MSc graduation project (Aalbers)

12-11-2010

Challenge the future

DelftUniversity ofTechnology

What is it all about?

Carien Aalbers, CT5060/TIL5060

A thesis or graduation project

2A thesis project: what is it all about?

• Introduction

• Me and my thesis work

• A thesis work

• Introduction

• Where to start?

• Towards the kick-off meeting

• Some aspects of the real work

Contents


• Bachelor Civil Engineering (2003-2008)

• Master Transport&Planning (since 2007)

• Internship at Witteveen+Bos, Latvia (Aug-Oct 2009)

• Master Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics (since 2007)

• TIL-project on liveability vs. accessibility in Rotterdam

• Since april 2010: combined thesis work (55 ECTS) at the Dienst

Verkeer en Scheepvaart of Rijkswaterstaat, Delft

Me and my thesis work


• Rijkswaterstaat uses the so-called Toekan-method

• to compose a temporal package of

(measures are only available during road works)

• Mobility Management (MM) measures

MM= measures taken to influence pre-trip travel choices (if, where,

when and how to go = destination, time, modality and route choice)

• to reduce the amount of (car)traffic in a corridor during road

works as to keep traffic hindrance to a normal level

There should be not more hindrance than without road works

My thesis workTo design a new method based on two others…


• Rijkswaterstaat uses the so-called Gebiedsgericht Benutten

method (Sustainable Traffic Management, see CT5804)

• to compose a permanent package of

• Dynamic Traffic Management (DTM) measures

DTM = the informing, advising, guiding and steering of road users

• to solve traffic (related) problems in a certain area

(accessibility, safety, liveability, etc.)

My thesis workTo design a new method based on two others…


• In a reconnaissance study (old CT4701) a process is executed in

which a (future) traffic and/or transport problem is analyzed from

the different points of views of the actors involved.

• After this analysis possible and potential solution directions are

determined including the responsibilities of the actors.

• Based on the analysis and solution directions it is decided if and

by whom the problem has to be tackled and solved

My thesis work… to implement in Reconnaissance Studies


• This might result in a planning study executed by the national

government which in the end results in for example the building

of new infrastructure

• The set-up of reconnaissance and planning studies is changed at

this moment because of the Elverding committee

What is lacking:

A methodology to look into the potential of MM and DTM in the

process of the (new) reconnaissance study

My thesis work… to implement in Reconnaissance Studies


• To design a methodology to support the implementation of DTM

and MM as a (partial) solution direction in reconnaissance studies

What has to be determined/developed?

• Which DTM and MM measures can be used and how these

measures are selected at the moment

• What the process of a reconnaissance study looks like

• A process/methodology to select the measures in a

reconnaissance study

• A toolbox to estimate the effects to be used in this process

My thesis workProject goal and split of research


Part 1: Analysis of MM and DTM measures and

methods

Part 2: Analysis of

reconnaissancestudies

Part 3: Development of a new methodology

and toolkit

Case study

My thesis workProcess overview


• Done with BSc?

• Done with courses?

• Done with projects/internship etc. ?

• Watch out for restrictions in the Implementation Regulations!

• Master thesis: one big giant project to be executed by you

• It’s all your own responsibility (organize subject and working

environment, organize kick-off and other (official) meetings, fill in the

right forms, etc.)

• Requires discipline and motivation

A thesis workIntroduction and general remarks


Think of what you search for in your thesis project

• Subject: What courses did you like most? Which aspect(s) of your

master has your biggest interest?

• Talk with teachers, read old thesis reports, browse the internet, etc.

• Do you want a research or a design project?

• Within or outside the TU Delft?

• Maybe even abroad?

• Outside the TU Delft: governmental institution/research

agency/engineering agency/(other) non-profit organization /etc.

Subject and location: something/where you (might) want to do/work after your graduation

A thesis work: where to start?Subject and location


After you have thought of want you want to do, you have to

find/compose your thesis work.

- Talk with teachers/other TU Delft staff

- Contact companies/institutions

- Etc…

Try to come up with several options and than make your choice: never marry the first (wo)man you see

Find something you really want to do and work, it’s important to be and keep being motivated

A thesis work: where to start?Search for your thesis research


How to choose between several options:

- Follow your intuition: you know/feel which option you like most

Something like a “This is it!”-feeling

• Select based on/your intuition takes into account:

• Your wish-list

• Future possibilities (do you want to do this/work there after your

graduation?)

• Physical location (close to home or travel a lot?)

