Postdoc on Macroscopic traffic flow modelling for value-based dynamic freight traffic management

Postdoc on Macroscopic traffic flow modelling for value-based dynamic freight traffic management

Department/faculty: Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Level: Doctorate

Working hours: 36-40 hours weekly

Contract: Temporary

Salary: 3389 - 4018 euros monthly (full-time basis)

Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology and delta technology. The research covers global social issues and is closely connected to education as well as the work of a wide range of knowledge institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to realise these goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

TU Delft was ranked the first in the Shanghai ranking on Transportation science & Technology in 2017. The Transport and Planning Department (T&P) at the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CiTG) has been awarded the maximum score for all research assessments for the last 15 years. The faculty was ranked 4th place in the latest QS world university ranking. T&P (with about 120 members) has a strong track record in traffic flow theory, traffic simulation, dynamic traffic management and intelligent transport systems of all transport modes, including railway, pedestrians and urban public transport. A trademark of the department is the use of empirical data, incorporating human factors and advanced modelling tools.

Job description

This postdoc position is part of the FTMAAS project (Freight Traffic Management As A Service), a large interdisciplinary project primarily funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). The project is aimed at the integration of value creation, analytics and optimization of both logistics and network level traffic management. The postdoc will work within a specific work package on the modelling of these processes.

The successful candidate will design, implement and apply a dynamic macroscopic model for traffic management which will include value-based logistics, while closely working together with the other subprojects. The model will be applied to develop freight-friendly traffic management scenarios and will be based on a conceptual framework of logistics value and the data-to-value chain to support the creation of freight traffic management scenarios. The model will build on the ongoing dynamic freight traffic modelling efforts at the TU Delft. Available multi-class dynamic models will be applied to show effects of improved travel information on truck rerouting. Also, it will allow a preliminary identification of logistically effective measures in multi-class traffic networks.

The main aim is to extend the dynamic freight traffic models to follow the value chains identified in other parts of the project, so that the model can be used to evaluate (a) a set of freight traffic management measures, including travel time information, accurate ETA’s, routing suggestions and incident management, (b) against a broader set of logistical and societal criteria.

The postdoc will work closely with external project partners and project team members in the department.

The duration of the postdoc position is for three years (36 months), starting from January 2020 depending on candidate availability.   

Requirements

The successful candidate should have a strong background in macroscopic traffic flow model development. Affinity with traffic management and freight logistics are desirable, but not a strict requirement. Knowledge of the state of Dutch traffic management and freight logistics is also an advantage.

Further requirements are: a PhD in a transportation or logistics related field with modelling experience; good analytical skills; good communication skills; self-sufficient working attitude, but also a good ability to act in a team; and excellent English level (speaking, reading, and writing).     

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Information and application

For information about this vacancy, you can contact Lóri Tavasszy, Prof  Freight and Logistics, email: L.A.Tavasszy@tudelft.nl, tel: +31 15 27 84874.

For more information about this position, please contact Prof  Lóri Tavasszy, prof of Freight and Logistics, email L.A.Tavasszy@tudelft.nl or dr. Simeon Calvert, email S.C.Calvert@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV, proof of English language proficiency, abstract of your dr thesis (1 page),  along with a letter of application in a single PDF file entitled “CiTG19.57_Lastname.pdf” by November 1, 2019 to Prof Tavasszy via, Recruitment-CiTG@tudelft.nl.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com