SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT GRADUATE RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM SEPT-GRIP 18 PHD RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS Expressions of interest are sought for eighteen (18) competitive scholarships to undertake full- time PhD research at Monash University as part of a Graduate Research Interdisciplinary Program (GRIP). This GRIP brings together six faculties and focuses on the topic of Sustainable and Effective Public Transport (SEPT). The SEPT-GRIP is jointly funded by Monash University and industry groups including Public Transport , Metro Trains , , VicRoads, Melbourne and the Bus Association of Victoria. The program includes an advanced, collaborative professional development program based in the field with industry. Purpose: While cities play an increasingly important economic and social role, growth has generated significant transport challenges including traffic congestion and associated liveability, health, environmental and social impacts. Improving and developing new public transport systems has been widely acknowledged as a progressive solution but significant challenges remain for these systems. Achieving growth in ridership and encouraging mode shift remain key concerns for both research and practice while issues such as personal safety, an ageing population, workforce gender diversity and the changing behaviours of millennials are also important issues to consider. Effective use of older infrastructure, achieving better reliability and coordination and funding new and existing systems are major barriers to progress internationally. New technologies and new concepts for designing public transport including ride sharing will challenge conventions of how public transport is run in the future. Advanced research is needed in all these and related fields to sustainably and effectively address the urban transport problem using public transport into the future. SEPT-GRIP aims to create a next generation of industry leaders in the field of public transport with a deep understanding of the practical difficulties faced by industry whilst also sharing a vision for a pro-active approach to dealing with these challenges using a cross disciplinary and inclusive approach to academic research. A major aim of the SEPT-GRIP is to break down barriers between disciplines to develop inclusive understanding and generate innovative solutions. SEPT-GRIP will undertake ground breaking research in the field of public transport to address both the opportunities and the challenges faced by industry and the community in Victoria and internationally. • Scholarship: $26,288 p.a. (non-taxable, indexed annually) over 3 years (plus a 6 month extension option). • Further information: The following pages detail the 18 project themes that have been defined with an industry partner and supervisor, background information, topics, eligibility, selection criteria and contact details. • Deadline for expressions of interest: Expressions of interest are still open for Topic 1 (Personal Security on Public Transport) until 25 April 2016. Expressions of interest for all other topics have now closed. • To Apply: Complete the online Expression of Interest form • Enquiries: [email protected]

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RESEARCH TOPICS FOR THE ‘SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT - GRADUATE RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM’ (SEPT-GRIP) (31-03-2016)

A . SPONSORED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT VICTORIA & MONASH UNIVERSITY

1. Personal Security on Public Transport Customer research regularly suggests that the sense of personal security is important in making travel choices. But public transport is just part of a wider experience of public spaces. • What shapes the perceptions of personal security when travelling on public transport? • Do perceptions differ between users and non-users? • How are those perceptions affected by the media? • What would be the most cost effective ways to lift perceptions?

Supervised by Dr Alexa Delbosc ([email protected]): Institute of Transport Studies, Monash Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Masters Degree in a relevant field • Research and/or practical experience relevant to the stated topic is preferred • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills

2. Mining Big Data and Visualisation There is an explosion in the availability of very large data sets relevant to public transport customers and to the planning and delivery of services. But there are only limited instances in Victoria where that data is being used to inform decision making, by customers or the service planners/ providers. • What new and relevant data sets are available? • How can they be mined to extract meaningful information? • How can visualisation help to communicate that information clearly?

Supervised by Dr Meead Saberi ([email protected]); Director Monash City Sciences Group Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program. • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Transport Engineering, Machine Learning, or Applied Mathematics (applicants with a master's degree are strongly preferred) • Research and/or practical experience relevant to transport engineering, big data, machine learning, pattern recognition, clustering, or data visualisation. • Applicants should have strong quantitative, analytical, and programming skills. Knowing Matlab, C++, Python, or GIS is a plus. • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred.

