Prof. Dr. Hilmi Berk Çelikoğlu, a faculty member at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Civil Engineering, led an ambitious research project in his scientific career that challenged traffic congestion and environmental impacts, one of the most complex problems of big cities, with smart and flexible transportation solutions. In the project titled "Improving routing solutions in on-demand mobility systems through simulation", he managed both advanced mathematical modeling and micro-scale simulation processes, and implemented the vision of sustainable urban transportation of the future in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul.
Within the scope of the project, it was examined how "on-demand mobility" systems consisting of shared and electric vehicles could improve the existing traffic flow. For this purpose, a congestion-sensitive routing problem was formulated and the solution of this problem was sought with a closed-loop approach that combines optimization and simulation methods. In this innovative model, the routing solution obtained by optimization was tested in a micro-scale traffic simulation and the performance of the system was continuously improved by updating the optimization parameters according to the results.
"We can find a solution to the traffic problem that clogs the arteries of our cities, not only by building more roads, but also by using the existing infrastructure more intelligently. Unlocking the potential of on-demand, shared, and electric fleets has taken my scientific vision and approach to engineering problem-solving to the next level. Developing this closed-loop model, which combines optimization theory and micro-simulation, has solidified my identity as a researcher to build a bridge between the theoretical and practical worlds," says Çelikoğlu.
Prof. Dr. Hilmi Berk Çelikoğlu and his team, who undertook the lead of the project, not only developed an academic model, but also produced concrete and applicable scenarios for the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul, which was declared a low-emission zone. The results obtained were evaluated in terms of critical performance indicators such as journey time, emissions, empty trip rate and passenger waiting times, revealing the social and environmental benefits of the system.
While ITU transforms big data and smart systems into a tool for the future of urban transportation, it also gives our pioneering academics such as Prof. Dr. Hilmi Berk Çelikoğlu the opportunity to make a lasting impact in the scientific world and society. This project of Çelikoğlu is the product of an environment in which our university transforms its engineering vision into a sustainable urban life.