Name: Selpi

Job title: Researcher in Data Science and AI; WP3 leader in the PANACEA project

Panacea project partner:  Chalmers

Panacea project work packages: WP3, WP2 and WP96

Q1. What is your personal area of expertise?

I have a broad knowledge and expertise in the field of data management, data science and applied AI (e.g. applied machine learning) with applications in bioinformatics and transport. In relation to driver behaviour, I have years of experience in leading projects and conducting analyses on real-world driving data.

Q2. What are you currently working on for the Panacea project?

I am leading the work package Methodologies for Assessment (WP3) in this project. This work package is responsible for delivering the measures, thresholds, and the algorithms needed for a holistic fit-to-drive assessment for professional drivers. Just now, we are finalising our four internal deliverables, proposing the measures and thresholds for off-duty, on-duty, on-site, and roadside assessments respectively.

Within WP3, I lead the task on “Information fusion and algorithms’ refinement” (A3.5) which has just started. We will work on how to integrate the off-duty, on-duty, on-site, and roadside assessments into a fit-to-drive assessment, giving input to the countermeasures team to trigger the right countermeasures. It is a challenging task, as the assessments take into account alcohol and drug levels in the body, as well as signs of fatigue, stress, and cognitive load.

In addition, I am currently leading two other tasks. In A2.5, we are working on identifying the data needed by the project and how to model/represent/store the data. In WP6, we are now working on defining the research questions.

Q3. Tell us about one particularly striking thing that you learned from your latest research for the project.

I have learnt that there is still a lot that we don’t know about quantifying the relationship between the influence of alcohol, drugs, fatigue, stress, and cognitive load in relation to driving impairment at this stage, even though there have been decades of research on different aspects of these topics.

Q4. Explain how you think this will help the PANACEA project achieve its aims of improving fitness to drive among professional transport workers.

There is an opportunity to contribute. Understanding the relationship between e.g. alcohol and drug levels in the body, rest and sleep data, signs of fatigues and distraction inferred through cameras in the vehicle, and signs of stress inferred from some heart related measurements, in relation to driving impairment, will improve our ability to make precise fit-to-drive assessments and develop the right countermeasures to help professional transport workers.

Q5. Why is working on a road safety project important to you?

I knew several professional drivers (who drove pickup trucks, mini trucks, box trucks, minibuses, or taxis). Therefore, I know very well the different issues experienced by professional transport workers. Together with the team in this project, I hope to contribute to improving the work and health conditions of professional transport workers, and society in general.