VTI in words and fi gures2015

www.vti.se

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About VTIVTI carries out applied research and development, investigations, measurement and testing. Our activities and operations concern all modes of transport. The institute has a broad competence profi le, with its key capabilities in the areas of safety, economics, the environment, traffi c and transport analysis, public transport, behaviour and human-vehicle-transport system interaction, and in road design, operation and maintenance.

VTI’s head offi ce is in Linköping where most of the activities and operations are based along with the institute’s laboratory resources and heavy research equipment. The institute also has branch offi ces in Borlänge and Stockholm, where the emphasis is on transport economics and transport policy, in Gothenburg with a research focus on vehicle technology and vehicle safety and in Lund with focus on public transport. VTI has about 200 employees.

Organisational chart

Board of directors

Director general's of�ce

Scienti�c council

Research directors' council

Management team

Director general

Department of traf�c and road users » Vehicle technology and simulation

» Human-vehicle-transport system interaction

» Traffic safety, society and road user

Administration» Finance

» Human Resources

» Information technology

Public relations» Library and information centre

» Communication

Department of society, enviroment and transport» Environment

» Mobility, actors and planning processes

» Traffic analysis and logistics

» Transport economics

Department of infrastructure» Infrastructure maintenace

» Crash safety

» Measurement technology and engineering workshop

» Pavement technology

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Number of employees: 204 persons

Average age: 44 years

Recruited during the year: 18 persons

Licentiate and doctor’s degree: 78 persons

Doctoral students: 25 persons

Degree students: 15 persons

Staff distribution

Professors at VTI

Jan-Eric NilssonTransport Economics, in conjunction with KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Jane Summerton Technology & Social Change, in conjunction with Linköping University.

Sigurdur ErlingssonPavement Technology, in conjunction with KTH Royal Institute of Technology och Iceland University.

Jan AnderssonHuman-machine-interaction (HMI) within the transport sector, in conjunction with Linköping University.

Gender among staff 2015

38,2%of the staff have Licentiate

or Doctoral degree.

25Doctoral students have

been located on VTI during the year.

Facts and figures from 2015

Income from (SEK million), and number of foreign clients

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

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8

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2013 2014 2015

Quantity

SE

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EU ERAnet/CEDR

Private Other

Quantity

Women44%

Men 56%

VTI researcher recognised by the U.S. government

Astrid Linder, head of traffic safety research at VTI, received the U.S. Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence. The prize was awarded during the opening ceremonies of the world’s largest traffic safety conference, the 24th International Technical Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV2015), held at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre (Svenska Mässan) in Gothenburg on 8–11 June. The U.S. government’s traffic safety award is awarded for extraordinary scientific advances in the field of motor vehicle traffic safety.

Astrid Linder was recognised for her innovative research into reducing the risk of whiplash injuries in vehicle collisions, in part by developing crash test dummies for various purposes.

Jan Andersson in new professorial chair in HMI

VTI has established a new professorial chair in Human–Machine Interaction (HMI) in the transport sector, appointing Jan Andersson as professor. The chair represents a cooperative effort with the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning at Linköping University.

Some thirty VTI researchers, most with doctorates, are currently involved in the HMI field. The field interests VTI primarily in view of the major investments being made in various technical support systems in the transportation field. For this technology to work as effectively as possible, the ways humans handle and use it are critical.

HMI is also of interest from an individual psychological perspective in the context of road-user groups such as the elderly, young people, and unprotected road users, and in the context of problem areas such as fatigue, distraction, and speed limit compliance. Andersson gave his welcome lecture at VTI on 5 November 2015.

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A selection of events from the year

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Transportforum conference started the year offTransportforum took place 8–9 January, offering 85 sessions and 40 exhibitors and attracting some 1600 participants. New this year was a poster session, which was conducted because so many (272) individual papers were submitted to the conference.

After the conference, a questionnaire was sent to conference participants, 30% of whom responded. The respondents awarded the conference an overall grade averaging 3.8 on a five-point scale, 75% of respondents giving the conference a grade of 4 or 5.

The average grade awarded the conference as a forum for knowledge exchange was 3.95 and as a forum for making contacts was 4.15, both on a five-point scale.

Blunter guardrails can save motorcyclistsCrash tests using motorcycles and guardrails were conducted in Sweden for the first time, and the results were striking. Motorcyclists can look forward to safer guardrails, thanks to four crash tests conducted for the Folksam insurance company at the VTI crash test track in Linköping.

“Folksam’s tests using just motorcycles and guardrails are the first ever conducted in Sweden, and they pave the way for us to continue relevant testing”, says VTI crash test track engineer Jan Wenäll.

