TRANSPORT RESEARCH LABORATORYUNITED KINGDOM

• RHIYA SINGH• SUVANKAR HALDER

WHAT IS TRL?TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) is

one of the largest and most comprehensive independent centres for the study of land transport in the world.

 For more than 70 years TRL has developed research-based technical knowledge that enables clients to obtain a better understanding of transport problems and to improve the value for money.

 Transport Research Laboratory is an internationally recognised centre for transport research, providing consultancy, advice and solutions across a wide range of transport related issues

 TRL was originally established in 1933 by the UK Government as the Road Research Laboratory (RRL), it was privatised in 1996.

HEADQUATERS

TRL is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, with additional offices in Scotland and Wales.

KEY AREAS OF WORKTRL's key areas of work include

road, network and vehicle safety; traffic management; planning and control; investigations and risk management; transport infrastructure; and environmental assessment including work on climate change, noise and air pollution.

AIM OF TRLOne of TRL's primary objectives

is to conduct commissioned research, investigations, studies and tests to the highest levels of quality, reliability and impartiality. We carry out our work in a way that ensures our customers receive results that not only meet the project specification but are also geared to rapid and effective implementation.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Improving Safety

Sustainability

Journey Time Reliability

Managing Infrastructure

Intelligent Transport

Vehicle Safety

User Safety

Accident Investigation

Sustainable CitiesSustainable Transport

Environmental Assessment

Tackling CongestionNetwork PerformanceTravel Behavior

Sustainable ConstructionAsset ManagementReliability & Materials

Managed Motorways

Road User Charging

Human Factors

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Vehicle SafetyTheir expert research

covers how vehicles react during an impact with other vehicles or objects at varying speeds, conditions and locations including frontal, side, pole and rear impacts

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

User SafetyIt understand that safety is just one of the issues facing governments, transport providers and operators. From walking to aviation, it working towards significant improvements in how we travel safely.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Accident InvestigationTRL provides expert teams of scientists and consultants across a broad spectrum of technical specialism in incident investigation and reconstruction. They're backed up by a range of advanced examination techniques, sophisticated technology and computer modeling facilities.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTSustainable CitiesSustainable development is of key

importance in the urban environment. Urban planning mustaddress the housing, employment,health, education and transportationneeds of inhabitants, whilst ensuringaccess to services such as shoppingand leisure facilities and providing forwaste management. TRL is helping its clients in the drive to develop sustainable cities through sustainable urban planning and management.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTSustainable TransportTransport has an important

role in sustainable development, helping to create communities which are socially inclusive, improving access to key services and contributing to emission reductions to address climate change. TRL is a world leader in travel behavior, the social impacts of transport and the links between the physical environment and travel choice.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTEnvironmental AssessmentEnvironmental assessment is vital to understanding the changing quality of our environment and to ensuring that future planning and policy have minimal adverse impact. TRL has expertise in environmental assessment at all scales, from individual projects to national and international policy.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTTackling CongestionTRL has been

researching congestion problems for over 30 years and has seen many solutions implemented, such as Controlled Motorways, ramp metering, driver information and junction re-design. Without these solutions, congestion would be significantly worse than it is now. However, continuing traffic growth means congestion continues to increase and new innovation is needed.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTNetwork PerformanceThe Network Performance

Group has supported road network operations and conducted research involving: Controlled Motorways; active traffic management; network management tools; operation of abnormal loads; and development and calculation of the Public Service Agreement Journey Time Reliability Targets.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTTravel Behavior Understanding individuals' attitudes and travel behavior is key to developing sustainable transport schemes that meet user needs and encourage modal shift. Their team includes staff with specialist experience in demand management, smarter choices, promoting more sustainable travel modes and understanding travel choices.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTSustainable ConstructionThe construction industry

is subject to various legislative duties connected with waste and natural resource management. For many years TRL has been working with the construction industry and its suppliers to maximize resource efficiency and improve waste management.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTAsset ManagementTRL offers a strategic

approach that identifies the optimal allocation of resources for the management, operation, preservation and enhancement of the highway infrastructure that meets the needs of current and future customers.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTReliability & Materials

TRL has been undertaking research into the assessment of road condition for over 75 years. We're responsible for much of the research that's developed the UK standard devices used for measuring surface and structural condition, as well as the standards and advice associated with the interpretation of their measurements.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTManaged MotorwaysTRL has worked with the Highways Agency on three options for managed motorways, from their initial conception and development to implementation. The options are Controlled Motorways, Active Traffic Management and, more recently, Basic Controlled Motorways.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTHuman FactorsEngineering measures have helped to reduce road accident injury and fatality rates dramatically. However, further gains may be achieved by understanding the way people behave and their underlying attitudes. TRL’s human factors team researches all types of road users, including motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists, children and disabled people.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTRoad User Charging

TRL has a long history of involvement in road pricing schemes dating back to early work on the first London proposal in the 1970s. Our involvement with road pricing research and consultancy has brought TRL experts into regular contact with the main UK stakeholders for road pricing programmer.

