Research project title

Analysis of the behaviour and safety at protected intersections

Education level

Master (research-based)

Director/co-director

Director: Nicolas Saunier

End of display

August 23, 2025

Areas of expertise

Transportation engineering

Pattern analysis and machine intelligence

Primary sphere of excellence in research

Sustainable Transport and Infrastructures

Unit(s) and department(s)

Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering

Conditions

The student must have or be willing to develop strong programming skills, i.e., a working knowledge of a high-level language such as Python.

While the student does not need to be a software engineer, they must be rigorous and dedicated to developing computer code. An interest in transportation is an asset.

Please fill in the following form to apply : https://forms.office.com/r/u7xCEDMiH8

Detailed description

Protected intersections are intersections that incorporate design elements designed to better protect cyclists and reduce the likelihood of a collision with a car. This type of intersection, popular in the Netherlands, is also called a "Dutch-style intersection," although not all intersections there are designed this way. Three essential elements define a protected intersection: refuge islands at the four corners of the intersection, advanced stop lines for cyclists, and recessed bike lanes along pedestrian crossings. When traffic lights are in place, phasing protects cyclists' movements.

At least three intersections will be modified in the spring of 2025 on Christophe Colomb Avenue. These will be the first fully protected intersections in Montreal. The project aims to compare the behavior and safety of vulnerable users (pedestrians and cyclists) before and after the development of protected intersections. The study is based on the collection and analysis of video data at each intersection, before and after the development, and a survey of users after the development.

Financing possibility

A scholarship of at least one year at the Polytechnique rate is available.