VTI collaborated on two projects focusing on improving motorcycle safety. In the first project, VTI worked with the Swedish Motorcyclists Association (SMC) and the Swedish Safety Barrier Association (SVBRF) to survey the literature with a view to mapping guardrail function during motorcycle accidents. In the second project, initiated and led by Folksam, four full-scale crash tests were conducted using different barriers mounted on the guardrails.

The results of the two projects led to a concluding test in which the top of the guardrail was protected with a simple prototype guard made of plastic, which proved to work exceptionally well.

“Although this is just a relatively simple prototype, I believe that this is the first time that we’ve really had a workable idea of how we can effectively reduce the injuries sustained by a motorcyclist who collides with a guardrail”, says Wenäll.

International study visitsVTI hosted numerous study visits of international participants during the year. VTI was visited early in 2015 by a European TV channel, Euronews, which reported on a test section of noise-reducing pavement along the old E4 road near the Sjögestad Motel outside Linköping. The Fast Zero traffic safety conference was held in Gothenburg in September, drawing visitors from around the world. In connection with the conference, VTI’s Sim IV driving simulator was part of a technical field trip in which people were allowed to test drive the simulator. VTI was also visited that same month by some twenty government and transport agency representatives from Ethiopia, who visited to share knowledge of traffic safety.

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Trends affecting the transport system and increasing the need for researchThe overarching aim of Swedish transport policy is to ensure a socio-economically effec-tive and long-term sustainable transport system. It is easy for those working in the Society, Environment, and Transport Department (SAMT) to relate to that goal. Calculating the so-cietal costs of transportation and gauging the effects of sustainability measures are daily fare in this department. That is why the expertise of these researchers is in such demand for both cooperative and collaborative efforts with many prominent research centres and other research platforms.

The transportation field is characterised by rapid change, not least in the technical sphere. There was considerable discussion of emerging trends such as digitisation and automation during the year, as well as a focus on improving energy efficiency to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. These trends are having a major impact on the transport system, and there is heavy demand for research in this area.

“The need to reduce emissions, combined with growing global demand for oil, is heightening demand for energy-efficient transport and smart technological solutions, entailing a greater need for research in this area. Increased use of electrically powered vehicles and the launch of electric roads are examples of how transport can move in a more energy-efficient direction. At the same time, more research targeting consumers and the market is needed, as we need both functional business models and infrastructure, such as charging stations”, says SAMT’s head of research Mattias Viklund.

Cooperation on automation and improved energy efficiencyA focus on research to improve energy efficiency and on other measures to lower our dependence on fossil fuels is a

cornerstone of VTI’s research in cooperation with Linköping University. Another cornerstone is research related to the digitisation and automation trends in society.

“There’s a lot of confidence in the opportunities afforded by digitisation and automation. These can involve services that enable passengers to get real-time information about delays, congestion, and alternative travel options. We are also seeing a trend in which the vehicle is taking over more and more of the work of driving, which could impact both traffic conditions and energy consumption, to name just a couple of examples”, says Viklund.

The possibilities in terms of conducting socially relevant research are nearly endless. One concrete example is a research project conducted by VTI in collaboration with K2 (Sweden’s national centre for research and education on public transport) in Lund, which is examining transfer points, i.e., points in the transport system where passengers change between lines and modes of transport. Here too there are major opportunities to make traffic more efficient, for example, through smart IT solutions.

Department of society, environment and transport (SAMT)

The SAMT department conducts research into the pricing and financing of infrastructure and into the assessment, evaluation, follow-up, and development of models for gauging the effects of measures in the transportation field, such as environmental measures. The department also conducts research into national, regional, and local planning and analyses transport systems in terms of their availability, accessibility, and safety.

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Department of traffic and roads users (TrAf)

The TRAF department explores people’s opportunities and limitations in transport, traffic safety, and the factors that affect traffic deaths and injuries. The department is also engaged in vehicle development, with a focus on the evaluation of advanced driver assistance systems and tyre properties.

Focus on strategic initiatives in the years aheadTests in simulator environments are increasingly common in R&D targeting future trans-port solutions. Electric roads, automated driving, and train signal systems are examples of highly relevant areas in which simulations are used to assess new infrastructure, vehi-cle technology, and road-user behaviour. These activities cost money, however, and a comprehensive strategy initiative was undertaken during the year to bolster both VTI’s research and financial results.

This effort has led in part to organisational change, with a new structure that will offer better conditions and opportunities for expanding VTI’s participation in interdisciplinary research initiatives.

“In our new organisation, we are increasing the focus on strategic marketing and building strong networks. For us it is important to collaborate in research platforms and share in funding applications that span a large range of subjects, as this reflects the challenges facing the transport sector”, says the head of the Department of Traffic and Road Users (TRAF), Jonas Jansson.

