1. travel
2. transports
3. public transport

Creating the future of transport
1 Anthropomorphic test dummies
2 TRL research track
3 ARCADY 8 software
4 Driving simulation
5 TRL’s street
6 Core samples
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Introduction
TRL – the UK’s Transport Research
Laboratory, is recognised world-wide for
transport innovation, evidential research
and impartial advice.
Our work is rooted in the traditional
areas of road and vehicle safety, highway
engineering and maintenance. Through
the decades, however, our knowledge has
expanded to encompass so many other
facets that shape and form transport
decisions: sustainability, attitudes and
behaviours, simulation and modelling,
climate change, engineering, product
development, standards and specifications
to name but a few.
This is all supported by world class testing
facilities which include impact rigs, a
structures hall, pavement test facility,
driving simulation centre (DigiSim),
pavement monitoring and testing
services, air and noise quality monitoring
equipment and more.
Transport develops and evolves to keep
pace with changing requirements. And
just as the world of transport never stands
still, at TRL neither do we. Harnessing
our unrivalled knowledge, experience
and benchmark capabilities in research,
testing and evidence-based consultancy,
our solutions embrace technology,
while combining innovation and
imagination with real-world practicality.
Moreover, everything we do is irrefutably
linked to the values of independence,
responsiveness and integrity.
It’s our vision and mission, to meet
transport’s challenges, reduce casualties
and safeguard the environment,
to improve vehicle safety, manage
infrastructure more effectively and provide
global solutions fit for the 21st century.
TRL at a glance
Consultancy
Evidence based solutions for transportation and transport-related commercial challenges
– helping to improve organisational performance and key decision making:
• Automotive
• Energy & Climate Change
• Carbon Reduction & Financing
• Low Carbon Vehicles
• Resource & Waste Management • Sustainability
Research & Development
Knowledge and innovation for all aspects of Transportation, Safety,
Vehicles, Environment, Sustainability and Transport Infrastructure:
• Improving Safety – Collision Investigation; User Safety; Vehicle Safety
• Intelligent Transport – Human Factors; Managed Motorways; Road
User Charging
• Journey Time Reliability – Network Performance; Tackling Congestion;
Travel Behaviour
• Managing Infrastructure – Asset Monitoring; Condition Surveys;
Design & Materials; New Technology Development
• Sustainable Construction/Cities/Transport; Environmental Assessment
• Managing Risk
• Multi-modal Journeys
• International
• Rail
• Security
Knowledge Centre
TRL has one of the world’s most comprehensive
transport research collections, including an
extensive virtual library of transport books, journals
and reports, with TRL publishing many reports a
year on a wide range of transport related subjects.
Resources include:
• Professionally Qualified Information Scientists
• Literature Searches
• Current Awareness Alerts
• Papers & Articles
• Reports & Publications
• Enquiry Answering Service
• TRL News Hub
• Events & Exhibitions
• Data Information
• Extensive Website
Creating the future of transport
Product Testing
Wide ranging expertise in the design and delivery
of testing for development and homologation
programmes, complemented by advisory and
consultancy services. Key areas include:
• Child Safety • Security
• Motor Sport
• Vehicle Restraint Systems
• Euro NCAP
• Impact Sled Rigs
Software
A comprehensive range of software products and services, including
the design and development of software for customers worldwide; the
full spectrum of “off-the-shelf” junction design software and microsimulation linking tools; bespoke software design e.g. Transport for
London’s UTC; expertise in database and network analysis tools:
• Software Products
• Software Consultancy
• Software Training
Facilities
Our state-of-the-art facilities offer clients an exceptional range of the latest technologies:
• Driving Simulation
• Impact Testing
• Test Track & Road System
• Structural Testing
• Pavement Testing
• Product Testing
• Materials Testing
• Mobile Test Equipment e.g. air, noise,
condition monitoring
But what of the future...?
Safer, better value, sustainable roads
Harvesting and storing solar energy
for moderating pavement frost
Transferring energy to roadside
infrastructure
Actively Managed
Road Works – DRUM
In-built vehicle guidance
infrastructure and co-operative
vehicle-highway systems
Traffic signals – SCOOT
Weather warning systems linked
to automated sensors
Ramp metering
In-built / removable
sensors for traffic
monitoring and road
condition
Energy harvesting grid
and storage system
Retroreflectivity
Porous surfacing / light
reflecting surfacing
Safety barriers
TRL continues to innovate and generate
knowledge that can be applied to create
transport that is efficient, accessible, clean
and safe.
Through TRL’s membership of FEHRL (Forum of
European Highway Research Laboratories), TRL
has been the driving force behind the Forever
Adaptable
communication/
power channels
for lane control,
traffic monitoring,
driver information
and condition
monitoring
Open Road (FOR) concept, which is now being
taken forward by Institutes across Europe.
FOR aspires to create roads that are adaptable,
automated and climate change resilient, based
upon a concept for building and maintaining
roads that can be universally applied regardless
of type, region or country.
Satellite and radio communications
to road infrastructure and drivers
Managed Motorways
Driver information systems linked
to sensors and in-car devices
Intelligent Transport
Systems
In-built fixing system for
central reserve barriers
and traffic signs
Carbon capture planting
fed by run-off water
Drainage and reservoirs
for storm control and
water collection
Winter maintenance
and condition
improvements
Flexible, durable
surface, easy repairs,
self-cleaning, instant
crack repair
Condition assessment
Climate change resilient
Low carbon sub-base
and pavement
Skid resistance
measurement
We look to expand our own research horizons to
embrace new technologies and provide solutions
for today’s issues.
