What was your original motivation to become a researcher/project manager?
Engineering and the application of simulation tools to solve problems have always been a passion of mine. Today, the climate and sustainability concerns are putting great emphasis on the necessity to develop solutions that can meet those challenges; the deployment of ever-more enhanced simulation and digital tools are a key enabler towards this.
What is your (main) research area today?
Developing and applying tools and techniques in the quest for increased system efficiency, in all areas of automotive, marine, rail, energy and environment sectors.
What is the main focus of your team in ZEFES?
Leading the development of the Digital Platform which will provide a virtual representation (digital twin) of the ZEFES ecosystem of trucks, logistical missions, charging and refuelling stations locations and statuses etc. The Platform and its tools will facilitate zero tailpipe emission vehicle integration into fleets, optimise logistical task assignments considering routes, infrastructure and refuelling/recharging opportunities, and develop predictive maintenance strategies including deployment of diagnostic & prognostic techniques.
From all your activities within the project, what are you the most proud of/keen to share with the public?
Success will be measured by how valuable the Digital Platform and its decision-making tools are for logistics companies and fleet operators. Achieving this will be a great endorsement for the project team and the ZEFES ‘Digital’ team.
How do you expect the ZEFES results will impact your organisation and the transport sector in Europe?
ZEFES will illustrate the benefits that digital techniques, data science, and machine learning can offer in the exploitation of data to help meet objectives of CO2 reduction, TCO optimisation and minimisation of life cycle impact. Moving into this fast-emerging landscape will be a key factor in strategic planning for all businesses involved in the transport industry.
