Overview
Sustainable transport is essential for reducing environmental impact, improving public health and fostering more connected communities.
UCD is committed to the promotion of sustainable transport for its community and through its research, innovation and education. The university’s vision is to create a high quality campus environment which supports sustainable, healthy and active lifestyles, while offering a range of transport choices.
Research, Innovation and Impact
The UCD (opens in a new window)Transport Research Hub (TREAH) brings together transport researchers to address key challenges from social, technological, environmental, economic and business perspectives. TREAH research projects are funded by national and international agencies and members are active in many areas of transportation, including electric vehicles, travel behaviour and smart cities.
The Centre for Critical Infrastructure Research explores resilient, sustainable and smart and intelligent infrastructure through a wide range of funded projects.
The RE-ROUTE project was launched in UCD in 2023 with ten partners from Europe, the UK, and the US. This consortium is set to design and develop a futuristic, multi-modal transportation platform using cutting-edge technologies in AI and edge communications. The vision of the project is to facilitate access to safe, affordable, and accessible transportation systems for all citizens.
SEAI funded transport (opens in a new window)research projects at UCD have looked at electric vehicle charging optimisation and reducing vehicle emissions.
UCD researchers in the area of transport include:
- Professor (opens in a new window)Enda Murphy whose work has examined urban transportation and spatial planning, environmental noise and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Dr (opens in a new window)Beatriz Martinez-Pastor whose work through a number of national and EU projects focuses on transport networks and the concept of resilience.
- Professor (opens in a new window)Aoife Ahern, whose work has looked at rural public transport operations, transport inequality and barriers to cycling for girls .
- Professor (opens in a new window)Francisco Pilla, whose work lies at the intersection between cities and technologies and who led the UCD Bike Library pilot project.
Campus Initiatives
UCD has been awarded a gold level Smarter Travel Mark from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for its efforts to support active and sustainable travel to and from its campuses.
The university’s Travel Plan 2016-2021-2026 set out an ambition to increase commuting by sustainable travel modes to 81%. The annual UCD commuting survey collects data on commuting habits to track progress and inform policy changes aimed at reducing the carbon footprint associated with campus travel. In 2023, 42% of staff and students reported getting to UCD via public transport, 36% walk or cycle and 22% arrive by car.
To further improve the situation, UCD Estates works with the NTA to inform and facilitate (opens in a new window)public transport links and enhance the range of (opens in a new window)bus routes servicing the campus.
The campus features extensive cycling infrastructure, including covered bike shelters, repair stations and the UCD Pilot Bike Library Scheme, which allows students to borrow bikes for free.
UCD has installed multiple EV charging points across campus to encourage the use of electric vehicles among staff and students.
UCD’s (opens in a new window)travel policy sets out the protocols and procedures to be followed by staff when travelling on university business and aims to reduce transport emissions. This policy is regularly reviewed, and will be further developed to reflect our ambition in reducing our carbon footprint via travel.
Other relevant information is presented in UCD’s Climate Action Roadmap Update 2024 and on the Smarter Travel page.
Education
The university’s wide range of programmes pertaining to transport include a BSc in Transport, City Planning and Environmental Policy, a Masters in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Structural and Environmental Engineering.
Innovation Case Study
(opens in a new window)Go Eve, an electric vehicle (EV) charging start-up and a joint University College Dublin (UCD) and Imperial College London (Imperial) spin-out has been named the recipient of the 2024 NovaUCD Licence of the Year Award. The company had previously announced securing €3.5 million in its first funding round.