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Staff Profile

Simon Edwards

Senior Researcher in Inclusive Mobility

  • Address: School of Engineering
    Stephenson Building 4th Floor
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
    UK
Background

Role: Senior Researcher in Inclusive Mobility

Specialities include all aspects of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), with 20 years’ experience leading the FMG’s (formerly TORG) participation in our portfolio of EU projects in this field. Through this, I have developed extensive experience in successful funding applications, project management, deployment site management, trial design and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement, as well as international dissemination.

In recent years, FMG has repositioned itself more towards UK funding opportunities, and I have led our involvement in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) projects, whilst also participating in our alternative fuels research, with particular interest in the potential for hydrogen.

My specialist field remains Inclusive Mobility, in particular accessibility for disabled and older people to the transport network and associated technology, to facilitate social inclusion.


Responsibilities

My current roles and responsibilities are:

  • Project Management of UKRC-funded contracted research projects
  • Management of researchers and other consortium members towards delivery of contracted research including deliverables, reports, brochures and data analysis/ evaluation
  • Management of pilot and demonstration activities, including building local consortia with transport operators, local authorities, industry, and end users
  • Evaluation activities, in particular subjective data collection and analysis with end users
  • Leading FMG's involvement in funding applications in the CAV, alternative fuels and inclusive mobility fields
  • Supervision of PhD, MSc, MENG and BENG students
  • Reviewer of international journal papers


Major projects include:  

Zero Emissions H2 Demonstration in Airport Applications (IUK, 2023-25), Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (IUK, CCAV, 2023-25) V-CAL (IUK/CCAV, 2023-25) Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub (IUK, 2021-22) ViTAL (DIF, 2021-24) 5G CAL (DCMS, 2020-22) C-MOBILE (EC, 2017-21) CAPITAL (EC, 2017-20) ITS Observatory (EC, 2015-2017) C-ITS Smart Corridor Newcastle (DfT, NCC, 2015-2019) COMPASS4D (EC, 2013-2016) SmartCEM (EC, 2012-2015)


Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=6leRRg0AAAAJ&cstart=40&view_op=list_works


Research Gate: Simon Edwards (researchgate.net) 


 

Research

Summary of Core Research Interests

  • Inclusive Mobility, in particular ITS applications for disabled and older people
  • Intelligent Transport Systems and their practical application and acceptance
  • Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV)
  • Alternative fuels, in particular hydrogen


Current Projects

This section lists current projects (value to FMG in parentheses):

  • Zero Emissions H2 Demonstration in Airport Applications at TIAL and RAF Leeming (IUK; £268,000; 2023-25)
  • Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (IUK/CCAV; £230,000; 2023-25) - autonomous vehicles (public road)
  • V-CAL (IUK/CCAV; £165,000; 2023-25) - autonomous logistics
  • ViTAL (Defence Innovation Fund; £2.94m; 2021-24) - hydrogen and decarbonisation at MOD


Past Projects

This section lists successful funding bids (value to FMG in parentheses), projects now completed: 

  • 5G CAL (DCMS; £272,000; 2020-22) - autonomous logistics (5G-enabled)
  • Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub (IUK; 2021-22) - hydrogen airport ground fleet conversion
  • C-MOBILE (EU; 340,000 euros; 2017-20) - cooperative systems
  • C-ITS Smart Corridor (DfT/ Newcastle City Council; £200,000; 2016-18) - cooperative systems
  • CAPITAL (EU; 2017-20) - cooperative systems and ITS training
  • VIAJEO (EU; 2013-2016) - urban mobility
  • COMPASS4D (EC; 2013-2016) - cooperative systems
  • SmartCEM (EC; 160,000 euros; 2012-2015) - electric vehicles
  • SiDE (UK Funding Councils; £3 million; 2009-2014) - digital inclusion for young, old and disabled people
  • SAVE ME (EC; 500,000 euros; 2009-2012) - safety of transport infrastructure
  • Veritas (EC; 268,000 euros; 2009-2013) - accessibility for older people
  • NICHES (EC, 2008-2011) (Principal Investigator) - mainstreaming niche urban transport applications
  • AALIANCE projects (EC; 44,000 euros; 2008-2010) (Principal Investigator) - ICTs for older people
  • OASIS (EC; 460,000 euros; 2008-2011) - multi-sector applications available on a single platform for older people
  • YorCard (Industry; £257,000; 2007-2009) - smartcard-based ticketing roll out in West Yorkshire
  • MESSAGE (EPSRC; £860,000; 2006-2009) - environmental pollution monitoring, data analysis and policy implications
  • EMMA (EC; 158,000 euros; 2006-2008) - sensor systems for V2V, V2I and I2V
  • TRACKSS (EC; 172,000 euros; 2006-2008) - sensor systems for V2V, V2I and I2V
  • ASK-IT (EC; 225,000 euros; 2004-2009) - multi-sector applications available on a single platform for disabled people
  • TRANEE (EC; 41,000 euros; 2004-2006) - ICT for freight SMEs
  • Soft Benefits of Smart Cards (UK government NSCP; 2003-2004) - non monetary benefits of smart cards
  • ASTRA (DfT; £53,000; 2004-2005) - Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communications
  • Transport Direct (DfT; £8,000; 2003-2005) - real time travel information
  • IMAGE (EC; 127,000 euros; 2001-2003) - delivery of travel, wayfinding and point of interest information to mobile devices
  • I-AIM (EPSRC; £135,000; 1999-2001) - navigation system for wheelchair users


Postgraduate Supervision

  • Supervision of MSc, MERNG, BENG and PhD students


Teaching

Co-design and delivery of CEG8422 and CEG8431

Contributions to other masters' modules

Supervision of post-graduate and undergraduate student dissertations and reports


 

Publications