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Supervisors:
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Academic degree and current position in TSI: Professor, Dr.sc.ing. Dr.hab.sc.ing, leading researcher of the Engineering Faculty, Director of PhD Programme “Telematics and Logistics”.
Previous Experience: Founder and President of Transport and Telecommunication Institute for over 15 years, Vice-rector for Research and Development Affairs for more than 10 years
Membership: Member of the Joint OECD/ITF Transport Research Committee (OECD – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, ITF – International Transport Forum), Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Corresponding Member of Latvian Academy of Science, President of Latvian Transport Development and Education Association, President of Latvian Operations Research Society, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal “Transport and Telecommunication”, Member of the board of the Journals “Transport”, “Technological and Economic Development”, “Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering” etc.
Academic experience: Author of more than 600 academic and research publications, author of 68 patents. Expert of the Latvian Council of Science in Civil and Transport Engineering, Chairman of promotion council for PhD degree in Civil and Transport Engineering, Chairman of Professor Council in Telematics and Logistics.
Teaching at post- and graduate level: 45 years of pedagogical experience in university; courses: Research Methodology (PhD programme); New Trends of Telematics and Logistics Development (PhD programme), Research Methodology (MSc programme), Theory of Systems and System Analysis (MSc programme), Transport Policy (MSc programme), Intelligent Transport Systems (MSc programme), Reliability Engineering (BSc programme) etc.
Participation in projects: has participated in 37 international projects (in 26 projects as national coordinator of the projects) and 26 Latvian research projects and programs (in 23 as head of the projects) within the frame of COST Activities, Horizon 2020, Framework Programs, INTERREG etc.
Research Interests: Transport Telematics and Logistics, Smart Cities, Analysis and Modelling of Transport Systems, Intelligent Transport Systems, Reliability of Electronics Systems, Internet of Things, Cyber-Physical Systems, Information Technology Applications, Electronics and Telecommunication, Decision Support Systems, Avionics, Air Traffic Control Systems and others.
Supervised Doctoral, Master and Bachelor Theses: Supervisor of 9 PhD theses and more than 200 Master and Bachelor theses.
Awards: 2 Gold and 5 Silver Medals of International Research and Innovation Exhibition of Innovators (1985-1990); Honorary title “Latvian Honored Inventor”, Latvian Parliament (1989); Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology, USA (1998); Award and memorial medal for outstanding research in computer science and informatics, Latvian Academy of Sciences (2001); Award and memorial medal for outstanding performance of research in air navigation, communication and radar technology, Latvian Academy of Sciences (2002); Certificate of Recognition as a significant contribution to the research and educational work in the transport, logistics and information technology, as well as on the international success in science, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia (2014); Certificate of Honor of the Latvian Academy of Sciences for research in the field of transport and logistics (2019).
The Trans-European railway Rail Baltica, linking Helsinki – Tallinn – Riga – Kaunas – Warsaw and continuing on to Berlin, is to be developed within the territories of the co-operating EU Member States.
The Interreg IIIB project “Rail Baltica” had two main goals: (a) the definition of the most favourable route for the Rail Baltica railway link in terms of spatial planning and regional development, and (b) the raising of the awareness of the relevant actors (national and regional administrations and decision makers, industry and the public) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) on the benefits of attractive railway connections.
Project was implemented in cooperation with national and regional authorities and associations, public corporations from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The implementation period of the project was from June 2005 till 28th January, 2008.
Activities of the project mainly focused on the definition of a common approach and a development strategy to enhance the benefits of the railway link. The project was implemented in close cooperation with the parallel technical pre-feasibility study initiated by the EC (TPFS). The pre-feasibility study was completed in January, 2007. In accordance with the planned activities the result of the technical feasibility study was analyzed. The alternative Rail Baltica routes proposed by the study were evaluated. Interim results of both projects were exchanged regularly and even the evaluation of the interim report of the technical feasibility study was carried out. The evaluation of draft report of Rail Baltica pre-feasibility study was carried out, taking into the account regional development and spatial planning aspects. The definition of the most favourable route was planned to elaborate in line with the technical feasibility study. The evaluation of the final report of the pre-feasibility study was carried out before the definition of the most favourable route.
The study on the definition of the most favourable route was based on the results of the technical feasibility study as well as taking into the account development and spatial planning priorities and requirements. During the project implementation process all the partners came to conclusions that there are great differences in regard to the spatial planning activities and regional development strategies in the participating countries, thus it is impossible to develop one single development and assessment strategy. Therefore development strategies of each country were discussed during the partner meetings and workshops in order to find common issues and differences.
After the technical feasibility study was completed, there was action plan for the future activities within Rail Baltica project elaborated including recommendations on the in-depth studies to be carried out in the future. Taking into consideration the technical feasibility study and the political decision regarding the development of the railway line in Latvia and Estonia, a list of studies was defined together with recommendations for future studies. Some case-studies were selected and elaborated from the list proposed. Others are included in the recommendation list for future projects.
Within the project the methodology for the assessment of the potential Rail Baltica route was elaborated, which also could be used in other related infrastructure projects. The methodology and the results of the case studies can be transported to other EU development projects and regions.
There was also a discussion initiated on the future development of the project and organisation of the partnership.
A number of political discussions were initiated, also taking into the account the very political character of the project.
The project serves as one of the tools for the improvement of the EU territorial cohesion in the BSR and its connection to other EU Member States.
The project supports the wider EU goals of parity of access to services and infrastructure of EU Member States and development of sustainable modes of transportation, improved balance and interoperability between different means of transportation and the establishment of links between EU territories.
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