About

 

The SMARTer Growth Partnership (Previously Sustainable Transport Safety Lab) is working out of UBC Okanagan to create worldwide solutions for a sustainable future through rigorous systems-based engineering and with our beautiful valley communities in Partnership. We believe we can create a high quality of life for people today, in accordance with the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals, that does not compromise the quality of life for future generations. Through NSERC and Industry grants, a team of student researchers, interns, Masters and PhD students collaborate to work on a wide variety of issues led by associate professor and innovator, Dr. Gordon Lovegrove.

 

Learn more about SMARTer Growth Research through the following links:

Principal Investigator – Dr. Lovegrove

Our Team

Our Research

Opportunities For Work & Collaboration

 

Our Motivation

United Nations, and their subsidiary, the World Health Organization, have declared obesity and road safety as global epidemics that must be addressed if we are to sustain our quality of life. Road crashes are the leading cause of death in Canada for citizens aged 6 months to 40 years, with 95% of road collisions due to driver error.  Our sprawling North American community development patterns are a root cause.  The STS Research Lab mission is to research and develop practical tools for governments, businesses, and residents to allow for safer, healthier, and more active lifestyles in our existing and new communities.  Our facilities have been funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (innovation.ca), as well as research team member funding from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC.gc.ca), Transport Canada (Clean Energy, tc.gc.ca), and industry partners.

Several specific driving factors include: 1) global climate change (How can we help reduce GHG emissions, and associated impacts – flooding, fires, storms?); 2) global economics (How can we help to retrofit aging infrastructure?); 3) global energy supplies (How can we help switch from dwindling, polluting, carbon-based to renewable sources?), 4) global health (How can we help reduce acute and chronic public health care costs due to obesity and road crashes?).  Reliable, practical empirical tools are needed so that plans and designs can be carefully assessed to maximize return on investments, minimize costly mistakes, and sustain a desire quality of life in community environments that are:

  • –MORE walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented, green, healthy
  • –LESS carbon-based, sprawling, unsafe, and auto-dependent.

Decision-makers need a sound business case, and reliable, science-based tools – With SMARTer Growth, we can make this happen!

 

Read more on our SMARTer Growth Research Page

 

Research Tools & Analytical Expertise

We have equipment that can:

  • Collect geo-referenced data (on and/or off-road) indexed using GPS, time stamp, and video data loggers
  • Scan and digitize small and large format paper and electronic format data layers and mapping
  • Allow anyone anywhere in the world to log in securely and use our web-based expert systems
  • Either individually or as part of a tele-video conference session, collaborate using SMART technology
  • Facilitate complete data and knowledge transfer for maximum effectiveness to geographic and demographic contexts.
  • Identify, create, extract, manipulate, vet, assemble and/or analyze multiple data platforms

We have industry-leading software and expertise in:

  • Macro-simulation / transportation planning
    • Software: INRO Emme/4, PTV VISUM, TransCAD
  • Micro-simulation
    • Software: PTV VISSIM
  • Geographic Information Systems
    • Software: Open Layers, ESRI ArcGIS
  • Regression Modelling
    • Software: GLIM 4.0, R, GenStat, SPSS
  • Software Programming & Beta Testing
    • C++, Python
  • Public Consultation & Surveys
    • Social Marketing, UBC on-line surveys, SurveyMonkey, various social media
  • Data Analysis & Smoothing
    • Micro-processing, control and instrumentation, sensor calibration
    • Processing, smoothing for analysis
  • Clean Railway Propulsion Technology:
    • Matlab / Simulink based EZ-HELP simulation tool, trajectory planning, energy consumption calculator.
    • Detailed mathematical modelling and simulation of hydrogen fuel cell/battery technology.
    • Energy management/control systems, simulation of regenerative braking and battery state of charge for railway applications.
  • Sustainable Community Planning & Design
    • SMARTer Growth Neighborhood design manual
    • Social Cost Benefit Analyses
    • Business Plan Development
    • Land Use planning & design
    • Transportation Systems Engineering
    • Railways, Complete Streets, Pedestrian/Bicycle Networks

Helpful Links

The Sustainable Transport Safety Research Lab is located on the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

 

Learn more about the people and facilities supporting Dr. Lovegrove’s research program on sustainable communities.

Principle Investigator – Gordon Lovegrove

SMARTer Growth Research Team

Research Alumni

 

Interested in working for the STS lab?

Sign into the UBC Okanagan Job Board and look for our postings under the “Work Study” of the “Jobs” tab.