Our focus
Our researchers are powering the future of transport infrastructure systems with multidisciplinary research collaboration in industry-shaping projects across the following focus areas.
- road safety evaluation
- mobility and safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs)
- roadwork/work zone safety
- future transport systems
- connected and automated vehicles
- surrogate safety analysis
- incident response vehicle design and operations
- roadwork traffic management
- technology and program evaluation
- traffic simulation
- transport user behavioural studies.
Research areas
Road safety evaluation
With a strong focus on ‘translation of research to practice’, this group specialises in the scientific evaluation of road safety policies, programs and technologies. In partnership with industry and government agencies across Australia and New Zealand, researchers are evaluating innovative road safety programs to make road travel safer, including:
- an innovative proactive alert system for improving the safety of cyclists at road intersections
- speed control strategies at rural intersections
- side road activate signs to improve safety at high-speed intersections
- motorcycle safety treatments in mountainous areas
- technological and traffic management solutions for improving roadwork safety.
Roadwork safety and traffic management
Through engagement with the roadwork and transport industry, our research aims to improve the safety of roadworkers and motorists at Australian roadwork sites (work zones). We’ve made significant contributions to the roadwork safety and traffic management policies and guidelines in Australasia, including creating an evidence base for improving roadwork safety using innovative safety technologies and practical traffic management processes. Our team programs work to make roadwork zones safer and efficient for current and future transport systems.
Statistical modelling of transport data
This group research advanced statistical modelling of various transport data, including crashes, near misses, travel speeds, traffic surveys, and road user perception and preference surveys. Our research lab is equipped with advanced analytical and modelling capabilities, software suites, and field data collection processes.
Vulnerable road users
Recognising the importance of meeting the mobility needs of vulnerable road users (VRUs; cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians) without compromising on safety and privacy, we are collaborating with industry and community groups to transform the future of VRU mobility and safety. Selected current and recent projects include:
- improving cycling safety at intersections using real-time personalised safety alerts
- examination of commonly omitted factors in pedestrian safety at Victorian intersections
- innovative data collection techniques for analysing cycling safety and user privacy
- motorcycle safety analysis for mountainous roads
- modelling of VRU safety events (crashes, near misses, user reported incidents)
- safety perception of VRUs in real-world and virtual reality platforms.
Traffic simulation
Researchers in this lab examine innovative traffic management and control strategies to develop advanced simulation models of traffic control and network management. Working with industry partners in Australia, our lab applies a range of simulation tools for developing micro, macro and mesoscopic simulation models for both online and offline traffic management. The lab specialises in modelling roadwork operations, temporary traffic management and shared road usage.
Traffic conflict techniques
In addition to modelling reactive safety data, this research group performs proactive safety analysis using surrogate safety metrics, including traffic conflict techniques. Our research on traffic conflict techniques focuses on developing proactive road safety management systems and models for quick and efficient evaluation of road safety treatments. We utilise the strengths of proactive safety analysis approaches for both urban and rural road infrastructure systems.
Connected and automated vehicles
Our research focuses on the operational and safety aspects of CAVs at shared road spaces and high-speed roadways, from the viewpoints of different types of road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. We are developing cutting-edge models for efficient and safe traffic control and interactions between CAVs and other road users.
