PhD Studentship - International students

PhD Project: Mobile computing for public transport operations

This award is provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Tracsis plc and is available for a research project in the area of:

Mobile computing for public transport operations

This project will investigate mobile computing in the context of passenger train operations, although the findings will also be applicable to other public transports and other sectors. The aim is to improve the reliability and efficiency of train services through innovative control and management processes enabled by advanced mobile computing technologies. Recent platforms with form factors such as the Android tablets have given rise to many excellent affordable consumer applications with very impressive easy-to-use touch screen and gesture based user interactions. It is anticipated that the use of such mobile devices will be central to this project.

For example, the UK rail network is shared by many train operating companies (TOCs). The attribution of delays, and substantial costs to the TOCs, is performed days later based largely on data recorded at signal points on the network. When signal points are far apart, incidents occurred in between might be obscured. Although train drivers are required to report delays and incidents, they only do so at the end of their shifts manually on paper forms. A mobile tablet application equipped with GPS for the driver could ensure that all stoppages of the train are accurately logged with prompts for the causes to be recorded then or at a convenient time later. From this, many improvements to the current practices of control and management of the rail network could be made possible. Timely notices, such as new speed restrictions ahead, could also be clearly communicated to the drivers. There could also be new practices in how delays caused by drivers (not arriving on time etc.) are controlled and managed.

This research will be carried out in collaboration with, in addition to Tracsis, several major UK train companies. The main focus will be a framework model of how the system objects, processes, and relevant technologies are brought together. Particular emphasis will be on system usability, security and robustness. The research will be multi-disciplinary in a real world environment. New mobile applications will bring system/process changes. Modelling the existing system, analysing requirements, proposing changes, and designing the new system model are challenges. On-the-move human computer interaction in specific train operating environments requires very careful design for the system to be usable. There would be issues of when, what and how information has to be pulled or pushed. The mobile application would have an enormous complex base of information, yet the small mobile device screen will have to look uncluttered and display only the needed information at the appropriate time. Communication, security, robustness and integration with other systems will also be technological challenges to be addressed. Furthermore, other advanced computing paradigms such as Cloud Computing and Software As A Service may be incorporated where appropriate.

Further Information:
The Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards are a national initiative to bring outstanding students from Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Russia, South Africa and the developing world to the UK to study for PhD degrees in top-rated research environments.

Further details about the eligibility criteria and application form can be found at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/rsa/postgraduate_scholarships/DHPA-AppForm11.

Value: The studentship covers international fees and maintenance at the standard EPSRC rate (currently £13,590 per annum).

Entry requirements: Applicants must hold a First Degree at undergraduate level equivalent to at least a UK First Class Honours degree. Applicants should either have graduated with the appropriate First Degree or be in their final year of study.

Supervisors: Dr Raymond Kwan

Application deadline: 6th May 2011

Further information: To discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Raymond Kwan, e: r.s.kwan@leeds.ac.uk, t: +44 (0)113 343 5760 .

How to apply: Further details about the eligibility criteria and application form can be found at: www.leeds.ac.uk/rsa/postgraduate_scholarships/DHPA-AppForm11. Completed forms should be returned to the Postgraduate Scholarships Office by the deadline.

If you require any further information please contact the School's Student Support Office, e: rsadmit@comp.leeds.ac.uk, t: +44 (0)113 343 5440.