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3. Improving Network Synchronisation in Melbourne There is a growing need for the public transport network to be synchronised to enable multi- modal trips to be made as conveniently as possible. But with over 2000 trains, trams and buses operating at any given time, the logistics are complex. • Can the existing synchronisation tools (including HASTUS) be improved for local application? • What data sets exist or could be generated to describe existing and potential future travel needs? • How can operational modelling and demand modelling be merged to optimise network design? Supervised by Professor Mark Wallace ([email protected]): Faculty of Information Technology; Director of the CTI-Monash Centre for Optimisation in Travel, Transport and Logistics Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Computer Science or Operations Research • Research and/or practical experience in algorithms for transport planning or scheduling • A desire to do research that makes a difference in practice.

4. PTV as a “Shared Mobility” Agency The community's needs for personal mobility increasingly include transport options such as bike hire and car share. This creates an opportunity for PTV to integrate these schemes with the public transport system to better meet customers' broader mobility needs.

A bike hire scheme has been operating in Melbourne for 5 years and has recently been taken over by PTV to operate the system in an integrated way with Melbourne’s public transport. • How can the success (or failure) of a bike hire scheme be best measured? • What have been the main determinants of success of such schemes to date? • What are customers looking for? How can public transport users be best integrated into the bike share scheme? • What would be the best approach to a Melbourne Bike Scheme? • Is there potential for the scheme to operate more widely in Victoria? • How could car share and other emerging mobility options also be integrated with the public transport system?

Supervised by Professor Geoff Rose ([email protected]): Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program. • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in a relevant field including quantitative research training • Experience with the design and/or administration of travel surveys or travel survey data analysis • Experience with spatial representation of data using GIS.

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5. Changing Travel Behaviour to Reduce Car Use Including Increased Public Transport Use As Melbourne grows it is becoming clear that we cannot build our way out of the problem of increasing traffic congestion. This project seeks to better understand ‘marginal’ car users who could be encouraged onto public transport. Its goal is to improve on behavioural approaches to encouraging less car use using travel demand management. The purpose is to encourage mode shift to public transport as well as reducing travel and use of other alternative modes including ride sharing. A major outcome will be a better understanding of approaches VicRoads can use to reduce car use using behaviour change programs. The project will consider all users who might shift to public transport including emerging markets such as Millennials who are increasingly moving away from conventional behaviours toward car use and licensing.

Supervised by Dr Alexa Delbosc ([email protected]): Institute of Transport Studies, Monash Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in a relevant field including public transport, travel behaviour or transport policy • Research and/or practical experience relevant to the stated topic • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred. • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills.

6. Tourism and Public Transport Tourism provides a large net gain to the Victorian economy and the Tourism industry is seeking ways to improve access to the many tourism venues in Melbourne and regionally. Tourists (and other visitors) have special needs when it comes to being able to conveniently use public transport. These needs are often different from commuters’. This project seeks to improve how Victoria’s public transport system caters for both domestic and international visitors • What are the special needs of Domestic and International visitors to Victoria? • How well is Victoria’s public transport system catering for those needs? • What are the benefits to Victoria if the public transport offering to tourists can be improved • Where are the major opportunities for Victoria’s public transport system in supporting tourism?

Supervised by Dr Vicki Peel ([email protected]): Director of Graduate Programs, Faculty of Arts and Senior Lecturer in the Master of International Sustainable Tourism program Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Tourism or a related Social Science field. • Research and/or practical experience relevant to transportation in tourism and/or tourism destination development • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. • Demonstrated capacity in qualitative and quantitative research methods

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7. Exploring Reliability Engineering Approaches between Melbourne and Best Practice Railways This project explores the reliability performance of selected rail track and rolling stock components in Melbourne and contrasts them with approaches taken in the world’s most reliable railways in Hong Kong and Singapore. The focus is on known reliability performance outcomes and the factors that drive these including approaches to strategic planning of maintenance, how systems are managed and factors such as redundancy and resilience in the approaches taken. The aim is to understand factors driving the superior reliability performance of Asia’s major urban railways and how this might be used to develop a process for considerable improvement in performance in Melbourne.

