SMART Workshop participants SMART Workshop participants

Participants at SMART Workshop discuss a transport modelling solution. Participants at SMART Workshop discuss a transport modelling solution.

 
 

SMART Inaugural Workshop

At the inaugural SMART Infrastructure Facility Workshop, held from 14^th to 18th September 2009, the NSW Department of Transport and Infrastructure tasked SMART to work on a transport modelling project for a new urban renewal area in Sydney, looking at public transport implications and what mode of transportation would best meet the future needs of this catchment area.

Attending the workshop were international experts in computer modelling and simulation who demonstrated to University of Wollongong academics 'worlds best practice' in this field.

Our guests included;

• Dr Chris Barrett, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, USA
• Dr Priscilla Nelson, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA
• Prof Gabriel Lodewijks, University of Delft, Netherlands
• Prof James Greenberg, Carnegie Mellon, USA
• Prof Peter Campbell, University of South Australia.

The willingness of such high profile academics to travel to Wollongong and participate in the workshop demonstrates that a multi-disciplinary approach to infrastructure development based on computer modelling and simulation is the way to address the future infrastructure needs of the nation.

Representatives of the NSW Department of Transport and Infrastructure and Department of Planning provided the policy framework for participants and actively engaged with over 50 UOW academics in addressing the workshop challenge.

The workshop ended on a high note with all parties, both from the Department and the overseas and UOW academics, determined to continue the collaboration and interaction between the agencies and institutions present.

All were excited by the opportunities that SMART presents to tackle problems in a new way.  Firstly by bringing together experts from a range of fields to break down a problem and workshop solution scenarios; then using technology and agent- based computer modelling and simulation  to visualise the scenarios and show the 'what-if' possibilities that any course of action presents.

The SMART Infrastructure Facility will continue to facilitate this engagement and find ongoing opportunities for SMART to participate in future transport planning and urban renewal initiatives.

Presentations

As part of the Workshop Guest Lectures on agent based modelling and computer simulation were presented by our international guests, Peter Campbell, Dr Priscilla Nelson, and Prof Gabriel Lodewijks.

Download:

• Agent Based Modelling Examples and Architecture Ideas - Peter Campbell (PDF 3MB)
• Complex Infrastructure Systems Interdisciplinary Research and Education - Dr. Priscilla P. Nelson (PDF 835kb)
• The Impact of Simulation on the Design of Logistic Systems - G. Lodewijks (PDF 9.6MB)