Summary of the impact

The Transport Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University (TRI) recognises the importance of taxi research, developing a series of models since 2002. Parallel pressures within the regulation of the mode, and disruptive forms of access, necessitate measurable and repeatable analysis. Beneficiaries include the travelling public, as regulations are developed and applied, regulators, informing policy direction; operators and drivers as the market for services changes.

TRI models provide detailed analysis of the market. The market-model, with its economic, cost and operational sub-models, has developed to support live issues, and is applied in the UK, EU and North America.

Summary of the impact

Research at Oxford in the Transport Studies Unit (TSU) has enabled cities and governments (regional and local) in the UK and internationally to adjust their transport policies over the longer term (to 2050) towards low carbon alternatives. Its impact has been to reconfigure decision makers' thinking on transport policies from trend-based projective studies for transport policy options, towards trend breaking `backcasting' studies for sustainable transport policy futures. Several national and international agencies have used both the backcasting approach, and also two simulation models developed as part of the research.

Summary of the impact

Bournemouth University (BU) researchers have developed economic modelling techniques that more accurately predict the outcome of events, policies or other major economic decisions. This type of modelling allows governments and organisations to effectively plan for the positive and negative impacts arising from decisions. The technique was used to inform estimates of the value of the 2012 Olympic Games and subsequent tourism legacy; to provide the evidence base for VisitScotland naming 2013 the `Year of Natural Scotland'; to inform a Parliamentary debate on music tourism and establish greater representation of music in VisitBritain marketing material; and to inform the Government of Gibraltar of the impact of changes, such as the benefits of cross-border activity.

Summary of the impact

Research on sustainable transport conducted by Hickman et al at UCL has contributed significantly to a major shift in UK and international transport policy during the last decade. Whereas such policy previously included little, if any, consideration of climate change, the desire to reduce transport CO₂ emissions is now often its primary objective. Findings from and methods developed through the research have been used at city, regional, national and international to support and implement revised strategies and investment programmes promoting sustainable transport. As such, they contributed to increased use of public transport, walking and cycling, and reduced dependence on car usage. The methods have also been widely used by international consultancies and other researchers.

Summary of the impact

Research undertaken by the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) at the University of Leeds from 1997 to 2013 has played a key role in developing the methods and evidence base for demand forecasting and economic appraisal in transport. The primary impact of this research has been changes to official guidance Manuals, which are prescribed to scheme promoters, operators, consultants and other agents. In applying these Manuals, a secondary research impact has been to improve the quality of transport decision-making and Value for Money (VfM) of public expenditure. Against this background, ITS Leeds research has achieved the following impacts throughout the period 2008 to 2013 (and ongoing):

• The UK Department for Transport's WebTAG appraisal guidelines have specified monetary valuations of travel time savings and traffic noise directly from our research.
• The UK rail sector's Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook, which is the industry Manual, has specified key parameter values directly from our econometric and review work.
• Extending the reach of the impacts from the UK to worldwide, the ITS Leeds research has also been exploited in the appraisal processes of the World Bank and European Commission.

Summary of the impact

This impact case study is based on research concerning the estimation of regional economic impacts through input-output models and spatial econometrics. The research resulted in the distribution of a free modelling software package to decision-makers throughout the South West region and has had policy impacts in terms of the influence of advice, data, and reports provided to a range of organisations including the South West Regional Development Agency, Plymouth City Council, and several other local councils and private sector decision-makers.