Supervised by Professor Wing Kong Chiu ([email protected]): Institute of Railway Technology, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in a relevant field. • Research and/or practical experience relevant to rail engineering reliability • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills.

8. Understanding and Improving Gender Diversity in the Public Transport Workforce This project explores the causes of gender bias in the Victorian public transport workforce and explores more effective approaches which can be used to create a better gender balance. The project also seeks to explore the wider benefits of a better gender balance on both productivity and the wider social and economic impacts.

Supervised by Professor Margaret Alston OAM ([email protected]) ; Professor of Social Work and Head of Department, Director of the Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) research unit Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in a social science based discipline • Research and/or practical experience relevant to the stated topic • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills.

B. SPONSORED BY & MONASH UNIVERSITY

9. Future Train: Design investigation into passenger rail carriage interiors for Melbourne Metropolitan rail is an important contributor to the movement of people in Melbourne. Its higher capacity compared to buses, freedom from encumbrance from road users, ability to make frequent stops, and relatively long life of vehicular infrastructure makes rail an attractive proposition over other forms of transport. However, rail networks can struggle to be punctual, especially during peak times, and crowding can contribute to poor passenger perceptions and experiences of the mode. This project seeks to investigate and develop design responses to mitigate metropolitan and suburban rail problems. The research program will include design studies evaluating modular and compartmentalised carriage features, optimising pertinent human factors, consider the provision of information, passenger boarding alighting and

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dispersal, materiality and respond to the emerging issues around population demographics, such as an ageing population etc. It is important that the outcomes of the investigation and design study have realisable benefits and impact.

Supervised by Dr Selby Coxon ([email protected]): Acting Head, Department of (Industrial) Design, Faculty of Art Design and Architecture Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or Master’s Degree in Architecture • High standard of design excellence as demonstrated through a portfolio of completed design projects at both urban and architectural scales • High standard of relevant drawing and visual communication skills as demonstrated through portfolio

10. Designing the Urban Rail Environment to Reduce Vandalism and its Impacts on Service Reliability and Customer Experience Vandalism on railways acts to deteriorate service quality as trains must be removed from service. It also acts to reduce the quality of passenger environments by reducing feelings of personal safety and generally deteriorates the quality of the passenger experience of rail. This project seeks to explore how the design of rail rolling stock, stations and rights of way might be better adapted to reduce vandalism as it impacts on rail reliability and customer experience. The project will explore types of vandalism and its motivations. It also seeks to understand how vandalism impacts on service reliability and how passengers perceive and are influenced by vandalism. The research will identify effective redesign proposals for the rail environment to address vandalism and its service/passenger impacts.

Supervised by Dr Selby Coxon ([email protected]): Acting Head, Department of (Industrial) Design, Faculty of Art Design and Architecture Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in industrial design • A highly developed portfolio of design work and achievements • Demonstration of industry and or research experience relevant to the research topic

C. SPONSORED BY VICROADS & MONASH UNIVERSITY

11. A New Model for SMART Bus and Tram Priority Implementation Much evidence suggests that at high passenger volumes, buses and trams are by far the most effective means of carrying passengers on roads. This is where provision of roadspace and intersection time in the form of preferential priority is an effective means of managing roads. However, it is not always clear where these treatments are best applied. Also, how are buses and trams best managed where road traffic and parking are major concerns? The research project develops a new framework for Smart Bus and Tram priority by categorising sections of roads shared with on-road public transport within a hierarchy of importance. This hierarchy is developed as part of the research which also considers appropriate treatments given the relative importance of sites. The research includes a case study application where the framework is applied to a range of Melbourne network conditions.

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Supervised by Prof Graham Currie ([email protected]) : Director of the Public Transport Research Group, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Civil and/or Transport Engineering or Transport Planning • Research and/or practical experience relevant to transport and traffic engineering • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred.

12. Simulating Bus and Tram Priority in Traffic Flows The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Monash have been working with VicRoads to create a traffic flow simulation model to explore how trams and buses interact with traffic on roads. This research project extends the research to explore how tram/bus can better be managed in and around traffic priority treatments.

