Stewart Birrell

Stewart Birrell is a Professor and Research Centre Director at the Centre for Future Transport and Cities. His work focuses on advancing human factors engineering in transportation systems, particularly in autonomous vehicles (AVs), driver monitoring, and shared mobility solutions. Birrell leads research into improving safety, usability, and trust in AV technologies through interdisciplinary methods including simulation studies, user-centered design, and advanced sensor integration. His contributions span over 100 peer-reviewed publications, with recent emphasis on cybersecurity challenges, motion sickness mitigation, and infrastructure for emerging mobility systems like wireless EV charging and urban airports.

Key themes in his research include:

• Human-Automation Interaction: Developing interfaces that enhance driver trust and reduce cognitive load
• Driver State Monitoring: Using physiological sensors and AI to assess alertness and fatigue
• AV Safety: Mitigating risks from software failures and cyberattacks through fault detection frameworks
• Urban Mobility Innovation: Designing infrastructure for pop-up airports, dynamic wireless charging, and shared spaces

His work has been recognized through high citation counts and collaboration with industry partners like JLR and automotive manufacturers. Current projects explore the societal impact of teleoperation systems and ethical dilemmas in automated vehicle decision-making.