Road traffic division

Nord University at Stjørdal campus is building a research and educational environment for the future in transport, infrastructure and technology management areas.

Our division includes an interdisciplinary team working on a variety of topics from future transport systems, digitalization, safety management and social security to human behavior, traffic psychology, pedagogy, law, project management and strategic change management in organizations.

Our research projects focus on, among other things, digital infrastructure , the use of simulators and virtual reality for traffic safety, intelligent transport systems and technology management. See also the description of the division's central research areas below. In addition, the division works with different road traffic and transportation topics with a focus on the interaction between road users, traffic management, vehicles and roads.

Ph.D. studies

If you have a master's degree in economics and administration, you can have a PhD degree with us at Nord University Business School. The doctoral program will first and foremost qualify for research and development work, but also other areas that requires insight into scientific working methods and results. It is desirable to have doctoral projects especially within digitization, security and management areas at the Stjørdal campus,

If you are interested in becoming part of a committed and future-oriented research environment, please contact the road traffic division leader.

>> Nord University Business School is currently looking to recruit new research fellows/PhD candidates

Central research areas

Pedagogical and Didactical Studies

Pedagogy is central to the traffic field and is also one of the core competencies of professionals in the field, as well as being central to higher education in general. A well-functioning driver education system is a prerequisite for traffic safety; therefore, it is important to conduct research on factors related to the driver education process from both a theoretical and practical perspective.

The main research topics in this area include assessment and evaluation of learning outcomes, andragogy, student- and peer learning, the driver-education curricula, the driving tests, the implementation of different pedagogical, psychological and technological methods and means, such as the GDE – framework, and innovative supervision and teaching methods.

Team

Ståle Lødemel	Head of group
Aksel Røstad	Assistant Professor
Bård Aune	Assistant Professor
Elin Kyllo	University College teacher
Elisabeth Suzen	Associate Professor
Eva Signora Brustad Dalland	Associate Professor
Hilde Kjelsrud	PhD student
Jan Petter Wigum	Assistant Professor
Kåre Robertsen	Assistant Professor
Kari-Anne Tyvold	University College teacher
Lisbeth Krøvel	University College teacher
Petter Helmersen Bogfjellmo	Assistant Professor
Randi Brynhildsvoll	Assistant Professor
Roger Hanssen	Assistant Professor
Rolf Robertsen	Associate Professor
Svein Loeng	Associate Professor
Svein Robertsen	University College teacher
Thor Owe Holmquist	Assistant Professor
Tor Owe Musum	University College teacher
Toril Fargerli Birkeland	Assistant Professor
Trond Hanssen	Assistant Professor
Audun Stiansen	Assistant Professor
Brit Solli Isachsen	Assistant Professor

Road User Bahavior & Human Factors

The human factor is one of the most important factors when it comes to road-traffic accidents; therefore, in order to prevent accidents and reduce the accident risk in road-traffic it is critical to focus on the road user perspective.

An important goal of the research conducted in this area is to focus on risky behaviours and risk factors for different road user groups (e.g. drivers, pedestrians, two-wheeler drivers) and investigate different psycho-social, cultural and organizational factors that might lead to risky traffic behaviors. In addition to road safety behaviors, focusing on travel behaviors among the road users, the interaction between different road users and the human-vehicle interaction are also among the prior research topics under this area.

Team

Elisabeth Suzen	Associate Professor
Eva Signora Brustad Dalland	Associate Professor
Giuseppe Marinelli	Associate Professor
Jan Petter Wigum	Assistant Professor
Kåre Robertsen	Assistant Professor
Ozlem Simsekoglu Nordfjaern	Associate Professor
Petter Helmersen Bogfjellmo	Assistant Professor
Rolf Robertsen	Associate Professor
Thor Owe Holmquist	Assistant Professor
Katrine Grinerud	PhD student
Thomas Wold	Associate Professor
Fred Størseth	Associate Professor

Mobility, Infrastructure & Vehicle Technology

Innovative technologies will bring an unprecedented disruption in the transport sector in the next few years: faster internet access, 5G, self-driving technology, smart info-mobility, integrated transport solutions and artificial intelligence are to mention some of the upcoming innovations. Understanding the effects generated by them, also in light of historical perspective, is the core of this research area, which aims to develop knowledge on innovative and sustainable transport solutions, road and vehicle technology and their effect on road users and mobility in future years.

Team

Bård Toldnes	Professor
Giuseppe Marinelli	Associate Professor
Kåre Robertsen	Assistant Professor
Rolf Robertsen	Associate Professor
Trond Hanssen	Assistant Professor

Road Traffic Laws & Regulations

Road traffic law has been a central issue since the Storting in 1972 decided to establish a traffic-related environment for traffic teacher education in Stjørdal. Our research focuses on the entirety of the legislation, and whether the legislation safeguards safety, responsibilities and privacy. The development of automized and autonomous vehicles creates new opportunities and challenges in society. One key task is to put in place a law that will always safeguard security, division of responsibility and privacy.

