On May 10, 2025, the "Workshop on Smart Rail-backboned Multimodal Systems," jointly organized by Beijing Jiaotong University(BJTU), Delft University of Technology , and Technische Universität Dresden, was successfully held at the Science Hall of BJTU. Initiated by the School of Traffic and Transportation at BJTU, the workshop focused on the intelligence, efficiency, and sustainable development of multimodal transport systems. It brought together scholars from three universities for in-depth exchanges on cutting-edge topics. The event was co-chaired by Professor Yuanjie Tang and Lecturer Long Pan from the School of Traffic and Transportation at BJTU.
The workshop began with academic presentations by Assistant Professor Jie Gao, Assistant Professor Yanan Xin, Assistant Professor Yongqiu Zhu, and Senior Researcher Yufei Yuan from Delft University of Technology, as well as Postdoctoral Researcher Bing Liu and Researcher Shiyao Zhang from Technische Universität Dresden.
Dr. Jie Gao delivered a presentation titled "Smart Optimization for Shared Mobility Systems," discussing the critical role of advanced methods in improving the efficiency of shared mobility resource allocation. Dr. Yanan Xin, in her talk "From ‘What’ to ‘Why’ in Mobility Forecasting: XAI and Causal Insights," addressed core challenges and breakthroughs in mobility prediction models from the perspectives of explainable artificial intelligence and causality. Dr. Yongqiu Zhu focused on the railway sector with his presentation "Smart Planning and Operations in Railways," systematically explaining the key role of digital technologies in optimizing railway networks. Dr. Yufei Yuan, in his presentation "Modeling and Simulating Future Active Mobility in a Multimodal Context," outlined how modeling and simulation algorithms can support research on urban active mobility.
Dr. Bing Liu presented on "Passenger-Centric Scheduling for Integrated Air-Rail Networks," highlighting the significance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing the efficiency of air-rail connectivity. Shiyao Zhang delivered a speech titled "Analysis of Critical National Train Control Systems in Europe and Transition with ETCS," analyzing the challenges associated with the transition to the European Train Control System (ETCS).
The academic exchange session fostered in-depth discussions among participating scholars. Students actively engaged by raising questions and interacting with experts on research methodologies and practical applications, creating a vibrant academic atmosphere.
This workshop served as a significant platform for deepening collaboration among the three universities in the field of intelligent transportation. Based on this foundation, the institutions will continue to strengthen academic exchanges and research cooperation.
