Research and innovation

Research impact

Using driving simulators to develop new vehicles

Find out more
Jaguar on ice
Find out more

Rail Centre

Our multidisciplinary centre for collaborative research into rail transport systems aims to improve social welfare.

More
Train
More

Research degrees

Studying for a PhD will be a journey that will stimulate your passion for your subject and push you to reach your potential

Join us
Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds
Join us
Scroll down

Research and innovation

We are a leading transport research centre worldwide. We deliver internationally excellent research outputs, which impact upon transport policy and practice, and contribute to the wider economy and society. Our research mission is to support the development of intelligent mobility systems that are connected, inclusive, productive and resilient. To find out more, browse a selection of our current and past research projects.

85%

of our research is

'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' REF 2014

Top 10

in the world

ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2018

Over 60

academic and research staff

working with over 50 PhD researchers to deliver high-impact research

Research themes

Automation

Automation

Research conducted under this theme is focussed on understanding the human factors implications and challenges of connected and automated vehicles.

More
Electric cars

Energy

Our research looks at the provision of sustainable, low carbon and secure sources of energy to fuel transport systems of the future.

More
Train

Rail

Our aim is to enhance understanding of the economics of rail transport demand and supply, rail operation and control, and the economic value of rail technical innovation and investment.

More
Girl with baskets

Global south

We are finding ways to transform transport environments in the Global South to address mobility and access challenges faced by low income populations in developing cities

More

Our research groups

Choice Modelling

Our research covers new methodological developments, theoretical insights and practical solutions to real world problems.

More

Economics and Appraisal

We look at the economics of transport from a demand and supply side perspective to assess the overall business case for transport investment.

More

Human Factors and Safety

We investigate road users’ interactions with new and current transport systems and technologies to advance transport safety.

More

Spatial Modelling and Dynamics

We develop mathematical and statistical models and simulation tools for the representation, analysis and optimisation of traffic and transportation systems.

More

Social and Political Sciences

We investigate transport and mobility from perspectives of the social and political sciences studies with the aim of delivering effective and sustainable mobility systems.

More
Driving simulator at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds

Driving simulator

The University of Leeds driving simulator is one of the most advanced driving research environments in the world; and allows research into driver behaviour to be performed in accurately controlled and repeatable laboratory conditions. The facility consists of a large motion-based driving simulator, an advanced commercial truck simulator, and an immersive pedestrian laboratory.

More

News and events

See more news like this

Image of driver texting whilst driving

All work and no play? How will we spend time in driverless cars?

New research from the Institute for Transport Studies uses chauffeured…

More
Image of a bus in Leeds city centre at night

Planning for Leeds’ driverless future

A new study from Professor Simon Shepherd and Professor Anthony May has…

More
Image of pedestrians crossing a road of traffic

Research into human-automation interaction given the green light

ITS academic, Dr Gustav Markkula, awarded prestigious EPSRC fellowship to…

More
Photo of the Alan Turing Institute

Prestigious Turing Institute Fellowships awarded to our researchers

Six researchers from the Faculty of Environment have been awarded a…

More

See more events like this

A global assessment of street-network sprawl

Institute for Transport Studies research seminar with speaker Adam Millard-Ball, Associate Professor, University of California-Santa Cruz

Monday 20 May 2019, 11:00 - 12:00

More

Discrete choice and machine learning: Thomson and Thompson?

Choice Modelling Centre (CMC) & Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) research seminar with speaker Professor Michel Bierlaire, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.

Tuesday 11 June 2019, 13:15 - 14:15

More