About iSTEP Lab
The Interdisciplinary Sustainable Transportation Engineering and Planning (š¯‘–STEP) Lab is
housed within the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Atlantic Technological
University (ATU) Sligo. š¯‘–STEP Lab will serve as both, research and teaching laboratory dedicated
to advancing safe, efficient, and low-carbon mobility systems through the integration of
transport engineering, transport planning, human behaviour, and digital technologies.
š¯‘–STEP will bring together engineering, data science, behavioural analysis, and policy-oriented
planning to address contemporary mobility challenges such as congestion, road safety, active
travel uptake, decarbonisation, and equitable access to transport. The lab will serve as a
platform for innovative research, immersive teaching, and real-world experimentation,
supporting evidence-based decision-making for sustainable transport systems.
Mission
The mission of the š¯‘–STEP Lab is to design, analyse, and evaluate sustainable transportation
systems using interdisciplinary, data-driven, and human-centred approaches, while supporting
education, research excellence, and societal impact.
Vision
š¯‘–STEP aims to become a leading interdisciplinary transport laboratory that bridges the gap
between engineering, planning, and human behaviour, contributing to the transition towards
climate-resilient, inclusive, and people-centred mobility systems at local, national, and
international levels.
Collaboration Plans
š¯‘–STEP will not only collaborate with different departments within ATU, such as Computing,
Environmental Science, and Social Sciences, but will also actively engage with academic
partners and research networks, local and regional authorities, industry and technology
providers, as well as community and non-profit organisations, both within Ireland and
internationally, to ensure that research and teaching activities are grounded in real-world needs
and deliver meaningful societal impact.