Combining mathematics and engineering to contribute to sustainable mobility

Abstract

We are going to present a project that we have developed in our university in the Civil Engineering degree in which we integrate mathematics and engineering to contribute to sustainability. The main purpose of this project has been to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum of the aforementioned degree and in Final Degree Projects. The transport and supply infrastructure aimed at civil engineering has a major impact on the environment and climate change, and their proper planning and design can contribute significantly to the fight against climate change and the challenge of a more sustainable society. For this, two different approaches have been analysed and proposed. On the one hand, mathematical modeling has been used in real processes, addressing different decision-making techniques and enabling process efficiency. Using problems and projects-based learning methodologies, genetic algorithms (GA) have been applied in the calculation of optimal routes, contributing to fuel savings and generating less environmental pollution. On the other hand, the design of transport infrastructures is proposed to access the Biscay Campus (Leioa) by bicycle and electric scooter, which can contribute significantly to the sustainability of the university itself. In this way, three new cycle routes have been designed, which start from the three municipalities that send the most students to the Biscay campus, and run along roads with low speed, minimum slope and necessary width. Besides this, a specific lane for electric scooters has been designed that starts at the Leioa metro station and ends at the Leioa campus itself. With the design of these new infrastructures, it is intended to work on sustainability in the Civil Engineering degree through Final Degree Projects that design sustainable infrastructures and contribute, in turn, to the sustainability of our university and society.