Team

Harald Osland Sandvik	Assistant Professor
Roger Helde	Associate Professor

Partnering, Leadership, Project Leadership and Strategic Management

Challenges in the public and private sectors often require interaction between many organizations to find good solutions, for example within transport, roads and construction, energy, oil, tourism, research and health. The challenges for the future can be local, national or international, in small or large businesses and include various topics such as innovation, business models, digitalization or safety management.

Many of the sectors deliver strategic business results and create value in mutual projects. Interaction in projects often has the same characteristics and success factors, and strategic leadership, interdisciplinary expertise and project leadership are often required to succeed. Nord University at Stjørdal has international interdisciplinary research expertise relevant to these topics.

Team

Elisabeth Suzen	Associate Professor
Rolf Robertsen	Associate Professor
Wenche Kristin Aarseth	Professor
Giuseppe Marinelli	Associate Professor
Ozlem Simsekoglu Nordfjaern	Associate Professor
Katrine Grinerud	PhD student

Selected research projects

Hest i trafikk

More information.

SitT

More information.

Kjøreegenskaper lette tilhengere

Will be added later

Driving characteristics of light trailers

(02/2019-01/2020)

This project focuses on the driving characteristics of trailers up to 3500 kg that are intended for passenger cars and vans in driver license categories B and BE.

The aim of the project is to investigate the various challenges that arise when cars, with a high degree of technological driver support systems, use trailers that are only equipped with mechanical devices for braking, suspension and course stability. In addition, the project also aims to investigate how drivers receive proper training for driving with a trailer, and whether the current legislation is enough for use of trailers in a safe way.

Project team: Kåre Robertsen, Giuseppe Marinelli, Harald O. Sandvik, Edvard Taarnes, Knut Skårdalsmo

Automated feedback and instruction system for category B driver training

(2019-2022)

Nord University Business School, Traffic Division, participates in the innovation project Automated feedback and instruction system for category B driver training, funded by the Research Council of Norway.

The project aims to develop a targeted and individually customized simulator-based driver training. A simulator-based driver training enable learner drivers to start their practical driver training before the age of 16 and will, among other things, provide learner drivers with driving experiences and possibilities to train risky and uncommon traffic situations as well as enabling an increased amount of driver training before they complete their driving test.

One of the key project elements, in which the Traffic Division contributes to, is to develop a "virtual instructor" (machine-assessment) that will assess the learner driver`s performance in the various driving exercises and provide feedback/comments in relation to the objectives stated in the Driver Education curriculum category B. This as a continuous follow-up assessment of the learner drivers throughout their entire training course.

Participants:

The Research Council of Norway, Nord University, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (Sintef), Way Ltd, and The Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

Project team: Rolf Robertsen, Ståle Lødemel

VR in driving education - Feasibility Study Project

(09/2019 – 02/2020)

Nord University has been appointed by The Norwegian Public Road Administration (Statens Vegvesen) to develop a study that investigates the possibility of using VR technology inside driving education. A feasibility study will be performed, with the specific focus on practicing traffic situations using VR solutions. The objective is to assess and justify whether VR technology can be adapted and used also in driver training.

In addition to an extended and detailed literature review, the research group has designed a survey in order to investigate the opinions of driving instructors, learner drivers and public in Norway. The survey is available at the link https://nettskjema.no/a/127419 and is open for everyone who wish to participate.

Finally, some practical use scenarios are developed and suggested, in order to set the stage for a further experimentation directly on the field.

Project team: Giuseppe Marinelli, Kåre Robertsen, Özlem Simsekoglu, Robin Isfold Munkvold, Rolf Robertsen, Trond Olav Skevik

SkiTour Scandinavia - Value and collaborations in major sporting projects in the region

The project originates from collaborations between Stjørdal, Meråker, Sundsvall, Östersund and Trondheim municipalities. The main goal of the research project is to strengthen the entrepreneurial opportunities linked to the region's unique winter sports environment.

Also included in the project are other similarly major sporting events in the region, olympic games and world championships. The main purpose is to create lasting value for business and especially tourism after the sporting projects events.

A number of business organizations in the region is part of the research project. Professors and researchers from Nord university in Stjørdal Norway and Mitt University in Östersund Sweden have worked for many years with research projects in tourism, adventure industry and leadership and partnering in major projects. We are now developing the research further in the area of Green Transport and Tourism.

Contact: Professor Wenche Aarseth, Nord university.