2020

In the face of unprecedented challenges during 2020, New South Wales experienced natural disasters, including the devastating bushfire crisis, followed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. These events necessitated the adoption of significant measures, such as the lockdown mandated by the NSW government, leading to the migration of numerous UNSW courses online and the transition of staff and students to remote work.

Despite this tumultuous environment characterized by continual change and unpredictability, rCITI at UNSW demonstrated resilience and commitment to maintaining the institution's world-class research standards. Throughout the year, rCITI actively engaged in a diverse range of research areas, showcasing its broad capabilities. These encompassed studies in Behaviour under Risk & Uncertainty, Econometrics, Environmental Engineering Modelling, Epidemiology, Experimental Economics, Human Factors, Integrated Transport Optimization and Planning, Network Modelling, the Role of Global Transport Systems in the Spread of Contagious Diseases, Pedestrian Crowd Modelling, Traffic Flow Theory, Traffic Safety Work-zone Management, Transport Planning, and Transportation & Freight Services, as well as Housing Markets, Land Use, and Environmental Planning.

Despite the disruptions, the financial summary for the year 2020 reflects a collective income of $596,000 for rCITI. Noteworthy achievements include the graduation of four PhD students, the publication of 49 refereed journal articles and nine conference papers, and the supervision and support provided to 32 PhD, 23 Masters by Coursework, and 19 Honours students by the 18-strong research and academic staff.

The year also marked changes in personnel for rCITI, with the addition of two new staff members and the departure of four. The institute actively contributed to knowledge exchange by hosting one workshop and having its staff present at 15 local and international conferences.

Particularly commendable were the highlights of two successful ARC Linkage projects: "Stable On-Demand Optimization for Workforce and Fleet Logistics Management" led by CIs David Rey, Meead Saberi, S. Travis Waller, and Richard Savoie, and "Ageing Drivers: Cognitive Ageing and Technology" involving Kaarin Anstey, Michael Regan, Kim Kiely, Mari Velonaki, Stephen Cratchley, Lesley Ross, and John McCallum. Notably, the Visiting Senior Research Fellow Lauren Gardner received recognition as one of "The 100 Most Influential People of 2020" by Time Magazine. These achievements underscore rCITI's resilience, adaptability, and impactful contributions amid a challenging year.