Why ePIcenter? Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI)

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Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI) is the largest private University of Applied Science in Latvia, providing academic, research, and innovation services with the ultimate goal of becoming the leading private technical University and a visible innovation leader in the Baltic Sea Region.

About TSI

At TSI, we offer a wide range of educational programs: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, including double-degree education formats in cooperation with top-ranked universities. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, TSI is well-equipped to prepare students for excellent careers in transportation, logistics, Information, and communications technologies, AI, and robotics domains.

TSI faculty members are experts in their respective fields, and TSI also consists of state-of-the-art research facilities, including advanced open-space innovation-oriented labs, applied research centers with unique equipment, and research clusters, uniting TSI scientific staff, industry, and external researchers in a unifying environment to work on breakthrough challenges. We focus on specific areas of science, and our research is at the forefront of technological advancements. Our graduates have secured positions in prestigious organizations worldwide, which is a testament to the quality of education and training offered at TSI.

TSI research clusters and centers, together with leading researchers, have been making significant contributions to the development and modernization of the transport and logistics sector for a long time, both at the local level and around the world. More than 20 EU projects in the frame of FP7, Horizon 2020, InterReg, and other programs for the last 10 years as research partner and leader roles have realized. 30 national consulting projects in transport modeling and transport system analysis have been successfully performed.

TSI lead the ALLIANCE project (Horizon2020 program) and has established itself as a national leader in research and education in the areas of transportation modeling, intelligent transportation systems, and analytics. The ALLIANCE project delivered a coherent educational and training program aimed at enhancing the knowledge of current and future researchers and professionals offering their services in Latvia and the European region.

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TSI plays a significant role in contributing to the development and modernization of the transport and logistics sector both – at the local and global levels. Our international cooperation actions and the ALLIANCE project demonstrate our commitment to smart and sustainable solutions that address legal, organizational, and societal issues.

TSI with partners has also initiated the Smart Logistics and Freight Villages Initiative (SmartLog), which focuses on developing smart and sustainable solutions for the freight transportation, using new technologies such as blockchain, big data, and the Internet of things to optimize logistics processes. Project Intelligent Transport and Transport Management (INTELTRANS); Harmonized and Modernized Multidisciplinary Railway Education (EDU-RAIL) have provided students with a unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prepare them for excellent careers in transportation and logistics.

Currently, TSI is participating in the implementation of several HORIZON projects, including Workforce Europe – Transformation agenda for transport automation (We-Transform) and Fundamentals of Design Competence for Our Digital Future (DCODE). Such projects allow to strengthen TSI excellence in domains that is very important to the successful implementation of ePIcenter TSI activities and become a technology transfer center that introduces innovative solutions in transport field.

Why ePIcenter?

In 2005 SimLab (Laboratory of Applied Modelling) was established at TSI, which is engaged in professional consulting and scientific research in the field of modeling. The laboratory became the base Modelling-Based Systems Analysis and Design (MADSYS) research cluster. MADSYS research cluster aims at the continuous development of academic, research, and consulting activities concentrated around the application of modeling as a decision support tool for different system analyses and designs. The infrastructure of the research cluster includes specialized software such as PTV VISSIM/VISUM – for traffic simulation, AnyLogic and ExtendSim – general-purpose simulation systems, etc., and various data analysis tools are also widely used, like Python, R, SPSS, etc. Applied domains of the cluster include (but are not limited to) transport systems, logistics, production, business processes.


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Leading researchers of the cluster are experienced research staff with extremely high experience in conducting different level research with the application of modeling theory and modeling software for solving applied problems in different domains. For example, researchers actively collaborate with Riga International Coach Terminal, RIX airport, Real Estate Company for “Acropolis” shopping Centre Development, Logistics Warehouse and use simulation modeling as a decision-making support tool for strategic planning.

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During the last 10 years, several PhD theses were defended in this field: (2022) “Development and testing of the Digital Twin concept as a process data store in ground traffic control systems at airports” is written by F. Saifutdinov under the supervision of Dr.habil.sc.ing., prof. Jurijs Tolujevs; (2020) “Neuroevolutionary approach to metamodeling and optimization of inventory control systems” is written by I. Jackson under the supervision of Dr.habil.sc.ing., prof. Jurijs Toluevs; (2019) “Decision Support Framework for the Urban Transport Interchange Transformation Based on the Principles of Sustainable Mobility. Case Study of Riga City” is written by E.Budiloviča under the supervision of Dr.sc.ing., prof. Irina Yatskiv.

