cities across the U.S. While cities such as New York and San Francisco certainly boasted some of the highest-caliber candidates, we also recognize that there is talent from smaller cities that deserves to be connected with those coastal innovation hubs, too.

We’re proud to meet and connect with this outstanding group in Chattanooga in April. The 2014 Vanguard class, along with over a dozen Vanguard alumni, will meet for workshops, local tours and an “unconference” to collectively learn and think about how to improve our cities. The event is made possible with support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Benwood Foundation and the Footprint Foundation, and it is being curated with the help of a host committee made up of local civic innovators. Stay tuned to Next City (#Vanguard14) for live coverage from the conference and recaps afterward. And congrats to this year’s class!

VANGUARD CLASS OF 2014

Jamie Alderslade
Citi Community Development, Director of Policy, Research and Communications
Brooklyn, NY

Ian Beniston
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, Deputy Director
Youngstown, OH

John Bilderback
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Step ONE Program Manager
Chattanooga, TN

Nick Bowden
MindMixer, CEO
Omaha, NE

Marlon I. Brown
Michigan State Budget Office, Budget and Policy Analyst
Mason, MI

Noah Budnick
Transportation Alternatives, Deputy Director
Brooklyn, NY

Demion Clinco
Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, President
Tucson, AZ

Harmon L. Cooper
Sedgwick LLP, Associate
Bowie, MD

Rondell Crier
Rondell Crier Design, Owner
Chattanooga, TN

Melissa Dittmer
Rock Ventures, LLC, Architect
Detroit, MI

Amanda Eaken
Natural Resources Defense Council, Deputy Director of Sustainable Communities
San Francisco, CA

R. Denise Everson
DC Housing Authority, Redevelopment Project Specialist
Washington, DC

Lakweshia Ewing
Hamilton County Department of Education, District Coordinator Community Partnerships
Chattanooga, TN

Mike Field
JP Morgan Chase‎, Senior Analyst
Jacksonville, FL

Cristina Garmendia
OpportunitySpace, Co-founder
Allston, MA

Juan Gomez
California’s Boys and Men of Color Initiative, Statewide Advisor
Freedom, CA

Ashley Z. Hand
City of Kansas City, Chief Innovation Officer
Kansas City, MO

Brandon Holmes
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Greater Peoria, Executive Director
Peoria, IL

Lisa Hook
The Asia Foundation, Senior Program Officer
San Francisco, CA

Christine Ingrassia
St. Louis City Board of Aldermen, 6th Ward Alderwoman
St. Louis, MO

Kiran Jain
City of Oakland, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Berkeley, CA

Milicent Johnson
Peers, Director of Partnerships and Community
San Francisco, CA

Maeghan Jones
Chattanooga Area Food Bank, President
Chattanooga, TN

Michael Kaufmann
Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Director of Special Projects and Civic Investment
Indianapolis, IN

Stephen Larrick
City of Central Falls, RI, Director of Planning and Economic Development
Providence, RI

Vanessa Leon
Pinchina Consulting, Founder
New York, NY

Adrian Michelle Lipscombe
City of Austin, Bike Share Coordinator
San Antonio, TX

Andrew Londre
Couleecap, Business and Income Developer
La Crosse, WI

Manasvi Menon
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Associate Consultant
Brooklyn, NY

Justin Garrett Moore, AICP
NYC Department of City Planning, Senior Urban Designer & City Planner
New York, NY

David Thomas Moran
Geo-social Photographer
Orlando, FL

Carlos Moreno
CAP Tulsa, Graphic Designer
Tulsa, OK

Ananda Palanisamy
Citizant, Inc., Senior Transportation Management Specialist
Rockville, MD

Jenny Park
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, Senior Planner
Chattanooga, TN

Maria Poblet
Causa Justa :: Just Cause, Executive Director
Oakland, CA

Sarah Ray
McKinsey & Company, Associate
Washington, DC

Lindsey Scannapieco
Scout, Director and Founder
London, UK

Peter Smith
U.S. Social Security Administration, Policy Advisor
Baltimore, MD

Boris Suchkov
MTA New York City Transit, Principal Transportation Planner
Staten Island, NY

Kim Szeto
Boston Public Schools, Farm to School Coordinator
Boston, MA

William Christopher Tate
TateSpace LLC, Founder and President
Paterson, NJ

Julie Ulrich
The Nature Conservancy, Urban Strategies + Watershed Coordinator
Philadelphia, PA

Alissa Walker
Gizmodo, Urbanism Editor
Los Angeles, CA

Jase Wilson
Neighbor.ly, CEO
Kansas City, MO

Katelyn Wright
Greater Syracuse Land Bank, Executive Director
Syracuse, NY

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Job Alert: Assistant Professor Assessment of Smart and Sustainable Transport Systems – TU Delft @ Netherlands

March 10, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Department/faculty: Civil Engineering and Geosciences 
Level: PhD degree (prof)
Working hours: 38 hours per week
Contract: 5 years
Salary: €3.259 to €6.039 per month gross

TU Delft Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

TU Delft Logo

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences provides leading, international research and education. Innovation and sustainability are central themes. Research addresses societal issues. Research and education are closely interwoven. The faculty consists of the departments of Transport & Planning, Structural Engineering, Geosciences & Engineering, Water management, Hydraulic Engineering and Geoscience & Remote Sensing

The Department Transport & Planning (T&P) focuses on the planning, design, operation and management of transport systems, addressing road transport, public transport and passenger and freight transport systems. T&P consists of 50-60 staff members, of which 20 permanent. The department is responsible for the T&P track in the MSc Civil Engineering, the TU Delft Transport Institute and coordinates the interfaculty Master Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics. The department is the only research group in Civil Engineering in the Netherlands that was awarded the maximum score at all research assessments during the last 15 years.

