UKLL newsletter November 2024: international dissemination and advancing modelling approaches / 1.11.2024

The Urban Cycling Lab Ljubljana strengthens its international presence while advancing methodological developments in participatory modelling and exposure assessment.

In November 2024, the Urban Cycling Lab Ljubljana (UKLL) expanded its international engagement through participation in major scientific conferences, presenting both empirical findings and future methodological developments. Members of the research team took part in the International Conference on Urban Health in Marrakech and the Social Simulation Conference in Krakow, sharing insights from the project and contributing to ongoing discussions on urban health, mobility, and participatory research.

In Marrakech, the team presented recent findings on urban cycling and participatory approaches to studying urban health. The Urban Cycling Lab was showcased as an example of integrating real-time data collection with active public engagement, demonstrating how citizens and researchers can jointly generate meaningful, stakeholder-relevant data. In addition, a broader framework for evaluating participatory research approaches was introduced, based on the analysis of multiple European projects, highlighting the role of community involvement in improving research relevance and impact.

The visit also included field-based exploration of urban cycling conditions in Marrakech, providing first-hand insights into the challenges and opportunities of cycling in a rapidly developing urban environment. These experiences contribute to a more comparative understanding of how urban form and infrastructure influence mobility and health outcomes.

At the Social Simulation Conference in Krakow, the team presented ongoing work on the development of an agent-based model (ABM) designed to simulate cyclists’ exposure to air pollution and noise in urban environments. The model integrates data from wearable sensors with behavioural and ethnographic insights, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of how route choices, infrastructure, and environmental conditions shape exposure patterns. A key component of this work is the inclusion of participatory modelling approaches, ensuring that stakeholder perspectives are embedded in the model design and application.

This modelling work builds on previous research comparing agent-based simulations with real-world sensor data and aims to further improve the accuracy and applicability of exposure assessments by incorporating local context and behavioural dynamics.

The newsletter also highlighted broader discussions on urban sustainability and mobility, as well as related research initiatives focusing on commuting behaviour and sustainable transport solutions.

The full newsletter is available at: https://mailchi.mp/39885a181155/novice-iz-okoljske-obanske-znanosti-november24