VISIONS AND VALUESTRL's desire is to create the

future of transport and under-pinned by their vision to be a world leader in evidence-based transport solutions that are efficient, accessible, clean and safe.

 All of these core values come together to inspire confidence in the customers and partners that TRL is able to meet their requirements in every way.

ORGANISATION AND IMPORTANT PEOPLETRL employs around 400 technical professionals, including engineers, mathematicians, physicists, psychologists, geologists, computer experts and statisticians.

Dr Susan Sharland Chief Executive of TRL and its parent company the Transport Research Foundation (TRF) since October 2001.Tim Andrews Finance Director

Ian Graham General ManagerTim Strong Director, TransportationBob Collis Director, InfrastructureTracy Savill Director, SafetySteve Anderson Director, Product TestingNeil Paulley Director, TRL Academy

TRL ACADEMYFor over 75 years TRL has

operated at the forefront of technical excellence, developing transport solutions around the world. The TRL Academy was created in 2006 to act as an overarching framework for managing TRL’s existing science, engineering and research activities, as well as providing a focus for driving future excellence.

The Academy delivers long-term research programmes and projects that develop major IPR, increasing our intellectual capital, knowledge and understanding.

The Academy is a body of learning and enquiry, operating in close co-operation with other leading establishments and generating work of high impact throughout the transport and research community. The Academy provides a focus for staff from across TRL to investigate technical issues and provide innovative solutions capable of opening up, significant new options for policy development, operations and products.

The Academy's aims include: promoting TRL’s commitment to technical expertise and

scientific development, providing a base from which to grow programmes of research of high intellectual quality with significant impact in terms of solving today’s and tomorrow’s transport challenges

developing the scientific expertise of TRL staff providing the focus for TRL academic activities, including

links with universities and the professional institutions, training and professional development, studentships, university teaching and knowledge sharing

enabling joint working with the academic sector so as to strengthen research and its applications; promoting and co-ordinating other academic activities; encouraging exchange relationships for staff; and utilising cross-institutional expertise to help influence new directions in transport thinking

administrating an internally funded longer-term research programme, which is designed to develop the capability and knowledge that our customers will need in the longer term.

TRL WORKING WITH ENVIRONMENT

TRL has dedicated environmental teams set up across the business working on a range of projects. It continue to be at the forefront of sustainable development through the Centre for Sustainability and Strategic Environmental Assessment initiatives.

We're heavily involved in projects for customers based upon fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions as well as topical issues including climate change. We continue to undertake environmental projects that explore the use of recycled materials for roads and sustainable construction.

TRL operates a green travel scheme at our head office in Crowthorne. Staff are encouraged to car-share, cycle, walk, take public transport or motorcycle to work. Those who choose these modes of transport are recognised and rewarded internally. In addition we use recycled materials where possible and continually look to improve our green activities year on year.

FUNDING As a national transport research

laboratory, TRL operates worldwide and has developed close working links with many other international transport centres. It is a non-profit distributing company whose customers include central government, local and regional authorities, foreign governments, consultants and international aid agencies.

To maintain its commercial independence and impartiality, TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation, a non-profit distributing foundation overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry.

2011 RESEARCH REVIEWIn its recently published 2011 Annual Research Review, TRL shares its research highlights for the year, as well as focussing on selected topics which include:Carbon aware travel choice for sustainable mobilityManaging motorways from the roadside: investigating

the feasibility of using verge-mounted variable message signs to implement Managed Motorways

The influence of car registration year on driver casualty rates in Great Britain

Durability of thin surfacing systems after nine years' monitoring

The effects of increased police enforcement along a route in London

 The Annual Research Review also describes our main scientific achievements and highlights  key papers and presentations, awards and citations. It also notes some of the prominent and influential technical committees that our staff have been engaged with.

As the development of knowledge and expertise is crucial to their business, they have also provided descriptions of the more fundamental research work that they are undertaking, some of which is funded by TRL themselves and the parent body,  the Transport Research Foundation (TRF), but also by UK Research Councils, the European Commission and other European organisations.

IMPACT OF TRLTRL’s advice:has led to the setting of national casualty

reduction targetsallows road authorities and businesses to better

target resources to manage riskcontributes to the design, test, manufacture, sale

and even the racing of safer vehicles.TRL’s capabilities are broad, reflecting the many factors that contribute to accidents and their mitigation. For instance, the scientists are improving understanding of people and are advising on safer road, network and vehicle designs for road and rail.

THANK YOU