The methodology of ALLIANCE was built around the analysis of the needs of Latvia and Baltic area on knowledge gain about intermodal transportation networks and the development of the tools to attain this knowledge, providing at the same time excellence and innovation capacity.
ALLIANCE was oriented to intermodal transportation systems, considering legal and organizational issues, identifying smart and sustainable solutions for achieving smooth and seamless transportation, and exploiting decision-making strategies, methodologies and techniques for evaluating the impact of solutions on the transportation domain, economy and society. One of the goals was to deliver a coherent educational/training program, structured in 3 pillars: governance/policy, smart solutions and decision-making, and addressed to enhancing the knowledge of researchers and professionals.
The project focused on intermodal interconnections, as a result of the analysis of data on interchanges for passenger and freight transportation, and educational and training transport programs. A review of good practices included 41 passengers and 13 freight interchanges from 17 EU countries.
The research, educational\training programs in Europe section comprised 3 parts: program identification and selection, data processing and organizing, and programs’ presentation. 18 and 19 educational programs were selected to be reviewed for both EU and Latvia, respectively.
The analysis resulted in the identification of 20 educational areas for interchanges, which were combined in 12 courses that compose the core of the Sustainable Transport Interchange Program (STIP). STIP was elaborated and organized throw Summer Schools in 2017 and 2018. The course material was divided into parts: a) Core, b) Freight transportation (1st School), and c) Public transport systems: from research to decision making (2nd School). Core courses were covered over both Schools, while content for “Freight” and “Passenger” courses was modified to cover freight and passenger interchanges.
The knowledge-sharing strategy was set up by defining beneficiaries and sharing tools that include: e-resources, STSEs, educational/training programs, Summer Schools and collaborative research activities.
During the project, 12 STSEs were successfully completed, 2 Training schools, 3 Young researchers’ seminars, 3 “Train the Trainers” seminars/workshops and 2 Summer Schools were organised. More than 100 participants took part in training activities, at least 50% from them – TTI students and staff.
The scheme of double supervising for PhD/MSc students was developed and currently is used for 2 PhD students of TTI. 10 MSc and 5 PhD students from TTI chose the research topic of sustainable transportation. 5 collaborative research teams were set up and 15 publications were prepared by TTI with the partners in topics of the ALLIANCE. A Special Issue of Transport and Telecommunication Journal was published as output from collaboration teams.
In the frame of the project, networking activities were completed: the participation of TTI in ECTRI, the involvement of TTI students and staff, Latvian business entities to the ALLIANCE events: Summer Schools, Conferences, Workshops, Final Conference etc.
The e-platform of the project was established, to support training activities and digitalized version of STIP.
The dissemination material that has been produced include: a project presentation, a leaflet, a poster, 16 press releases, 5 fact sheets, a roll-on banner, 3 newsletters, 3 promotional articles and an official video.
ALLIANCE, apart from the dissemination of knowledge on intermodal transport interchanges’ operation and best practice, aimed at the configuration of a new way of interdepartmental collaboration amongst research organizations and universities, identifying the gaps and hierarchizing the needs, enriching the educational process to enlighten the grey points in the most effective way providing excellence.
The expected impacts were achieved by pursuing the ALLIANCE objectives and work approach, to improve to a measurable and significant degree the overall scientific and innovation capacity of TTI in the domain of interconnected transportation systems.
ALLIANCE developed a coherent dissemination plan and organized networking activities that embrace the EC. Dissemination activities (more than 70) have good coverage, with an estimated number of persons reached more than 10000.
