Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa hosted the Cost Action CA16222 WISE-ACT Training School 2019 whose topic was „Modelling and Policy Analysis Tools to Explore the Future of Autonomous and Connected Transport” (ACT). Training School aimed to support skill development of young researchers in key areas of ACT as well as to encourage networking and collaboration. In addition to the training, the participants had opportunity to hold informal discussions with leading ACT experts from industry, public sector and academia. The event was held on 26-28 March 2019.

The training school programme included lectures by renowned international researchers on various aspects of ACT as well as by practitioners from private and public sectors. Covered areas included:

  • ACT forecasting challenges;
  • scenarios development for ACT;
  • use of ACT in last-mile delivery;
  • impact of ACT on transport justice;
  • ACT policies for cities;
  • tools for modelling and impact assessment of ACT.

Apart from 15 keynote lectures and presentations, the significant attention was paid to practical training of the participants through a three-day-long group work challenge in six different topics. Each group was led by two trainers and focused on a specific topic.

The group challenge topics and trainers included:

  • ACT demand scenario of Israel – Prof. Yoram Shiftan, Dr. Nir Sharav
  • Exemplary cities in the ACT era – Prof. Pnina Plaut, Mr. Oded Kutok
  • Social and equity analysis of ACT – Dr. Karel Martens, Dr. Floridea di Ciommo
  • Delivering goods through ACT – Prof. Amalia Polydoropoulou, Prof. Joao Abreu
  • Designing ACT surveys – Prof. Sigal Kaplan and Dr. Bat-hen Nahmias-Biran
  • Business and legal challenges of ACT – Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos, Dr. Federico Costantini

At the end of the event, groups presented their results which were evaluated by the jury. Winning group led by prof. Shiftan and Dr. Sharav with presentation “Assessing ACT scenarios for the strategic infrastructure plan of Israel” consisted of trainees from Israel, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovakia.

More information about the COST Action WISE-ACT, related events, and calls for STSMs can be found on the Action’s website.