Major effort devoted to funding applicationsIn addition to the reorganisation, the Institute has also put major effort into seeking funding during the year. This work was deferred in 2014 because TRAF’s workload was far too heavy, which affected the 2015 financial results.

“The prospects for 2016 are significantly better. Our focus on identifying and developing new fields and new research, including in electric roads, applicability, testing the ability to drive, and trains, will likely yield benefits in the years ahead”, says Jansson.

Hopes for a new cycling research centreDuring the year, two major EU project applications were submitted along with applications for funding ongoing efforts to establish research centres.

“Among other things, we applied for funding for continued work to establish the Virtual Processing and Assessment by Simulation (ViP) research centre, which we have been coordinating for several years. We have also applied for funding to start up a new research centre in the field of cycling. We have major relevant interdisciplinary expertise in the Institute, plus experience from a host of earlier successful projects”, Jansson observes.

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A lot of friction in our activitiesIn VTI’s world, friction has a lot to do with road grip. Considerable research attention was paid to friction over the year, and at a number of levels. For example, tests involving sweep-salting were conducted in several Swedish municipalities with a view to prevent-ing slipperiness on bicycle paths. Another project had to do with identifying appropriate friction level requirements for road surfaces in the interest of traffic safety.

“This is a complex issue, as friction is also affected by tyre properties and vehicle support systems. However, our measurements of surface texture and friction on selected stretches of road, combined with the rationale for friction requirements, provide an excellent knowledge base for continued research into friction levels and traffic safety”, says Anita Ihs, who manages the Infrastructure Department (INFRA).

Increased emphasis on unprotected road usersA change in emphasis has been noted on the traffic safety front with regard to ongoing work on the Vision Zero initiative. As the numbers of fatalities and severely injured have dropped among car users, accident figures for unprotected road users have drawn increasing attention. As a result, research initiatives concerning unprotected road users, i.e., bicyclists, pedestrians, moped riders, and motorcyclists, are now growing.

“This is evident in a number of research areas and, in our own activities, primarily with respect to the operation and maintenance of bicycle paths. The crash testing we conducted to see how motorcyclists who drive into a guardrail can be protected from its sharp top edge was another interesting project”, says Ihs.

Road wear from heavy vehiclesSustainability is another prioritised area and, as part of a government commission to study commercial hauling, INFRA has taken a look at road wear caused by heavy vehicles. Part of the background to this was a plan to allow 74-tonne lorries on Swedish roads in order to make freight hauling more efficient.

“We have designed new calculation models for the ways in which asphalt and road structures are affected. Continued development work is underway to enable us to simulate and calculate road disintegration processes precisely, based on given climate and traffic loads”, concludes Ihs.

Department of infrastructure (INfrA)

The INFRA department conducts R&D activities concerning sustainable road and railway construction from a life-cycle perspective. It builds knowledge concerning effective operation and maintenance measures for various road types, performs independent crash tests, develops prototypes and machines, and develops, builds, and maintains measuring equipment.

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International cooperation contributes to dissemination of VTI research VTI has forged distinct international associations as a result of its collaboration in EU pro-jects, involvement in organisations and networks, and participation in scientific commit-tees, bilateral cooperative arrangements, and international standardisation efforts. These collaborations bolster VTI’s position as a prominent research institute whose activities are of high scientific quality. They similarly contribute to VTI’s ability to get project results dis-seminated and implemented in Swedish and foreign transport systems.

EU framework programmesThe EU’s 8th framework programme, Horizon 2020 (2014–2020), which represents the world’s biggest investment in research and innovation, began in 2014 with a total budget of roughly EUR 80 billion. The programme has three priorities: scientific excellence, industrial leadership, and addressing societal challenges. VTI is involved in a number of projects in the Horizon 2020 framework programme.

In addition to its Horizon 2020 collaborations, VTI is also involved in ten research and development projects in the EU’s seventh framework programme, FP7 (2007–2013). In total, VTI has participated in just over 30 projects in FP7, serving as project coordinator in five of them. This can be compared with participation in just over 20 projects in the sixth framework programme, FP6 (2002–2006), serving as project coordinator in three.

VTI has a long-term goal of greater FP7 involvement, meaning that participation should increase compared with earlier framework programmes.

Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR)Work at the EU level, where national road agencies jointly finance research, is carried out in cooperation with CEDR. The aims of this cooperation are to facilitate the exchange of experience and information, and to analyse and discuss all traffic-related issues in areas such as infrastructure, safety, transport, and the environment. Such cooperation with CEDR projects is clearly becoming an increasingly important project category for VTI. VTI was involved in numerous CEDR projects in 2015.

