Dr Dilum Dissanayake BSc, MEng, PhD, FHEA, MCIHT

Dr Dilum Dissanayake

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor in Human Geography and Transportation Planning

Contact details

Email
d.dissanayake@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Dilum Dissanayake is an experienced academic with particular interest in transport planning and human Geography. Her passion for educating STEM careers means that she devotes time in developing research careers at Postdoctoral, PhD, as well as Postgraduate and Undergraduate degree levels. Dr Dissanayake’s ambition is to further advance knowledge and skills in transport planning and data analysis to discover innovative solutions to reverse climate change and its consequences. Her research is a blend of Transport (Human) Geography, Computing, Data mining, Mathematical modelling, Social sciences, and Behavioural sciences with a keen interest in behavioural change to reverse climate change through the innovations in transportation sector with attention to new mobility services, smart infrastructure, and efficient transport systems.

Qualifications

  • PhD (Transport Planning), Nagoya University, Japan (Thesis Title: Urban Transport Policy Analysis for Developing Countries Considering Household Choices of Modes, Trip-Chaining and Vehicle Ownership)
  • MEng (Infrastructure Planning and Management), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (Thesis Title: Management of Routine and Periodic Maintenance for Highway Pavements)
  • BSc (Hons) (Civil Engineering), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Undergraduate Project: Productivity Study on Brickwork in Sri Lanka)
  • Diploma in Programming, Ins. of Data Management Computer Studies, Sri Lanka 

Teaching

Birmingham Campus

  • 22035 – Sustainable Cities (PG module, 20 credits), Module Leader
  • 33562 – Contemporary Human Geography B (UG module, 20 credits), Contributor
  • 37527 – One-Planet Thinking, (UG module, 20 credits), Contributor
  • 37526 – Developing Solutions (UG module, 20 credits), Contributor
  • 37141 – Dissertation Labs for Human Geography and Planning (UG module), Contributor
  • 07945 – MSc Dissertations (Urban and Regional Studies) (PG module), Contributor
  • 38627 – UG Dissertations (Human Geography and Planning Research) (UG module), Contributor

Dubai Campus

  • 37259 – Sustainable Cities (PG module, 20 credits), Contributor
  • 37260 – The Planner in Contemporary Society (PG module, 20 credits), Contributor

Postgraduate supervision

My PhD students are working in the areas of travel demand modelling and forecasting, behavioural change, electric, autonomous and Hydrogen mobility and sustainable mobility (including walking and cycling). I supervise both quantitative and qualitative research leading to better policies and societal impacts. The students with background in Civil Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, and Data Science are particularly welcome to join my research team. However, my PhD team is full at this stage. 

Research

My research focuses on:

Travel behaviour analysis, Travel demand modelling and forecasting, Electric and Autonomus Vehicles, Investigating travel behaviour change, Value of travel time (VOTT) and its relationship with ICT use, Investigation of transport policies (transit subsidy, congestion pricing, telecommuting, land use planning), Infrastructure engineering and planning, Traffic incident management, Transport safety (valuation, child pedestrians, Willingness to pay), Transport and the environment, Transport and land use, Vehicle ownership modelling and forecasting, Developing country research (both safety, travel behaviour and tourism)

Methods and Models that I applied in my research:

  • Discrete choice techniques
  • Hazard-based duration models
  • Statistical analysis (Data factoring, clustering, and multiple corresponding analysis, Generalised linear models, multiple regression)
  • Theory of Planning Behaviour
  • Theory of Diffusion of Innovation
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP)
  • Data mining and Machine learning

Funded Projects (Current and previous):

  • eMotorcycle Battery Swapping (2024-25) - Funded by Future Transport Visions Group (FTVG)  Rees Jeffreys Road Fund - with partners from Uganda
  • CLEETS (2023-28) – Funded by NSF (USA) and UKRI (UK); Co Investigator (from University of Birmingham) – £10m; consortium covers the UK (University of Birmingham and Cardiff University), and the Discovery Partners Institute, part of the University of Illinois System. I lead Transport Demand Management theme. Home - CLEETS Global Center (cleets-global-center.org)
  • Capitalisation (2021-23) – Funded by INTERREG North West Europe; Principal Investigator (from Newcastle University) – €392k; consortium covers the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium. I lead Transport Modelling Work Package. www.nweurope.eu/media/13359/list-of-approved-projects-2nd-call-for-cap.pdf
  • eHUBS (2019-2022) – Funded by INTERREG North West Europe; Principal Investigator (from Newcastle University) – €412k ; eHUBS is focusing on Travel Behaviour Change with 92 physical eHUBS infrastructure in Europe - consortium covers Netherland (consortia lead), Germany, UK, Belgium, France. https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/ehubs-smart-shared-green-mobility-hubs/
  • EPSRC DTC funding (2019-2023) – £57k – PhD studentship started in September 2019. The focus on the urban transport infrastructure focuses most conducive to electric Micro-mobility. This project is giving attention to COVID 19 impacts on cycling and how cycle flows changing before and during COVID-19 with particular attention to the UK government initiatives of introducing pop-up lanes. https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2281091
  • Duo India Professor Fellowship to research with Professor Indrajit Ghosh at IIT Roorkee (2020-22) – Funded by DUO-India Fellowship Programme. This fellowship will explore the road user behaviour of pedestrians and cyclists with a particular focus to road safety. https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/56/
  • SPARC Project (2020-2022) – Road Tolling - Funded by SPARC Scheme (India); the consortia consist of BITS Pilani, Cardiff University and Newcastle University. https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/hyderabad/prasantasahu/ProjectsandGrants
  • Teaching Funding (2017) – Teaching and computer workshops for Stage 4 students at Durham University - £6k
  • JSPS Bridge Fellowship (2013) – Funded by JSPS to carry out research with 4 Japanese Universities - £12k
  • Research fund from Gateshead Council (2007-2008) – for a student project – £500
  • Catherine Cookson Foundation (2005-2006) – £2.5K