Group members
Researchers
| Name | Research interests |
|---|---|
Associate Professor Ashim Debnath (Director) | Road safety, roadwork traffic management, cycling, vulnerable road users, smart transportation, statistical and econometric methods |
Discrete element modelling, pavement engineering, computational plasticity | |
Simulation of engineering systems, experimental design, traffic simulation | |
Road safety, heavy vehicle, transportation economics, statistical and econometric methods | |
Roadworks, qualitative research, survey research, motorcycle and mopeds | |
Roadwork safety, traffic simulation, survey research | |
Transport data analysis, literature review, numerical simulation |
Collaborators
| Name | Affiliations |
|---|---|
Deputy Director of Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University | |
Professor of Distributed Systems and Security, School of Information Technology, Deakin University | |
Research Professor, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology | |
Alfred Deakin Professor and Deputy Director of Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University | |
Professor of Complex Systems, Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University | |
Associate Professor of Robotics and Human-Machine Systems, Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University | |
Associate Professor in Urban Planning and Design, Monash University | |
Senior Lecturer in Transport Engineering, La Trobe University | |
Senior Lecturer in Construction Management, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University | |
Senior Research Fellow in Modelling and Simulation, Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University |
PhD students
| Name | Thesis topic |
|---|---|
Modelling shared road space: Quantitative examination of the operational and safety characteristics of shared road space types in the UK and Australia | |
Road crossing, automated vehicles and behavioural adaptation | |
Sadia Afroza | Examination of commonly omitted factors in pedestrian safety analysis |
Examination of associations between roadwork design and safety outcomes | |
External interfaces for automated vehicles in shared spaces | |
Integrated control on freeway and CAV fleet to improve safety | |
Determining the Dynamics of Risk in Motorway Traffic Scenarios (Access Ramp and Lane Changes) to inform the Development of Future Performance Metric Requirements for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles |
Projects
Funded projects
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Mr Alexey Medvedev, Prof Chee Peng Lim, Prof Arkady Zaslavsky, Dr Ali Hassani, Prof Douglas Creighton, Dr Wonmongo Soro, Dr Vu Le, Dr James Zhang (2021-2023) Improving cycling safety at intersections using real-time personalised safety alerts, Office of Road Safety (Cat 1 grant), $339,733
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Nhu Nguyen, Prof Mahmud Ashraf, Dr Ross Blackman, Ms Sajani Siriwardene (2022-2023) Working Near Traffic – Work Zone End of Queue Study, iMOVE CRC and Transport for New South Wales, $300,000
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Prof Chee Peng Lim, Mr Alexey Medvedev, Prof Douglas Creighton, Prof Arkady Zaslavsky, A/Prof Michael Johnstone, A/Prof Zoran Najdovski, Dr Jan Garrard, Dr Vu Le, Dr Wonmongo Soro (2021-2022) Light Insight Trial (LiT) - smart bicycle lights (2021-2022), iMOVE CRC, Transport Accident Commission, and See.Sense, $282,200
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Ross Blackman, Dr Kaniz Fatima (2022-2023) Improving road worker safety on the M1, iMOVE CRC and Transport and New South Wales, $100,000
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Ronny Kutadinata, Dr Kaniz Fatima (2021-2022) Guidelines for Incident response vehicles and truck mounted attenautors (2021-2022), iMOVE CRC and Austroads, $132,820
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Wonmongo Soro (2022-2023) Evaluation of speed limit reduction on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria Department of Transport, $50,000
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Wonmongo Soro (2022-2023) Probe data trial, Victoria Department of Transport, $44,344
- A/Prof Zoran Najdovski, Dr Jacquie Cotton, A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Prof Douglas Creighton, Prof Arkady Zaslavsky (2021-2022) Agriculture Plant Safer Equipment Research, SafeWork Victoria.
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath, Dr Wonmongo Soro (2021–2022) Side Road Activated Speeds (SRAS) – Development of framework, survey design and analysis for short-term evaluation, Victoria Department of Transport, $37,520
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath (2020–2021) High-speed rural intersections evaluation project, Victoria Department of Transportation
- A/Prof Ashim Debnath (2019) Strategic transport modelling development, Victoria Department of Transportation
Highlighted projects
Light Insight Trial (LiT) – smart bicycle lights (2021–22)
iMOVE CRC, Transport Accident Commission, and See.Sense
Improving road worker safety on the M1 (2022–23)
iMOVE CRC and Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)
Improving cycling safety at intersections using real-time personalised safety alerts (2021–23)
Office of Road Safety
Probe Data Trial: Examination of the validity of Probe speed data with point to point and spot speed data (2022–23)
Victoria Department of Transportation
Working Near Traffic – Work Zone End of Queue Study (2022–23)
iMOVE CRC and Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)
Side Road Activated Speeds (SRAS) – Development of framework, survey design and analysis for short-term evaluation (2021–22)
Victoria Department of Transportation
Contact us
If you're interested in undertaking research studies with us, please contact a member of our team listed above to discuss a potential topic of interest.
For more information about our research, please contact our Director Associate Professor Ashim Debnath.