Land Transport NZ's research programme - an overview

Timing Alert

The NZTA's updated research approach, along with application documents for the 2009/10 research programme, will be available from Monday 13 October 2008.

Expressions of Interest will be due on Wednesday 19 November.

Introduction to the research programme

Land Transport NZ funds innovative research that contributes to the aim of achieving an integrated, safe , responsive and sustainable land transport system in New Zealand. We fund high-priority projects that contribute to the purpose and goals of the Land Transport Management Act and Land Transport NZ, and that are responsive to the evolving land transport environment.

This may include adapting overseas developments to New Zealand conditions or solving land transport problems unique to New Zealand.

Land Transport NZ's research strategy

Land Transport NZ’s research programme is managed in accordance with Land Transport NZ’s research strategy. The strategy:

• outlines the guiding principles that steer the research programme
• defines the research that qualifies for funding
• sets out the areas of research interest; and
• details the application and management process.

The strategy has been revised and updated for the 2008/09 programme: Land Transport NZ's Research Strategy 2007/10 (also in Word, 563 KB)

Types of research

The research programme consists of a mix of industry-generated research and directed research:

• industry-generated research: projects developed by researchers in conjunction with end users (‘bottom-up research’)
• directed research: Land Transport NZ identifies specific research needs and requests proposals from researchers (‘top-down research’).

Land Transport NZ's areas of research interest

Research proposals need to relate to the purpose of the Land Transport Management Act 2003 and Land Transport NZ’s statutory objectives, strategic goals and the sustainability and safety trends we are promoting.

We allocate research funding to the following seven key topic areas:

• Environmental effects – to mitigate the adverse impacts of land transport
• Sustainable land transport – to improve the sustainability of the land transport system
• Travel behaviour – to provide a better understanding of travel behaviour and user preferences
• Safety and personal security – to improve safety and personal security through improvements to the land transport environment/architecture
• Risk management – to reduce the impact of hazards on the land transport system
• Network management – to more efficiently and safely manage the movement of vehicles
• Asset management – to improve the performance of the land transport asset.

Criteria for funding

Priority is given to research proposals that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• have clear end-user support, involvement and application
• use co-funding/a collaborative approach, where appropriate
• apply or build on overseas experiences (a literature search should be the first stage in all proposals)
• are applied research with practical application
• improve or maintain the land transport system
• evaluate the effects of land transport interventions
• develop performance measurement and benchmark techniques
• develop more efficient land transport solutions
• minimise system costs
• address information transfer and implementation.

Last updated: 12 October 2007