Building a Multidisciplinary Network for Aviation Research

3–4 minutes

About

From 10-14 November 2008, at Shrigley Hall, Cheshire, SK10 5SB, a Research Councils’ Energy Programme Sandpit to generate and develop innovative approaches to airport operations was held, resulting in a number of funded projects. This Network is also an output of the event, reflecting the unanimous view that a Network was indispensible to take advantage of the Sandpit energy and cross-disciplinary synergies. To this end, the Network will be directed by the Principal and co-Investigators, who will be joined on the Organising Committee by the Principal Investigators of the successfully funded projects. Initially, Network membership was drawn from the Sandpit participants who all expressed an interest in participating, however it is desirable that as part of its remit, the Network strive for as wide and as multidisciplinary membership as possible.An example of a network organisation working in the area of Aeronautical Operations is Omega, a publicly funded academic partnership which was set up in January 2007. The partnership, which brings together aviation knowledge from 9 UK Universities, acts as an independent body to share knowledge in a neutral forum to engage with key players in the development of a sustainable aviation industry. The contrasting basic raison d’etre of the network described in this proposal is to develop a research community and its links with the key industrial and commercial players. The Sandpit participants have produced proposals which represent high value to commerce and industry in terms of energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and compliance with future operating practices and legislation. However, the core requirements of Sandpit membership is the generation of different perspectives, innovation, and fresh insights from disciplines and market sectors not traditionally associated with this field. It is this concept which is core to differentiating the proposed network from existing groups. It must also be noted that the associated high risk of the projects proposed at the sandpit would be unlikely candidates for funding through traditional avenues. The proposed network is unique in this way, and will undertake a vital role in bringing its members high risk, high adventure research to general acknowledgement and acceptance.

ABC presentation – 1-2-12 Download

AETN founding members
Swansea University
University of Cambridge
University of Nottingham
University of Leeds
Northumbria University
University of Southampton
Loughborough University
University of Leeds
University of Lincoln
Imperial College London
University of Reading
City University
Cranfield University
UCL
University of Bath
University of Liverpool
MMU
De Montfort University
University of Sheffield
Brunel University
Industrial Sponsors
Airbus
MMU (OMEGA)
Smith Industries
DfT
Manchester Airport
Arup
BAA
Unique
Aviation Environmental Federation
Fraport
Transport Research Lab (TRL)
EADS Corporate Research Organisation
National Air Traffic Services

Ryley et al AETN paper TRB 2012 Download

The AETN initially acted as a hub to the research projects which were funded from the EPSRC Low Carbon Airports Sandpit.

AETN Workshop

On 18th May 2011 the EPSRC AETN held a workshop at the University of Lincoln on ‘Sustainable Air Travel, Behaviour Change and Social Media’.

The Workshop summarised state-of-the-art online social media networks and social media to faciliitate behaviour change and successfully explored the potential of using such technology to deliver sustainable behaviour change in the context of the air-travel industry. The workshop allowed researchers to update attenddees on their progress and issues pertinent to the air-travel industry was explored; these issues included, but were not limited to, transport to and from airports, passenger attitudes towards air travel, airlines and destination, public attitudes to air frieght.

This workshop, hosted by the School of Engineering at the University of Lincoln and co-organised by members of the Lincoln Social Computing (LiSC), will be centred on sustainable air travel, behaviour change and social media. Confirmed speakers include:

Prof Mark Blythe, Professor of Interdisciplinary Design from Northumbria University.
Dr Tim Ryley from Loughborough University and co-investigator on the Airport Energy Technologies Network.
Dr Parisa Eslambolchilar from Swansea University and co-investigator on the EPSRC CHARM project.
Dr Charles Musselwhite from the Centre of Transport and Society at the University of the West of England.

View the workshop presentations here: