french institute of science and technology for transport ... - Ifsttar

Close regional ties
Salon / Marseille
Provence-Alpes
Côte-d’Azur
PRIORITY TO EXCELLENCE
The Accident Mechanisms research unit (MA) and the Laboratory
of Biomechanics and Applications (LBA) (7) both received
“A” ratings in the AERES evaluation. Their research, which is
complementary and interdisciplinary, is concerned with analyzing
accidents, from causation to remediation. Since 2010, LBA has
had improved test facilities and a dedicated 950 m² building for
impact testing.
In 2011, there has been an increase in activities aimed at consolidating
the centre’s local and regional ties. The strong involvement
of the teams at Marseille and Salon-de-Provence in calls for
tenders for Future Investments has borne fruit. They will therefore
take part in the Aix-Marseille University (AMU) A*MIDEX initiative
of excellence via which the University hopes to gain a place in
the top 20 research institutes in France and the top 100 in the
world. At the same time, the launch of the PACA-Corse (8) SATT (9)
in which IFSTTAR is a partner is expected to provide a genuine
stimulus to local research.
Set up by 10 research establishments that hold shares in it and two
others that do not, the PACA Corse SATT will promote the activities
of the region’s 6000 or so life sciences researchers.
IFSTTAR also obtained joint funding from the FUI and the Region
and certification of its Risk Management and Regional Vulnerability
competitiveness cluster for the REMOTE project in partnership
with ONERA, EGIS, one SME, as well as the Lyon and Mediterranean
CETEs. The project will last 30 months in all and its main goal
is to show the capabilities of a radar demonstrator for monitoring
unstable natural sites and sensitive structures.
TRANSPORT AND HEALTH: A UNIFYING
FORCE FOR RESEARCH AND DIALOGUE
IN PACA
The partnerships with Aix-Marseille University have been considerably
strengthened. The arrival of surgeons who specialize in
abdominal and digestive surgery and the integration of the team
from the Otology, Neuro-otology and Microendoscopy unit have
strengthened expertise and opened up new possibilities. One example
is a joint project with the Institute of Movement Sciences to
develop a physical and virtual simulator for neonatal resuscitation
and the Centre for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine
to study and model the spinal cord.
The project for a “Humans in Transport” Labex, which was unfortunately
not selected, nevertheless made it possible to strengthen
ties with the Institute of Movement Sciences, the Centre of the
Psychology of Language Knowledge and Emotion and the ONERA
Control, Simulation and Flight testing” Research Unit (PSEV).
The centre’s teams have also been involved in research with
Décathlon and Strasbourg University on cyclist head injuries with
a view to improving helmet design as part of the MEDDTL/DTI
funded Bicytête project.
OUTSIDE THE REGION
These regional ties have also made it possible to support international
activities:
Joint organization of the 2 nd Simbio-M International Conference on
Simulation for Biomechanics.
Ifsttar site at Salon.
Development of a spinal biomechanics research
platform that is jointly run by France and Quebec.
The understanding between IFSTTAR and the
Polytechnic of Montreal also brings in the Montreal
Ecole de Technologie Supérieure and the Sainte Justine
and Sacré Cœur teaching hospitals. It has resulted
in exchanges between the researchers and a number of
jointly supervised doctoral theses.
Organization of the 3 rd International French Language GERI
COPIE (10) Conference. The title of the conference was “The quality
and safety of pedestrian travel: factors, issues and new measures.
Launching of a research programme with the Centre for Automotive
Safety Research (CASR) at Adelaide University (Australia)
with a view to evaluating pedestrian-oriented driving aids in real
situations.
(7) Research unit that is jointly managed with the Université de la
Méditerranée, which will be part of the future Aix-Marseille University.
(8) Provence-Alpes Côte-d’Azur - Corsica.
(9) Technology Transfer Acceleration Company.
(10) IFSTTAR Research and Discussion Group on the Behaviour of
Pedestrians in their Environment.
@ CONTACT
jean-paul.mizzi@ifsttar.fr
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ANNUAL REPORT 2011 ifsttar.fr