The TransiT Hub is a collaboration between eight of the UK’s leading universities and 67 partners from across the digital, energy, and transport sectors. The project is jointly led by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow, with significant contributions from the University of Leeds, University of Birmingham, Cranfield University, University College London, University of Cambridge, and Durham University.
The initiative has secured £20 million in funding from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with an additional £26 million provided by industry stakeholders, including transport operators, vehicle manufacturers, technology companies, and energy suppliers. This makes it one of the largest transport-focused consortiums ever assembled in the UK.
The role of digital twins
At the heart of the TransiT Hub’s strategy is the use of digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems that are created using real-time data collected from sensors embedded in infrastructure like roads, railways, and airports. These digital twins allow researchers to simulate, test, and optimise various decarbonisation strategies in a virtual environment before they are implemented in the real world.
Digital twins can model complex transport systems and analyse how different technologies, such as electric road systems or alternative fuels, would perform under various conditions. By providing real-time feedback and allowing for rapid experimentation, digital twins can identify the most efficient, cost-effective, and low-risk pathways to achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets.
The TransiT Hub is designed not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to improve the efficiency and reliability of the UK’s transport systems. One aspect of the project is the potential development of a “personalised digital twin assistant” for transport users. This assistant could provide passengers with real-time, customised travel recommendations based on their preferences, similar to how streaming services like Netflix suggest content.
By simulating future transport networks and testing new technologies in a virtual environment, the TransiT Hub aims to accelerate the UK’s transition to a low-carbon transport system. This approach also offers significant benefits to transport providers and investors by reducing the risks and costs associated with real-world trials. Moreover, government policymakers will be able to use digital twin data to make informed decisions and anticipate the consequences of their policies over time.
Broader implications
The success of the TransiT Hub could serve as a model for other sectors that require transformational change. The project’s digital twinning approach offers a powerful tool for rapidly developing and implementing sustainable solutions, not only in transport but across various industries.
“Transport accounts for about a third of UK carbon emissions, and with global temperatures rapidly rising, we have run out of time to carry out real-world transport trials and learn from them. So, if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction commitments, we have to do our experiments digitally. We need to design the future transport system and optimize the transition to it,” said Professor Phil Greening, a logistics expert at Heriot-Watt University and joint Director of TransiT.
Professor David Flynn, a Professor in Cyber Physical Systems at the University of Glasgow and also a joint Director of TransiT, added: “If we can create and embed new design principles, we can identify equitable pathways to decarbonisation.”