• Do you like the institution you will work? Like your (company)

supervisors?

• Salary?

A thesis work: where to start?Select your thesis research


A thesis work: where to start?Select your graduation committee

T&P: 1 faculty TIL: 2 faculties

Professor Professor

Graduation supervisor Graduation supervisor 1 (one/main faculty)

External supervisor Graduation supervisor 2 (second faculty)

Thesis project coordinator External supervisor


A thesis work: where to start?Select your graduation committee

Demands for selection:

- TU-members: part of relevant section of study

- External supervisor: within organization or independent examiner

Other indicators for selection:

- Knowledge of/experience in your field of research

- Daily /graduation supervisors: there should be no barriers to

contact them

- In time (too busy)

- Someone you get along with


A thesis work: where to start?Fill in the right forms at the right moment

Moment in time T&P TIL

Before start Start MSc Thesis TIL 1a (request to start)

After choosing subject, location and committee

Graduation chart TIL 1b (subscription of committee and subject)

Before mid-term TIL 2 Graduation chart

During green light TIL 3 Green light

Before final meeting TIL 4 Exam application

After final meeting Statement completionMSc

TIL 5 Thesis assessment


A thesis work: the beginningWork towards your kick-off meeting

Prepare your kick-off document for the kick-off meeting including:

- Reason for research (why is this new, what is the added value?)

- Some explanation on the different aspects of your research

- i.e. background information, quick-and-dirty analyses

- Research proposal including:

- Research goal and research question

- Methodology (which methods will be used)

- Split your research question into subquestions

- Make clear for each subquestion how you will come to an answer

(including neccessarities and time needed)

- Planning (based on previous)


A thesis work: the beginningThe planning

• Make clear for each subquestion how you will come to an answer

including neccessarities and time needed

• Time needed = always more than you expect

• Based on the division made in your research: think where you

want to have the official meetings (f.e. mid-term meeting after

the completion of your analysis phase)

• Include buffers

Be realistic!


A thesis work: the beginningThe kick-off meeting

• For all meetings: do not wait to long planning a date. Especially

professors are very busy people and it is hard to find a moment in

time suitable for all your supervisors!

• Reserve a room yourself and arrange neccessary equipment (f.e.

a beamer)

• Sent in your kick-off document in time

• At the kick-off meeting:

• Present your research proposal

• Allow supervisors to react and ask questions

• Make sure the whole committee agrees with what your proposal


Start executing your research proposal

To make sure you are on the right path and make (enough) progress:

• Make sure you meet with your supervisors on a regular basis

• For example every two weeks

• TIL: make sure you do not ‘forget’ one of your supervisors

• Make arrangements on what you will have done for your next meeting

Try to work towards your official meetings in the period you have planned to and try to work towards your final report. That saves a lot of time at the end of your graduation

A thesis work: the real workProgress meetings


Use literature throughout the thesis work but especially in the

beginning to answer questions like:

- What has been done until now?

- Which gaps in knowledge remain? (recommendations)

- Do other methods exist to solve the problem at hand?

- Etc.

• Write down the question you want to get an answer to

• First read the summary and conclusions to find out whether

an article/book is interesting for your research

• Use the references of the literature to get to other interesting

articles/books

A thesis work: the real workLiterature research


Frequent problem: one of your supervisors disagrees with another

You will probably discover this during one of your progress meetings

• First try to explain to both supervisors separately how and

especially why the other supervisor thinks differently and try to

find a compromise that also satisfies your own ideas

• Bring the two sides together in a separate (progress) meeting

• If that doesn’t work: bring up the discussion in an official meeting

or even arrange one extra so the whole committee can decide

what to do

A thesis work: the real workProgress meetings


Frequent problem: for example after an official meeting. You

worked hard for that one and after that… guess what… even

more graduation and meetings!

• First of all: don’t worry to much, it’s natural

• Having the right subject helps a lot in this case; if the subject

really interests you, continuing your research will be less of a

problem

• Indicate motivational problems to your supervisor(s), they might

be able to motivate you again

• It is better do something completely else for a change or even

take a few days off and go back to work with new energy after

that, than to get stuck in your dip

A thesis work: the real workLack of motivation

12-11-2010

Challenge the future

DelftUniversity ofTechnology

What is it all about?

Carien Aalbers, CT5060/TIL5060

A thesis or graduation project

MSc graduation project (Aalbers)

Education

Transcript of MSc graduation project (Aalbers)