Supervised by Dr Tim Garoni ([email protected]) , School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in a relevant field (mathematics, computational physics, traffic engineering, or related field) • Research and/or practical experience in mathematical/computational modelling and/or traffic engineering • Experience with stochastic modelling and/or scientific computation is desirable, but not essential

D. SPONSORED BY YARRA TRAMS & MONASH UNIVERSITY

13. Best Practices in Placemaking and Street Redesign as Part of Tram Modernisation Melbourne’s tram system is undergoing a strategic modernisation program including redesign of over 1,000 tram stops and rethinking the layout of streets to improve tram operations and to improve the quality of the customer environment. For inner Melbourne these programs represent a significant opportunity to reinvent how streets work as places for the community and for effective employment and retail/commercial rejuvenation. The project seeks to understand best practices in redesigning streets to best focus the redesign work Yarra Trams is planning with its partners. The research will consider: • Best practices in redesigning streets as places; the principles aims and good practices of successful placemaking • Understanding the functional requirements for street design in relation to trams • Understanding international best practices in this area including inputs from the French Nouveaux Tramway movement, the EU COST action TU1103 on Operation and safety of tramway in interaction with public space and North American Complete Streets movement • Exploring ways to measure the quality of outcomes to guide best practice design and to measure the benefits of these outcomes to the community • Identifying practical research outcomes that can guide better street design around trams in future.

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Supervised by Prof Graham Currie ([email protected]) : Director of the Public Transport Research Group, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Civil and/or Transport Engineering/ Transport Planning or Urban Design, Planning or Architecture • Research and/or practical experience relevant to Transport or Urban Design • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred.

14. Older Passengers and Falls in Trams Trams have superior ride quality to buses and can also accelerate and decelerate at a quicker rate. This and the frequent need for braking due to traffic interference has been one of the many causal factors said to have generated increasing rates of passenger falls within trams. This a major concern with an aging population and increased use of trams. This project seeks to better understand the extent, conditions and causal influences of incidence of passenger falls in trams by older passengers. Its central aim is to identify and test mitigation strategies to reduce the rates of these incidents and their impact including specific redesign concepts for the interior of trams. This project is paired with project 9 and 16 (which also concern aspects of design for an aging population); these students will work together to identify mitigation strategies for trams.

Supervised by Associate Professor Judith Charlton ([email protected]): Associate Director, Behavioural Science for Transport Safety, Monash University Accident Research Centre Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • H1 or H1-equivalent undergraduate degree AND/OR Masters Degree, preferably with a research component (e.g. research thesis or substantial research project) AND/OR equivalent industry experience, preferably with research exposure • Essential: A demonstrated passion for safety, preferably relating to road safety issues • Desirable: Familiarity and/or experience with tram, bus or vehicle safety issues

E. SPONSORED BY TRANSDEV BUSES & MONASH UNIVERSITY

15. Transit Network Design with Consolidated High Frequency Fixed Routes plus Demand Responsive ‘Last Mile’ Service Patterns One of the most pervasive problems in Australian public transport network design is the problem of servicing large low density suburban areas using expensive fixed route bus resources. There is now much evidence that consolidation of fixed route services into straighter, higher frequency corridors acts to improve ridership and service effectiveness. However this results in longer walk access distances creating a ‘last mile’ access problem for older and disabled passengers and disenfranchises many low density remoter suburbs many of which are built on a non-linear design which are harder for a traditional bus to access. This project explores a new network concept where fixed route services are concentrated into main corridors but coverage gaps are filled using demand responsive feeder transport systems. The projects looks at the costs and benefits of fixed route consolidation and explores alternative concepts for last mile demand responsive feeder service access. It will consider

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new developments in demand responsive transit as well the implications of new smart phone mobile communications and products (including Uber or equivalent type of service) on booking approaches and service and usage patterns. Economic, community, operational, environmental and social impacts will be considered.

Supervised by Prof Graham Currie ([email protected]) : Director of the Public Transport Research Group, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Masters Degree in Civil and/or Transport Engineering or Transport Planning • Research and/or practical experience relevant to public transport planning or engineering • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred.