 

Current PhD Students:

  • Ross Bangs (1st Year)
  • Zin Muhana (1st Year)
  • Weijian (Raymond) Xu (1st Year)
  • Terence Johnson (1st Year)
  • Sanoji Rathnasekara (2nd Year)
  • Adamu Salihu (2nd year)
  • Shukurat Bankole (3rd year)

Completed PhD students:

  • Janak Parmar (2024, 2nd supervisor), Electric Vehicle Sharing Systems
  • Huseyin Ayan (2025, Main supervisor), Light Rail Transit
  • Meenapinunt T. (2024, Main supervisor), Commuter Travel Behaviour in Developing Countries
  • Burke M. (2024, Main supervisor), Analysing Active Travel and Vehicle Flow Profiles
  • Chakravartty A. (2024, 2nd supervisor), Traffic Emissions
  • Wang H. (2024, 2nd supervisor), Carbon Tax Management
  • Bostaji A. (2023, 2nd supervisor), Transport and the environment
  • Turner J. (2020, Main Supervisor), Trip sharing in rural communities
  • Akgun N. (2019, Main Supervisor), Transport safety: cyclists’ safety in roundabouts
  • Ali F. (2018, Main Supervisor), Travel Behaviour and Car User Attitudes to Climate Change
  • Sykes P. (2018, 2nd Supervisor), Uncertainty in decision making
  • Yosritzal (2014, Main Supervisor), Travel Behaviour and Value of time in rail journeys
  • Alkaabi A. (2013, Main Supervisor), Traffic Incident Management
  • Widyastuti H. (2011, Main supervisor), Transport Safety

Other activities

External Examination (Masters and Undergraduate Courses)

  • University of Cardiff (MSc Transport and Planning, 2022-25)
  • University of Glasgow (MSc in Urban Studies, 2016-20)
  • London South Bank University (both BEng & MEng in Civil Engineering, 2015-20) 

PhD/MPhil Examination 

  • Gupta N. (External Examiner – School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, October 2023)
  • Singha K. (External Examiner – School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, September 2023)
  • Coenegrachts E. (External Examiner – University of Antwerp, July 2023)
  • Faruque S. M. (External Examiner – Napier University, June 2023)
  • AL Otaibi S.  (External Examiner – University of Loughborough, December 2021)
  • Hutchinson L. (External Examiner – University of Southampton, September 2020)
  • Watson I. (External Examiner – London South Bank University, February 2020) 
  • Sam E. (External Examiner – Hasselt University, October 2019) 
  • Ubaidillah N. (External Examiner – ITS, University of Leeds, September 2019)  
  • Afghari A. P. (External Examiner – University of Queensland, October 2018)
  • O’Brien J. (Internal Examiner, October 2017)
  • Chen W. (Internal Examiner, April 2016)
  • Dharmowijoyo D. (External Examiner – KTH Stockholm, January 2016)
  • Narh A (Internal Examiner – PhD Viva held in October 2015)
  • Park D. S. (External Examiner – University of Southampton, January 2015)
  • Hamad M. (Internal Examiner – PhD Viva held in November 2014)
  • Caygil M. (Internal Examiner – PhD Viva held in January 2014)
  • Cairns J. (Internal Examiner – PhD Viva held in March 2013)
  • Wedagama P. (Internal Examiner – PhD Viva held in June 2005) 