Job description

Scientific research activities will focus on new assessment methods that support the planning and design of transport systems. Traditionally, congestion in transport systems was addressed by planning new or extending existing transport infrastructure. Today a wider range of measures that aim at smart and sustainable use of available transport networks is considered. As a consequence, there is a need for innovations in methodologies for the quantitative assessment of these measures for all relevant effects: economic, environmental, safety and spatial. Apart from extending and elaborating the assessment framework, there is also a need for methodologies that can be used in quick scan analyses.
Candidates will contribute to the initiation, acquisition and execution of research projects, including supervision of MSc and PhD students. Close cooperation with other members of the scientific staff of the department and wider university and developing relationships with practitioners are essential.
Educational activities will include redesigning the MSc course CIE 4760 Infrastructure projects: assessment and planning, contributing to the BSc course Impacts of Transport Infrastructure on economy and environment and supervision of BSc as well as MSc students.

Requirements

You have an MSc and PhD degree in a relevant subject, preferably Civil Engineering. You can demonstrate outstanding research potential and have published in peer-reviewed, international scientific journals or can show an innovative design and engineering portfolio. You have a holistic, integral approach combined with a strong background in quantitative methodologies and modelling. You are able to connect scientific methods and results to practical applications. Inspiring lecturing skills and excellent command of the English language are considered crucial. Non-Dutch speaking candidates will commit to learn Dutch within 2 years after appointment.

The position offered is a tenure-track position for a period of 5 years, leading to a permanent position assuming good performance in scientific research, project acquisition and education. Depending on your experience you are appointed as assistant tenure track professor (€ 3.259 – € 6.039 per month gross). You will participate in the Tenure Track program to further develop your educational, research and personal skills. You will work in a multidisciplinary team that conducts cutting-edge academic transport research and which has a state of the art transport lab. The team actively connects research results to innovative real world projects and is supervising an increasing number of MSc and PhD students.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you have less than five years of experience and have not yet obtained your Basic Teaching Qualification, we allow you up to three years to obtain this.

Information and application

More information about these positions can be found at http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/en/about-faculty/departments/transport-and-planning/vacancies/. You may also contact Prof. B. van Arem, phone: +31 (0)15-2786342, e-mail: B.vanArem@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV and a letter of application by 11 April 2014 to D.W.A.M. Verbunt, Recruitment-CiTG@tudelft.nl. When applying for one these position, please mention the position and refer to vacancy number CITG14-11.

Inquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

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Educational Opportunity: PhD Candidate for “Perception Based Modeling” – Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria

March 10, 2014 at 5:05 pm

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, the Austrian research institute with European format which focuses on the key infrastructure issues of the future, is looking to strengthen its team in the Department Mobility with the immediate appointment of a PhD Thesis “Perception Based Modeling”

 Job profile:

Over the past years, the “Dynamic Transportation Systems” group within the AIT´s Mobility Department has carried out extensive research in the field of modeling and simulation of human and crowd behavior. The increasing availability of large data sets originating from a broad variety of novel sensor technologies enables to investigate new ways for closing the gap between individual decisions based on context-related perception and the integration of this individual knowledge into mobility simulations. The ultimate goal is to integrate perceptual models with the simulation of movement behavior in train stations, airports and dense urban areas (including shopping areas) in order to optimize mobility flows according to different criteria.

We are seeking an exceptional PhD candidate to fill a sponsored research position involving the development of novel methods to capture and process human perception data as well as to integrate human perception information into mobility simulation tools.

This PhD project will be part of the research collaboration between the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that aspires to advance the state-of-the-art of integrating perception data into simulation models.

Qualifications:

  • Passion for finding creative solutions for bridging the gap between the natural and social sciences
  • Outstanding master´s degree and proven experience in either computer science, software engineering, applied mathematics or sociology, environmental psychology, transportation research with a strong interest in exploring the synergies between engineering and psychology
  • Candidates should have strong, proven knowledge in some of the following areas:
    • Data management (e.g. database systems)
    • Pattern Recognition
    • Mathematical modeling and computer simulation in the field of transportation
    • Good programming skills in Matlab and/or Java
    • Behavior research (e.g. neuroscience, psychology, social science, gaming, or human computer interaction)
  • High motivation for research and capability of working in an autonomous way
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral form

Offer:

  • Begin: Immediately
  • Duration: 3 years

Place of employment: Vienna, Austria; research visits at the MIT

We are pleased to invite interested persons who wish to contribute their knowledge, their network and their ideas to the field of applied research. Please attach meaningful application documents, including certificates and photos.

Mrs. Maria Leonhard-Maurer, MSc
Head of Human Resources
2444 Seibersdorf
Tel.: +43(0) 50550 – 2032
maria.leonhard-maurer@ait.ac.at

click here to apply and to learn more about AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Donau-City-Straße 1 | 1220 Wien, Austria | T +43 (0) 50550-0 | F +43 (0) 50550-2201, office@ait.ac.at | www.ait.ac.at, T +43 (0) 505 50, F +43 (0) 505 50-2201, www.arcs.ac.at

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