The Transport AI Innovation Centre, or TRAICE, combines expertise from across the University as it looks to become the leading centre of excellence for advancing smart, safe, efficient, equitable and sustainable transport.

The Centre, which will secure the University’s reputation as a leader in transport and AI, will harness and enhance the latest advancements in data and artificial technologies, ensuring comprehensive coverage and innovative contributions to the field of transport research.

With more than 70 academic staff from all nine of the University’s Schools and a vibrant community of PhD and postdoctoral researchers, TRAICE will be one of the UK’s largest transport research and innovation centres. Work across the Centre will fall into seven interlinked themes:

  • Vehicle Digital Twin
  • Electrification and Automation
  • Connectivity
  • Smart Mobility
  • Safety and Human Factors
  • Cycling
  • Cities and Planning

Dr Haitao He from the University’s School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering is Director of the new centre. He said: “TRAICE is the UK’s first transport research and innovation centre that champions a fully interdisciplinary approach, bringing together over 70 academic staff from all nine Schools at Loughborough University to tackle critical transport challenges. As we establish TRAICE, our vision is to become a leading Centre of Excellence for advancing smart, safe, efficient, equitable, and sustainable transport.

Professor Dan Parsons, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation said: “I am delighted that we are launching the Transport AI Innovation Centre, building on Loughborough University’s long history of delivering internationally excellent research and innovation in transport. The Centre’s interdisciplinary approach will play an instrumental role in addressing the critical challenges in the transport sector, working with partners to drive innovation that has far-reaching global impacts across multiple fields, from healthy living to decarbonisation. This launch event today underscores Loughborough University’s commitment to world-leading research and innovation that addresses the global challenges of our time – creating better futures, together.”

Dean of the University’s School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Professor Malcolm Cook added: “TRAICE is an exciting development for us at Loughborough University. The new centre, which originates from the successful transport and urban planning group in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, recognises the complex, multifaceted challenges facing transport logistics and draws on expertise beyond planning and civil engineering, bringing together mathematicians, economists, social scientists as well as other engineering disciplines. I look forward to seeing the new advances in research and the impact these have on our stakeholder activities.”