Researchers have been awarded £49,027 by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop ‘AI-powered strategies’ to improve transport resilience to climate change.
The project, which is being conducted by Birmingham City University (BCU), intends to examine ‘key transport corridors’ in the UK using real-time data, international best practices and AI tools to produce decision-making support systems and policy guidance for government and transport authorities.
BCU also hopes that through this research communities will be able to access more reliable, cleaner transport.
Highways understands that the research is expected to last 12 months, with the team planning to focus on data collection and integration (transport, climate, and emissions datasets) in the first phase.
They then plan to follow this with the development of AI models for risk detection and mapping vulnerabilities. Initial steps are also expected to include organising a kick-off workshop with stakeholders to refine priorities and align objectives.
Dr Syed Attique Shah, principal investigator and senior lecturer in smart computer systems at BCU, said: ‘This is cutting-edge research which will harness AI to safeguard our transport infrastructure against the growing challenges of climate change.’
‘We can use this technology to anticipate vulnerabilities, optimise maintenance and guide low-carbon investments. Our project will help protect commuters, freight operators and local businesses from service interruptions and financial losses.
‘Communities will benefit from more reliable, cleaner transport options, while policymakers and industry can prioritise cost-effective resilience measures.’
Additional support for the research was provided by a £10m flexible fund from the National Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable, and Resilient Transport Infrastructures (DARe), which is provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Transport (DfT).
Image credit: Shutterstock @richardjohnson
