About Research Unit of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering
The Research Unit of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering at TU Wien is a leading research and teaching center dedicated to advancing sustainable, safe, and resilient transport systems. Its work spans transport planning, mobility behaviour, accessibility, equity, infrastructure, and policy analysis, with a strong focus on improving quality of life in cities and regions. The institute collaborates closely with governments, industry partners, and international organizations, translating research into practical solutions and policy impact. As host of WSSTL-2027, the research unit coordinates the dissemination and access to cutting-edge expertise, influential networks, and a platform shaping the future of sustainable mobility worldwide.
History
The research unit of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering originated from the “Institute for Road and Railway Construction,” founded in the 1960s, and was known as the “Institute for Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering” from 1989 to 2008.
Since the 1980s, its focus has expanded from a car-centered approach to a people- and environment-oriented transport system. The unit works interdisciplinarily, linking transport with human behavior, social aspects, the economy, and the environment.
It collaborates with numerous national and international partners, particularly within EU projects, combining theoretical research with practical applications such as transport concepts and cooperation with public initiatives.
Over the past decades, the institute has contributed significantly to the scientific foundations of transport planning through research projects for ministries and public bodies. More recently, evolutionary approaches to human behavior have enabled the development of practice-oriented planning models. The research unit has considerable know-how, particularly in the areas of roadway and street design, road space design, energy consumption, environmental problems, human behaviour, promotion of the environmental alliance, transport infrastructure and mobility, transit traffic, traffic safety, freight transport and political measures.