Esteem indicators/other activities 

  • Remarkable Women in Transport 2022 international award (Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative)
  • Duo-India Professor fellowship (2020-22)
  • Amey Prize 2019 to my dissertation supervisee (MSc Transport Modelling): Mr Mikael Xia)
  • Jacobs Prize 2019 to my dissertation supervisee (MSc Transport Planning): Mr Swapnil Fulari)
  • Academic Editor of the Journal of Advanced Transportation (2018-)
  • JSPS Grant Evaluator for the Bridge Fellowship Programme (2018-)
  • Associate Editor of the IET ITS journal (2017-)
  • EPSRC Grant Evaluator: a member their peer-review college (2017-)
  • Session Chair, UTSG 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2022 Conferences, UK (2011-)
  • External Grant Evaluator: MRC, British Academy, and ESRC schemes
  • The COLAS CIHT Award to my MEng dissertation supervisee (Lindsey McConnell) (2015)
  • The Newton Fund Travel Award (2013)
  • JSPS Bridge Fellowship to pursue research in Japan (2012-13)
  • Deputy Stage 4 Tutor, UG, SOE (CIVIL), Newcastle University (2009-17)
  • Deputy Degree Programme Director, PGT, SOE (CIVIL), Newcastle University (2008-2014)
  • Seminar Organiser, TORG, SOE (CIVIL), Newcastle University (2008-2016)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Kuşkapan, E, Çodur, MY & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Analysing Traffic Accidents in Terms of Driver Violation Behaviour Types: Machine Learning and Sensitivity Analysis Approaches', IET Intelligent Transport Systems, vol. 19, no. 1, e70057. https://doi.org/10.1049/itr2.70057

Cavus, M, Ayan, H, Bell, MC, Oyebamiji, O & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Deep Charge-Fusion Model: Advanced Hybrid Modelling for Predicting Electric Vehicle Charging Patterns with Socio-Demographic Considerations', International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtst.2025.03.002

Cavus, M, Dissanayake, D & Bell, MC 2025, 'Deep-Fuzzy Logic Control for Optimal Energy Management: A Predictive and Adaptive Framework for Grid-Connected Microgrids', Energies, vol. 18, no. 4, 995. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18040995

Bhatt, K, Shah, J, Bell, MC & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Enhancing Intersection Safety at Uncontrolled Three‐Legged Intersections Through Assessment of Risk', IET Intelligent Transport Systems, vol. 19, no. 1, e70062. https://doi.org/10.1049/itr2.70062

Cavus, M, Ayan, H, Sari, M, Akbulut, O, Dissanayake, D & Bell, M 2025, 'Enhancing Smart Grid Reliability Through Data-Driven Optimisation and Cyber-Resilient EV Integration', Energies, vol. 18, no. 17, 4510. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174510

Cotet , C, Bosehans, G & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Exploring the factors shaping attitudes and intentions towards automated buses: Empirical evidence from Northeast England', Journal of Transport Geography, vol. 123, 104024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.104024

Singh, H, Kathuria, A, Kavta, K, Bösehans, G, Bell, MC & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Exploring the tenability of shared electric mobility alternatives: Will car users adopt eHUBs?', Transport Policy, vol. 166, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.02.013

Chakravartty, A, Dissanayake, D & Bell, MC 2025, 'Impact of Motorway Speed Management on Environmental Noise: Insights from High-Resolution Monitoring', Acoustics , vol. 7, no. 2, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics7020018

Cavus, M, Dissanayake, D & Bell, M 2025, 'Next Generation of Electric Vehicles: AI-Driven Approaches for Predictive Maintenance and Battery Management', Energies, vol. 18, no. 5, 1041. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051041

Wang, H, Bell, MC, Dong, J, Burke, M, Ayan, H & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Quantifying carbon reductions from mode substitution through shared electric mobility hubs in Greater Manchester', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, 38815. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22719-3

Conference contribution

Oyebamiji, O, Dissanayake, D & Cavus, M 2025, Enhancing Uncertainty Estimation with Deep Gaussian Processes. in A Benford, C Cabrera, S Kiden, A Salili-James & VG Zakka (eds), UK AI Conference, 22 November 2024, The Exchange, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom., 295, Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, vol. 295, PMLR, UK, pp. 26-42, The Second UK AI Conference 2024, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 22/11/24. <https://proceedings.mlr.press/v295/>

Paper

Oyebamiji, O, Dissanayake, D & Cavus, M 2025, 'Low-rank attention augmented Gaussian processes for multivariate data analysis', Paper presented at The Joint Statistical Meetings 2025, Nashville, United States, 2/08/25 - 7/08/25.

Review article

Cavus, M, Ayan, H, Bell, M & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Advances in Energy Storage, AI Optimisation, and Cybersecurity for Electric Vehicle Grid Integration', Energies, vol. 18, no. 17, 4599. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174599

Ayan, H, Bell, M & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Investigating the Factors That Influence the Ridership of Light Rail Transit Systems Using Thematic Analysis of Academic Literature', Future Transportation, vol. 5, no. 1, 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp5010022

Makahleh, HY, Taamneh, MM & Dissanayake, D 2025, 'Promoting sustainable transport: A systematic review of walking and cycling adoption using the COM-B Model', Future Transportation, vol. 5, no. 3, 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp5030079

View all publications in research portal