"KO TE PAE TAWHITI, WHĀIA KIA TATA - KO TE PAE TATA, WHAKAMAUA KIA TINA"
“SEEK OUT DISTANT HORIZONS, AND CHERISH THOSE YOU ATTAIN.”
Transportation infrastructure is a critical part of New Zealand’s future, and the TRC is the driving force behind integrating innovation, research, and commercial intelligence to provide superior outcomes.
The University of Auckland’s Transportation Research Centre (TRC) is dedicated to conducting research that covers all aspects of Transportation Engineering. We explore a broad range of research areas, from road construction materials and infrastructure asset management, to traffic systems, driver behaviour, and public transit.
We aim to provide a vibrant and innovative research hub for both academic and commercial research by bringing together multidisciplinary expertise from Engineering, Science and Business faculties. Since our inception in 2008, we have grown to include over 35 staff and postgraduate students.
We have extensive collaborative ties with local government, industry and commercial interests, as well as with many international research institutes. Over the years we’ve analysed, supported, and improved transportation and road practices across New Zealand. The TRC has a respected global reputation and strong collaborative ties with international research centres.
With the addition of our first laboratory in the world-class facilities at Newmarket Campus, we are poised and ready to provide long term, practical and budget-efficient solutions for industry. We provide a comprehensive range of testing capabilities, specialised equipment and software.
TEAM
A/P Doug Wilson
Director
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prof. Kim Dirks
Director
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Theme leaders
postgraduate students
| Gayani Senanayake | PhD in Civil Engineering | Inverse Generative Social Science in Stochastic Agent-Based Modelling |
| Zhihao Zhang | PhD in Civil Engineering | Optimizing Post-disaster Traffic Efficiency Using Trained Autonomous Vehicles |
| Yunlong Wang | PhD in Civil Engineering | A Shared Autonomous Vehicles System Based on Artificial Intelligence |
| Charles Chen | PhD in Civil Engineering | Modelling the dispersion of fibrous minerals in air from excavation activities |
| Hamesh Patel | PhD in Environmental Science | Quantitative analysis of the source-sink pathways of black carbon |
| Wendy Fan | PhD in Environmental Science | Development of Precision Methods for Sampling Airborne Erionite Fibers |
| Harshana Senanayake | PhD in Civil Engineering | The Economic analysis of wireless powered roadway technology for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles |
| Simon Tao | PhD in Economics | Economic Dynamics of the Emission Trading Scheme: A Comprehensive Analysis of Decarbonization in New Zealand |
| Guanghao Wang | PhD in Economics | From Climate Change to Electric Vehicles: Analysing New Zealand’s Electricity Market Transformations, Sentiment Influence, and Adoption of Electric Vehicles |
Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The TRC aligns with the Te Ao Māori principles of Waipapa Taumata Rau, to positively impact Aotearoa New Zealand society and advance the necessary knowledge to enable equitable and improved well-being in transportation systems whilst respecting tikanga practices.
We have developed partnerships with Māori researchers and communities to ensure resources are assigned to enable research to be undertaken by Māori for Māori. We seek ways to co-create and co-design research that not only has improved outcomes, but that strengthens relationships by ensuring principles of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga are applied.
Our research team has established key relationships with Māori in urban rural communities as we have engaged with Māori organisations and Rūnanga in the Tamaki Makaurau and central to lower north island rohe.
Our team is experienced in working with Māori communities and ensuring value is gained not only from research project outcomes, but value is specifically gained for the Māori communities where the research is being undertaken.
The TRC takes a long-term research partnership approach with Māori researchers and communities based upon mutual respect and ensuring appropriate tikanga is followed. The TRC seeks on all projects to transfer data, skills, project coordination and management of positive outcomes for Māori.
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