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Ilya Jackson, PhD, graduated in 2020, TSI Telematics and Logistics doctoral degree program. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics

Based on remarkable potential in the field of simulation and analysis of transport systems, TSI takes pride in its participation and implementation of the ePIcentr project, which provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the trends and challenges of modern logistics. The project focuses on the development of digitalization technologies, artificial intelligence, and the latest vehicle technologies and models that transform the logistics industry and set new standards.


TSI is excited to apply the newly developed tools and methodologies from the ePIcenter project to analyze the feasibility of implementing its results in the Baltic Sea region. TSI acknowledges the importance of infrastructure development of new transport corridors such as RailBaltica, as well as the modernization of Baltic ports and airports. TSI recognizes that implementing the results of the ePIcenter project can enhance the transportation sector in the Baltic Sea region and lead to more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective logistics operations.

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Aleksey Vesjoliy, PhD student of the TSI Telematics and Logistics doctoral degree program: “Participation in the project ePIcenter inspired me to decide to make one of the areas of the project related to innovative transport systems the topic of my doctoral thesis. My dissertation topic is “Assessment Methodology for the Hyperloop Implementation”, and as a young researcher of the project, a doctoral student of the TSI, and an expert in the IT industry, I get a completely new development breakthrough my interest is to develop as a specialist in the integration of the latest transport technologies, and in in the future, try to work towards the introduction of innovative solutions in the region, related to technological transformation and digitalization of logistics and transport”

At TSI, we are committed to driving the transport and logistics industry forward through our expertise, innovation, and commitment to excellence. We look forward to continuing our work on ePIcentr project tasks, which allow us to stay ahead of the curve and set new industry standards. One of the Project goals – support the modern transport industry with advanced simulation technology. The ePIcenter project is dedicated to the creation of cutting-edge tools and methods for analyzing the latest vehicle simulations, which will serve as an essential component in the implementation of new transport technologies. By evaluating the effectiveness of these technologies, we can achieve a high level of sustainability and efficiency in their operation. Our team consists of leading research personnel and young scientists who are dedicated to publishing their findings related to Project activities in top high-ranking journals. The ePIcenter project activities also include an international conference organized and conducted by TSI, providing a platform to disseminate common achievements and those of the entire Consortium in the international scientific community. This event will create visibility and dissemination of the ePIcenter project, not only in Europe but globally around the world. Project work has the potential to reshape the future of transportation and contribute to a sustainable world.

TSI contribution to the ePIcenter project

By utilizing advanced technologies and methods, TSI experts strive to create accurate representations of the transport system and its components, such as vehicles, infrastructure, and logistics facilities. TSI's simulation and modeling approach enables the creation of various scenarios and the analysis of their impact on the transport system's performance.

The TSI team, together with the Modeling-Based Systems Analysis and Design (MADSYS), TSI Research Cluster, and members of the ePIcenter consortium, is involved in the development of simulation/analysis tools, laboratory simulation techniques, and methodologies that will be validated and refined in the demonstration work. The tasks of TSI are to work on the simulation, modeling, and analysis of operational parameters and benefits from the introduction of innovative electric automated vehicles and Hyperloop technologies.

As a result of this work, a tool and methodology has created – a modeling system for evaluating options for building and using a fleet of battery-electric trucks. The tool is designed to create simulation models of the process of transporting goods by conventional or electric vehicles along the routes of the transport network specified for a particular region.

The system includes three software products:

  • the Route Planning program implemented in the VBA programming language in the Excel environment,
  • auxiliary model GIS Model, implemented using AnyLogic,
  • the main executable Main Model, implemented using AnyLogic software.
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The model can be either purely deterministic or include any of the following random factors:

  • Energy consumption indicators
  • Average movement speed
  • Battery charging time
  • Execution time of the loading/unloading operation
  • Random delay periods
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The benefits of such a simulation tool are a wide range of opportunities for a more detailed display of the cargo transportation process; the model can operate in both deterministic and stochastic modes; secondary output can be built based on the model's primary output (including environment and economics).

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TSI is on the way to successfully integrating the ePIcenter results into its innovative portfolio of methods and tools. This integration has allowed TSI to showcase the benefits of new technologies and approaches in the transportation and logistics industry. The results are utilized in education programs offered by TSI, particularly in the areas of logistics and transportation. Integration of ePIcenter results into TSI's portfolio emphasizes the institute's commitment to staying at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and providing high-quality education to its students.