How do we maximise the benefits of new
sensors and communications technology:
what are the implications for the traveller and
multimodal travel? What benefits can we bring?
How do we exploit new and existing sources of
traffic data? How do we mesh together a variety
of sources to understand and manage the data
more effectively, to the benefit of all?
How do we develop and implement technology
in road and rail infrastructure management, to
make it more efficient and effective?
Improving the transport environment
Driver Behaviour
• Signal identifiers
and their effects
• SPADS signal
investigation
• Driver visual
strategies
Passenger Safety
• Warning systems
• Modelling and simulation
• Human biomechanics
• Crash dummies
• Interior crashworthiness
• Design/ergonomics
• Impact testing
Carbon & Environment
• Low carbon transport
• Low cost options
• Emission modelling
(noise and air)
• Impact assessment
• Sustainability
Bridges
• Remote monitoring
• Pedestrian loading
•Risk-based examination
• Waterproofing
• Vehicle strikes
• Revision of Standards,
Guidance Notes
Level Crossings
• Safety
• Traffic signs and signals
• Reduced delays
• Incident investigation
• Economics
• Human factors
How do we build resilience into our networks
to off-set the effects of climate change? What
are the costs and benefits of abatement and
adaptation measures?
How do we de-carbonise transport? What are
the challenges to the wide spread adoption of
low carbon vehicles?
Crash Investigation
• 3D laser scanning
• Visualisation
• Simulation
How do we develop and adapt to autonomous
and cooperative vehicles?
And what of our driving population? How is
their driving performance affected by ageing/
obesity/fatigue/medicines and drugs? What can
we do to prevent injury from vehicle impacts
with a driving population that is changing be it
by age, size, or culture?
Asset Management
• Value for money
• Data collection and
management
• Whole life options
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Environmental impacts
• Integrated solutions
ITS Technologies Delivering Efficiencies & Capacity
• Assessment methodologies for active safety systems
• Sensor detection systems using multiple radar units
to determine range and bearing of objects
• Data management systems
• Evaluation of scanning speed
delays on smartcard systems
• Integrated ticketing
Modelling and Software Packages
• Improvements to highway design
and traffic flows
Capacity
• Improving capacity –
ERTMS, capability
trade-offs
• Cross modal
knowledge transfer
• End to end journeys
Railway Stations
& Car Parks
• Accessibility
• Winter maintenance
• Audits
• Operations
• Design review
• Security appraisals
Sustainable Cities
• Improved transport
planning
• Alternative transport
modes
• Sustainable construction
• Reducing congestion
• Saving energy
• Air quality and
environmental
monitoring
Vehicle Development
• Euro NCAP
• Tyre noise
• Low carbon vehicles
• Autonomous braking
• Cooperative vehicles
• Speed limitation devices
• Electronic stability control
How do we become more sustainable in our
construction and maintenance practices and
achieve best value set against a background of
economic uncertainty?
How do we prioritise and assess environmental
impact resilience, taking into account climate
change and associated risk assessments?
These are just some of the challenges the
transport community faces and TRL is tackling.
And not just in the UK. TRL’s expertise and
knowledge is being used across Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, India and China, while our
traffic software is sold globally.
TRL
As a global leader in independent research and consultancy we are different
from other organisations in our field. Why? The answer lies in our...
Track record
Our long transport history has given us an
unsurpassed breadth of experience, harnessed
for the benefit of our clients worldwide. We’ve
built a welcome reputation for delivering best
value solutions that make an immediate and
lasting difference, as well as for impartiality,
confidentiality and productive partnershipbuilding.
The TRL Academy reinforces our scientific and
engineering expertise and our reputation as a
leading international transport research institute
and centre of excellence. The Academy delivers
long-term research programmes and projects
that develop major IPR, increasing our intellectual
capital, knowledge and understanding.
Resources
Our fully integrated, 350-strong team offers
exceptional expertise in a wealth of disciplines,
including engineering, physics, maths, statistics,
computer science, economics, environmental
science and psychology. Whatever the
challenge, we’ll assemble the right team to
tackle it.
Our unique suite of in-house and mobile facilities
include structural testing halls, advance car
simulator, traffic-speed road monitoring vehicles,
comprehensive impact test facilities, a private
test track, plus a virtual Information Centre open
to the world’s transport community.
Long-term vision
Track record and resources are essential
components in creating knowledge and
generating solutions. But these are coupled
with a comprehensive understanding of trends,
developments and their potential impact on the
future as it unfolds.
As our world evolves and moves forward,
so does TRL - creating the future of
transport.
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Helmet drop test rig
DigiCar
Child safety centre
Pavement test facility
3-D laser scanner
Structures hall
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Find out more about TRL contact us on:
or visit our website
+44 (0)1344 773131 or email: enquiries@trl.co.uk
www.trl.co.uk
Crowthorne House Nine Mile Ride Wokingham Berkshire RG40 3GA United Kingdom
t +44 (0)1344 773131
f +44 (0)1344 770356 e enquiries@trl.co.uk
w www.trl.co.uk
Creating the future of transport