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Involvement in CEDR• Shaping sustainable transport patterns in European cities

(Shape IT–Stepping Stones)

• Selection of Appropriate Vehicle Restraint Systems (Savers)

• Appropriate Speed saves All People (ASAP)

• Procedures for the Design of Roads in Harmony with Wildlife (HARMONY)

• Hi-Speed Survey Specifications, Explanation and Quality (HiSPEQ)

• Proactive Incident Management (PRIMA)

• Practical Road Equipment Measurement Understanding and Management (PREMiUM).

Cooperation between European institutionsDuring the year, VTI continued to collaborate in three umbrella organisations for research institutions in the transport field. This cooperation offered opportunities to influence the orientation of EU research programmes, prepare

project applications, and facilitate consortia consolidation. VTI has participated in new EU project applications, and in thematic work groups within the framework of the following three organisations:

• Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL)

• European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI)

• Forum of European Road Safety Institutes (FERSI).

Other international cooperative relationships and commitmentsIn addition to cooperation with FEHRL, ECTRI, and FERSI, VTI has other highly developed cooperative relationships and commitments as well. VTI’s national and international networks and alliances offer a guarantee of breadth, depth, and interdisciplinarity of knowledge production. The following are just a few examples of VTI’s wide-ranging international cooperation:

• Nordic Road Association (NVF)

• World Road Association (Piarc)

• Transportation Research Board (TRB)

• Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP)

• European Transport Safety Council (ETSC)

• European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

• International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD, under OECD/ITF)

• International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD, under OECD/ITF)

• The Joint OECD–ECMT Transport Research Centre (JTRC).

Involvement in EU’s Horizon 2020• Xcycle – Advanced measures to reduce cyclists

fatalities and increase comfort in the interaction with motorised vehicles

• Prospect – PROactive Safety for PEdestrians and CyclisTs

• Netirail – Needs Tailored Interoperable Railway• USE IT – Users, safety, security and energy in transport

infrastructure• Safety Cube – Safety CaUsation, Benefits and

Efficiency.

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Income statementAmounts in SEK thousand 2015 2014

Operating income

Income from appropriations 46,525 45,437

Income from fees, subsidies and other remuneration 60,916 104,390

Income from grants 91,781 53,790

Financial income 81 451

Total income 199,302 204,069

Operating costs

Staff costs 132,683 130,706

Premises 20,330 20,119

Other operating costs 41,679 43,658

Financial expenses 212 238

Depreciation and write-downs 7,842 8,480

Total costs 202,747 203,201

Operating results -3,445 868

Net change in capital -3,445 868

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www.vti.se

HEAD OFFICELINKÖPINGSE-581 95 LINKÖPINGPHONE +46 (0)13-20 40 00

STOCKHOLMBox 55685SE-102 15 STOCKHOLM PHONE +46 (0)8-555 770 20

GOTHENBURGBox 8072SE-402 78 GOTHENBURGPHONE +46 (0)31-750 26 00

BORLÄNGE Box 920SE-781 29 BORLÄNGEPHONE +46 (0)243-44 68 60

LUND Medicon Village ABSE-223 81 LUND PHONE +46 (0)46-540 75 00

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), is an independent and internationally prominent research institute in the transport sector. Our principal task is to conduct research and development related to infrastructure, traffi c and transport. We are dedicated to the continuous development of knowledge pertaining to the transport sector, and in this way contribute actively to the attainment of the goals of Swedish transport policy.

Our operations cover all modes of transport, and the subjects of pavement technology, infrastructure maintenance, vehicle technology, traffi c safety, traffi c analysis, users of the transport system, the environment, the planning and decision making processes, transport economics and transport systems. Knowledge that the institute develops provides a basis for decisions made by stakeholders in the transport sector. In many cases our fi ndings lead to direct applications in both national and international transport policies.

VTI conducts commissioned research in an interdisciplinary organisation. Employees also conduct investigations, provide counseling and perform various services in measurement and testing. The institute has a wide range of advanced research equipment and world-class driving simulators. There are also laboratories for road material testing and crash safety testing.

In Sweden VTI cooperates with universities engaged in related research and education. We also participate continuously in international research projects, networks and alliances.

The Institute is an assignment-based authority under the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications. The institute holds the quality management systems certifi cate ISO 9001 and the environmental management systems certifi cate ISO 14001. Certain test methods used in our labs for crash safety testing and road materials testing are also certifi ed by Swedac.

We have about 200 employees and are located in Linköping (head offi ce), Stockholm, Gothenburg, Borlänge and Lund.

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