Keynote speakers

Martin Grötschel: Zuse Institute, Technische Universität, and Matheon, Berlin, Germany

Martin Grötschel holds the Chair for Information Technology at the Institute of Mathematics of Technische Universität Berlin, and is now the President of the Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum Berlin (ZIB) as well as the secretary of the International Mathematical Union. Martin Grötschel’s main areas of scientific interest are Discrete Mathematics, Optimization and Operations Research. He has deep interest in real applications in areas such as Public Transportation, Telecommunication, Chip design and VLSI, Production planning, Flexible manufacturing, and Logistics.

More information can be found at Martin Grötschel’s webpage.

Title: The Roles of Modelling, Simulation, Heuristic and Exact Optimization in Public Transport

Abstract: Modelling, Simulation, and Optimization (briefly MSO) are playing a strongly increasing role in many areas of industry, management and society. Traffic and transport have been forerunners of the MSO approach to the solution of practical problems. The aim of this lecture is to address the importance of the various components in this MSO solution process from a somewhat global point of view and to demonstrate that each of these methods is an indispensable tool. The significance of the different technologies depends strongly, though, on the type of application, the size and exactness of the available data, the time horizon of the planning period and several other “ingredients”. The analysis made is based on more than twenty-five years of experience in practical problem solving in transport and logistics. Various examples of current and previous projects in public transport of my research group will be outlined.

Martin Trépanier: Polytechnique Montréal and CIRRELT, Montreal, Canada

Martin Trépanier, P. Eng., Ph.D. (mtrepanier@polymtl.ca) is a civil engineer and a Full Professor of transportation and logistics in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial engineering at the Polytechnique Montréal since 2001. His research fields are public transportation planning, geographic information systems (GIS) development, logistics of goods and hazardous materials, enterprise information systems, transportation object-oriented modeling, and Internet applications. His teaching activities are about intelligent transportation systems in logistics and enterprise information system.

Martin Trépanier is member of the Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT).  He is also collaborating with the MOBILITÉ chair on sustainable transportation at the Polytechnique. More information can be found at Martin Trépanier’s webpage

Abstract: Nowadays, the usefulness of smart card data for public transport planning is not questioned anymore.  Smart card automated fare collection systems continuously collect data on the transactional behaviour of the public transport users.  However, the use of such data for day to day planning activities is not a simple task.  This presentation discusses some challenges related to the analysis of smart card data through some applications done over the years at Polytechnique Montreal. The following elements will be addressed :

• Error detection and data validation;
• Conceptualization with a transportation object-oriented approach;
• Destination estimation (for  “tap-in-only” systems);
• Customer segmentation with data mining techniques, loyalty, impact of weather;
• Public transport network characterization, ridership vizualisation;
• New advances related to big data and the assessment of microelasticity.

The presentation will conclude on perspectives about the future of smart card data in planning and its integration with other modes of payment and other sources of data.

Maurice Unck: Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways)

NS is the largest operator of passenger trains in the Netherlands. NS connects people from door-to-door. 1.1 Million customers travel with our trains on a daily basis in the Netherlands, and about 1 million in the UK and Germany through our subsidiary Abellio. NS also takes care of lively stations in the Netherlands and abroad. Together with its partners, like OV Bike and Greenwheels, NS helps its customers with door-to-door solutions. The total turnover of NS in 2013 was 4.6 Billion Euros.

As the director of Communication and Strategy of NS, Maurice Unck has the final responsibility for the external and internal communication, for stakeholder management, the development and execution of the group strategy, the main network concession, and the strategic relations and programs with the government and the infraprovider ProRail. He also has the final responsibility for the international connections. He is a member of the Executive Committee of NS and reports to the CEO of NS.

Maurice Unck has worked in various strategic and operational management positions within NS since 2007: Managing Director Maintenance & Service at NedTrain(2012-2014), Program Director New Main Network Concession (2011), and Director Business & Product Development (2007-2011).