PhD Position Dimensioning On-Demand Multimodal Micromobility Sharing Systems

Progressive urbanisation and densification of residential areas pose opportunities as well as challenges on smart mobility to safeguard sustainable and inclusive accessibility. Throughout the EU and world-wide new solutions for personal mobility are being explored in addition to the car and public transport centric paradigms such as on-demand mobility, car sharing and active modes such as walking and cycling. The advent of new solutions for personal mobility offers a perspective to reduce the use of public space by private passenger cars by the means of micro-mobility. Reallocating this space to other functions such as green, water, recreation and commercial activities may lead to cities that are more liveable and sustainable. Yet, the provision of sustainable, adequate and affordable personal mobility in (dense) residential areas is non-trivial, since the demand is high, space is scarce and the acceptance, use and operation of (interacting) new mobility services are insufficiently known.

In recent years, one-way shared mobility has seen large growth. The term micromobility generally encompasses vehicles that weigh under 500 kg, including e-bikes, kick-scooters, and seated scooters. One-way shared mobility can be subdivided into station-based vehicle sharing (SBVS) and freefloating vehicle sharing (FFVS). The main difference between these two modes of vehicle sharing is that SBVS only allows pick-up and drop-off of vehicles at specific locations called stations. This mode of vehicle sharing is mostly present in bicycle sharing (BS) and other micromobility services. The stations are often physical existing stations with a limited number of spots available for dropping off vehicles. Whereas, FFVS allows the drop-off of vehicles at any locations inside a certain geofenced area. The result of this difference is that FFVS offers users more freedom and flexibility. However, balancing the fleet is easier to manage in SBVS. The large growth of one-way shared mobility in recent years is especially visible in FFVS.

This PhD project is initiated to model and solve the service network design problem (in terms of dimensioning the fleet size of a multimodal micromobility system) to better use the public space while maximizing the service level and complying with users' preferences.

Some main elements of the project may include:

• Study the current state-of-the-art in fleet sizing for multimodal shared mobility. Define specific metrics to express accessibility, congestion and public space usage in order to have a better understanding of this dynamic multimodal system.
• Model users' behavior according to a disaggregated level data to explain the user's preferences for drop-off locations and types.
• Find the optimal fleet size for multimodal micromobility services to avoid flawed public space usage and ensure accessibility, service level and low congestion.
• Investigate (experimentally) the impact of the future demand on optimal fleet dimensioning of each miromobility mode.
• Define a choice-driven reallocation planning to steer users to more sustainable dropoff locations (heuristics/or exact)

• A Master's degree in a relevant field, i.e. Operations research, Transportation, Mathematics, Applied mathematics or Computer science.
• Good knowledge of behavioral models and optimization (mathematical modeling, algorithms) and simulation.
• Strong programming skills
• Ability to work both in a project team, but also independently and take leadership and responsibility for research tasks
• A passion for scientific research in close cooperation with practice
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral

If your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.        

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2434 per month in the first year to € 3111 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & 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. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our 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.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Shadi Sharif Azadeh, email: [email protected] , stating the vacancy title and code in the email title.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before December 1st 2021 and submit the following;

• 1-page motivation letter
• Detailed CV
• An abstract of your MSc thesis (maximum one-page, in English)
• MSc transcripts

The application should be made online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Progressive urbanisation and densification of residential areas pose opportunities as well as challenges on smart mobility to safeguard sustainable and inclusive accessibility. Throughout the EU and world-wide new solutions for personal mobility are being explored in addition to the car and public transport centric paradigms such as on-demand mobility, car sharing and active modes such as walking and cycling. The advent of new solutions for personal mobility offers a perspective to reduce the use of public space by private passenger cars by the means of micro-mobility. Reallocating this space to other functions such as green, water, recreation and commercial activities may lead to cities that are more liveable and sustainable. Yet, the provision of sustainable, adequate and affordable personal mobility in (dense) residential areas is non-trivial, since the demand is high, space is scarce and the acceptance, use and operation of (interacting) new mobility services are insufficiently known.

In recent years, one-way shared mobility has seen large growth. The term micromobility generally encompasses vehicles that weigh under 500 kg, including e-bikes, kick-scooters, and seated scooters. One-way shared mobility can be subdivided into station-based vehicle sharing (SBVS) and freefloating vehicle sharing (FFVS). The main difference between these two modes of vehicle sharing is that SBVS only allows pick-up and drop-off of vehicles at specific locations called stations. This mode of vehicle sharing is mostly present in bicycle sharing (BS) and other micromobility services. The stations are often physical existing stations with a limited number of spots available for dropping off vehicles. Whereas, FFVS allows the drop-off of vehicles at any locations inside a certain geofenced area. The result of this difference is that FFVS offers users more freedom and flexibility. However, balancing the fleet is easier to manage in SBVS. The large growth of one-way shared mobility in recent years is especially visible in FFVS.

This PhD project is initiated to model and solve the service network design problem (in terms of dimensioning the fleet size of a multimodal micromobility system) to better use the public space while maximizing the service level and complying with users' preferences.

Some main elements of the project may include:

• Study the current state-of-the-art in fleet sizing for multimodal shared mobility. Define specific metrics to express accessibility, congestion and public space usage in order to have a better understanding of this dynamic multimodal system.
• Model users' behavior according to a disaggregated level data to explain the user's preferences for drop-off locations and types.
• Find the optimal fleet size for multimodal micromobility services to avoid flawed public space usage and ensure accessibility, service level and low congestion.
• Investigate (experimentally) the impact of the future demand on optimal fleet dimensioning of each miromobility mode.
• Define a choice-driven reallocation planning to steer users to more sustainable dropoff locations (heuristics/or exact)

• A Master's degree in a relevant field, i.e. Operations research, Transportation, Mathematics, Applied mathematics or Computer science.
• Good knowledge of behavioral models and optimization (mathematical modeling, algorithms) and simulation.
• Strong programming skills
• Ability to work both in a project team, but also independently and take leadership and responsibility for research tasks
• A passion for scientific research in close cooperation with practice
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral

If your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.        

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2434 per month in the first year to € 3111 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & 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. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our 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.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Shadi Sharif Azadeh, email: [email protected] , stating the vacancy title and code in the email title.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before December 1st 2021 and submit the following;

• 1-page motivation letter
• Detailed CV
• An abstract of your MSc thesis (maximum one-page, in English)
• MSc transcripts

The application should be made online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.