It is widely recognised that effective transport systems and access thereto are critical prerequisites for economic progress and stability. They are also key assets to the people who use them – through urban and rural areas – for work, employment, education and recreation. While the potential benefits of transportation systems are clear, they have inherent challenges, including environmental degradation, crashes and injuries, noise and congestion.

The Stellenbosch Interdisciplinary Transport Research Group (SITReG) unites researchers from diverse academic backgrounds who share a common interest in exploring transport solutions for our continent that are underpinned by the principles of sustainability and social responsibility. With a team of researchers drawn from several of Stellenbosch University’s departments, including Economics, Logistics, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Psychology, SITReG is founded soundly on the principle of interdisciplinary collaboration. SITReG draws upon the varied skillsets of its members to create transport-related research that is relevant, well-rounded, visionary and impactful.

SITReG’s research interests are broadly categorised into five overlapping themes:

  • Transport Safety, Security & Management
  • Transport Futures, Intelligent Transport Systems & Smart Urban Development
  • Transport Infrastructure Planning
  • Transport Policy Planning and Governance
  • Behaviour of road users
  • Freight & Logistics
  • Energy and sustainable transport

Objectives of the group include:

  • Developing new opportunities for collaboration between the University’s departments that engage in transport-related research at Stellenbosch University, with the intention of building well-rounded transport-related capacity from across multiple disciplines.
  • Benefitting from the diverse skillsets of members to predict, understand, and respond to emerging trends within the transport sector.
  • Encouraging meaningful interaction between Stellenbosch University’s transport researchers and various stakeholder groups in government, industry and society
  • Creating a scholarly environment that engenders the creation of world-class research outputs and nurtures the next generation of transport professionals.