Confronting tomorrow's transport needs
Cutting-edge technology, methods and tools exist to deliver cost-efficient and sustainable transport. Funded by the EU, the 'Training in European asset health management' (TEAM) project leveraged their uses to offer innovative solutions for transport. The project set out to find various ways to capitalise on recent advances in inexpensive and reliable sensor and processing technologies, methodologies, models and algorithms. To achieve this, 14 early-stage researchers were recruited to work with project members. Research training events were also held, with involvement from industry stakeholders. Through state-of-the-art research with a strong industrial focus, the team helped maximise the potential of the technologies, processes and software tools. This allowed them to better monitor the state and security of transport infrastructure such as buildings, streets, machinery and equipment. More accurate evaluations of infrastructures' conditions and safety will result in better maintenance and less repair and replacement. In addition, it will lower downtime and costs and minimise use of resources. Research findings were disseminated to key transport players through events and conferences and widely published in trade and academic journals. By the end of the project, about half of the researchers had either completed their doctoral degrees or were in the process of doing so. Most chose a career in industrial transportation. TEAM introduced novel solutions to meet Europe's growing transport demands. The project also contributed to the EU's transport policy, which is at the heart of the Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs.
Keywords
Transport, freight transport, enabling technologies, asset health management, transport infrastructure