16. Future Bus – a Multi-Purpose Bus for Changing Needs and Roles New technologies and design thinking are reinventing the potential of bus design, moving away from the conventional view of the bus as a slow, boxy, impersonal shell for the travel of only captive travellers. At the international congress of Public Transport, the Super Bus prototype was unveiled; a luxury passenger bus with operating speeds of 250km/hr for long distance demand responsive transport. This research project seeks to explore what a ‘future bus’ might look like for urban local bus transport which can both meet emerging needs of bus travellers and the flexible alternative roles which buses of the future will need to fulfil. Travel needs are becoming more diverse with an increasing youth market of ‘tech-savy’ Millenials who contrast with a growing base of older and disabled users with physical amenity and access needs. The role of the bus is also changing; while they will always need to provide fixed route mass transit service, demand response services which can penetrate into more confined streets and suburbs or hilly areas are also needed. Advanced designs which fulfil a multi-purpose role are needed including consideration of modular construction concepts and incorporation of new propulsion systems including wireless electric systems. Future buses will also need to consider different sustainable energy sources which might be electric, hydrogen fuel, or…?

Supervised by Dr Robbie Napper ([email protected]): Senior Lecturer, Department of Design, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in industrial design • A highly developed portfolio of design work and achievements • Demonstration of industry and or research experience relevant to the research topic

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F. SPONSORED BY BusVic & MONASH UNIVERSITY

17. The New Bus Rider – An in-depth synthesis of motivations, influences and impacts Increasing public transport ridership is now a common worldwide strategy for growing cities facing the economic, social and environmental problems of increasing traffic congestion. While much is understood about the sensitivity of travel markets to changes in fares and service levels, little is known about the individual human scale factors that led to choosing public transport and how these factors acted to change an individual’s social and economic participation in society. This program focuses on the new bus rider and explores their stories and the conditions that led to new bus trips and their impacts. It seeks to develop a more in depth understanding of new ridership and how this impacts their lifestyle and economic participation in society. It will also identify variables/factors most likely to encourage people to start using buses. It will also explore lost riders as a contrasting factor. • What factors act to make a person decide to use bus services? • How does new travel affect their social and working life • Can individual stories of change in travel better inform our aggregate understanding of travel behaviour change • What can we learn from this to progress increasing bus ridership into the future?

Supervised by Prof Graham Currie ([email protected]) : Director of the Public Transport Research Group, Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program • An H1 (first class) or H1 equivalent honours degree and/or a Master’s Degree in Civil and/or Transport Engineering or Transport Planning or a related discipline associated with behavioural studies • Research and/or practical experience relevant to public transport planning, market segmentation and behavioural studies • Applicants should have strong communication (both oral and written) skills. Applicants with at least one ISI journal publication are preferred.

18. Exploring the Road Safety Impacts of Bus Safety Inspections The Victorian bus industry, like other Australian jurisdictions, must meet safety regulation requirements including mandatory bus safety inspections with both annual independent inspections and more regular documented self-inspection processes. This project aims to understand the road safety impacts of these regulatory standards through a review of current crash records and their links to bus safety issues and a comparative analysis of bus safety in other regulatory contexts. The project will contrast bus and coach crash records against those of other transport industries including the Australian truck and heavy vehicle industry who do not have mandatory independent safety inspection regulations. The project will also seek to understand general risk factors for bus crashes to better understand safety standards in the context of other risks. It will also seek to better understand what aspects of safety inspections are having greater impacts on road safety than others.

Supervised by Dr David Logan ([email protected]) , Monash University Accident Research Centre Specific Eligibility Requirements: • Meet Monash University's minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a higher degree by research program

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• H1 or H1-equivalent undergraduate degree AND/OR Master’s Degree, preferably with a research component (e.g. research thesis or substantial research project) AND/OR equivalent industry experience, preferably with research exposure • Essential: A demonstrated passion for safety, preferably relating to road safety issues • Desirable: Familiarity and/or experience with tram, bus or vehicle safety issues

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