Low-Carbon Cities and Transport

Taken together, transport and the built environment account for over a third of a global carbon dioxide emissions. Addressing these, and related problems such as air pollution, requires research and innovation across a diverse range of disciplines, from chemical engineering and materials science to civil and environmental engineering. Crucially, it also requires a deep understanding of human behaviour and how consumer choice is influenced by economic cues, social pressures, technology and other factors.

Our Low-Carbon Cities and Transport theme encompasses a wide range of important work in these fields and others. From modelling transport demand to the development of lighter, more energydense batteries for electric vehicles, Imperial researchers are at the forefront of the drive for a more sustainable transport system. Our researchers are also helping to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings, leading ground-breaking work in advanced building materials, low-carbon heating, demand-side management and energy efficiency.

Centre for Transport Studies

Led by Professor Dan Graham, the Centre for Transport Studies is one of the leading multidisciplinary transport centres in the world. The Centre comprises academic staff with backgrounds in engineering, economics and mathematics, and around 60 research staff and doctoral students. Principal areas of research include intelligent transport systems, railway operations and management, air traffic management, transport economics and urban engineering systems. The Centre actively collaborates with other universities and the international consulting industry.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/transport-studies/

Electrochemical Science and Engineering

Led by Professor Gregory Offer, the Electrochemical Science and Engineering group works at the interface between the science and engineering of electrochemical devices, including batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors. The group brings together researchers from the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Earth Science and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering as well as the Dyson School of Design Engineering. The group’s research interests include lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulphur batteries, 3D tomography and imaging, redox flow cells, PEM fuel cells, supercapacitors, technoeconomic analysis and additive manufacturing.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/electrochem-sci-eng/

MUSE group

Led by Dr Adam Hawkes and Dr Sara Giarola, the MUSE modelling team are developing a novel method to simulate energy transitions towards a low carbon world. The MUSE model uses an agent-based approach that aims to simulate real investment decision making. This differs from most models currently relied upon by decision makers by providing insight on the impact of the motivations of businesses and consumers on climate change mitigation. It can shed light on the technology options, energy mixes, policies and regulations that are most likely to be successful. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/muse-energy/

Transport and Environment Laboratory

Led by Dr Marc Stettler, the Transport and Environment Laboratory, based in the Centre for Transport Studies at the Department for Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to advance our understanding of interactions between transport and the environment so that we can develop approaches to mitigate negative impacts in the face of growing transport activity. The group’s research spans different transport modes, uses a range of environmental monitoring and modelling approaches, and is conducted in collaboration with a number of industry and academic partners.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/transport-studies/ transport-and-environment/

Turbo Group

Led by Professor RIcardo Martinez-Bottas, the Turbo Group at Imperial College is a world-leading centre for experimental and numerical aerothermal research into turbochargers, whole engine air systems, and waste heat recovery. The group’s expertise covers areas including experimental measurement of steady and pulsating flows in turbocharger turbines; the research and testing of electrical turbochargers, superchargers and turbogenerators; the design, development and testing of novel turbocharging concepts; and modelling of hybrid and electric vehicles. The group operates a number of world-class test facilties to support turbocharger and turboexpander research and development, at both component and system level.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/turbochargers/

Urban Energy Systems

Cities are central to economic growth and social activity with a growing share of the global population. Increasingly, the need of cities to improve performance in services and infrastructure is creating not only technical, social, and business challenges, but also new opportunities. Led by Dr Aruna Sivakumar, the Urban Systems Lab undertakes high quality research in the fields of urban and cities research, in order to inform policy and the understanding of key issues affecting society. The Lab was formed in October 2015 as a cross faculty partnership between all of Imperial College London’s major Departments and Institutes and a number of external partners.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/urban-systems-lab/