TIL/T&P Masterclass presentation by Carien Aalbers on her MSc graduation project. November 2010.

1. A thesis or graduation project
What is it all about?
Carien Aalbers, CT5060/TIL5060
12-11-2010
Delft
University of
Technology
Challenge the future
Contents
• Introduction
• Me and my thesis work
• A thesis work
• Introduction
• Where to start?
• Towards the kick-off meeting
• Some aspects of the real work
A thesis project: what is it all about? 2

2. Me and my thesis work
• Bachelor Civil Engineering (2003-2008)
• Master Transport&Planning (since 2007)
• Internship at Witteveen+Bos, Latvia (Aug-Oct 2009)
• Master Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics (since 2007)
• TIL-project on liveability vs. accessibility in Rotterdam
• Since april 2010: combined thesis work (55 ECTS) at the Dienst
Verkeer en Scheepvaart of Rijkswaterstaat, Delft
A thesis project: what is it all about? 3
My thesis work
To design a new method based on two others…
• Rijkswaterstaat uses the so-called Toekan-method
• to compose a temporal package of
(measures are only available during road works)
• Mobility Management (MM) measures
MM= measures taken to influence pre-trip travel choices (if, where,
when and how to go = destination, time, modality and route choice)
• to reduce the amount of (car)traffic in a corridor during road
works as to keep traffic hindrance to a normal level
There should be not more hindrance than without road works
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3. My thesis work
To design a new method based on two others…
• Rijkswaterstaat uses the so-called Gebiedsgericht Benutten
method (Sustainable Traffic Management, see CT5804)
• to compose a permanent package of
• Dynamic Traffic Management (DTM) measures
DTM = the informing, advising, guiding and steering of road users
• to solve traffic (related) problems in a certain area
(accessibility, safety, liveability, etc.)
A thesis project: what is it all about? 5
My thesis work
… to implement in Reconnaissance Studies
• In a reconnaissance study (old CT4701) a process is executed in
which a (future) traffic and/or transport problem is analyzed from
the different points of views of the actors involved.
• After this analysis possible and potential solution directions are
determined including the responsibilities of the actors.
• Based on the analysis and solution directions it is decided if and
by whom the problem has to be tackled and solved
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4. My thesis work
… to implement in Reconnaissance Studies
• This might result in a planning study executed by the national
government which in the end results in for example the building
of new infrastructure
• The set-up of reconnaissance and planning studies is changed at
this moment because of the Elverding committee
What is lacking:
A methodology to look into the potential of MM and DTM in the
process of the (new) reconnaissance study
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My thesis work
Project goal and split of research
• To design a methodology to support the implementation of DTM
and MM as a (partial) solution direction in reconnaissance studies
What has to be determined/developed?
• Which DTM and MM measures can be used and how these
measures are selected at the moment
• What the process of a reconnaissance study looks like
• A process/methodology to select the measures in a
reconnaissance study
• A toolbox to estimate the effects to be used in this process
A thesis project: what is it all about? 8

5. My thesis work
Process overview
Part 1: Part 2:
Analysis of MM and Analysis of
DTM measures and reconnaissance
methods studies
Part 3:
Development of a
new methodology
and toolkit
Case study
A thesis project: what is it all about? 9
A thesis work
Introduction and general remarks
• Done with BSc?
• Done with courses?
• Done with projects/internship etc. ?
• Watch out for restrictions in the Implementation Regulations!
• Master thesis: one big giant project to be executed by you
• It’s all your own responsibility (organize subject and working
environment, organize kick-off and other (official) meetings, fill in the
right forms, etc.)
• Requires discipline and motivation
A thesis project: what is it all about? 10

6. A thesis work: where to start?
Subject and location
Think of what you search for in your thesis project
• Subject: What courses did you like most? Which aspect(s) of your
master has your biggest interest?
• Talk with teachers, read old thesis reports, browse the internet, etc.
• Do you want a research or a design project?
• Within or outside the TU Delft?
• Maybe even abroad?
• Outside the TU Delft: governmental institution/research
agency/engineering agency/(other) non-profit organization /etc.
Subject and location: something/where you (might) want to
do/work after your graduation
A thesis project: what is it all about? 11
A thesis work: where to start?
Search for your thesis research
After you have thought of want you want to do, you have to
find/compose your thesis work.
- Talk with teachers/other TU Delft staff
- Contact companies/institutions
- Etc…
Try to come up with several options and than make your choice:
never marry the first (wo)man you see
Find something you really want to do and work, it’s important to
be and keep being motivated
A thesis project: what is it all about? 12

7. A thesis work: where to start?
Select your thesis research
How to choose between several options:
- Follow your intuition: you know/feel which option you like most
Something like a “This is it!”-feeling
• Select based on/your intuition takes into account:
• Your wish-list
• Future possibilities (do you want to do this/work there after your
graduation?)
• Physical location (close to home or travel a lot?)
• Do you like the institution you will work? Like your (company)
supervisors?
• Salary?
A thesis project: what is it all about? 13
A thesis work: where to start?
Select your graduation committee
T&P: 1 faculty TIL: 2 faculties
Professor Professor
Graduation supervisor Graduation supervisor 1
(one/main faculty)
External supervisor Graduation supervisor 2
(second faculty)
Thesis project coordinator External supervisor
A thesis project: what is it all about? 14

8. A thesis work: where to start?
Select your graduation committee
Demands for selection:
- TU-members: part of relevant section of study
- External supervisor: within organization or independent examiner
Other indicators for selection:
- Knowledge of/experience in your field of research
- Daily /graduation supervisors: there should be no barriers to
contact them
- In time (too busy)
- Someone you get along with
A thesis project: what is it all about? 15
A thesis work: where to start?
Fill in the right forms at the right moment
Moment in time T&P TIL
Before start Start MSc Thesis TIL 1a (request to start)
After choosing subject, Graduation chart TIL 1b (subscription of
location and committee committee and subject)
Before mid-term TIL 2 Graduation chart
During green light TIL 3 Green light
Before final meeting TIL 4 Exam application
After final meeting Statement completion TIL 5 Thesis
MSc assessment
A thesis project: what is it all about? 16

9. A thesis work: the beginning
Work towards your kick-off meeting
Prepare your kick-off document for the kick-off meeting including:
- Reason for research (why is this new, what is the added value?)
- Some explanation on the different aspects of your research
- i.e. background information, quick-and-dirty analyses
- Research proposal including:
- Research goal and research question
- Methodology (which methods will be used)
- Split your research question into subquestions
- Make clear for each subquestion how you will come to an answer
(including neccessarities and time needed)
- Planning (based on previous)
A thesis project: what is it all about? 17
A thesis work: the beginning
The planning
• Make clear for each subquestion how you will come to an answer
including neccessarities and time needed
• Time needed = always more than you expect
• Based on the division made in your research: think where you
want to have the official meetings (f.e. mid-term meeting after
the completion of your analysis phase)
• Include buffers
Be realistic!
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10. A thesis work: the beginning
The kick-off meeting
• For all meetings: do not wait to long planning a date. Especially
professors are very busy people and it is hard to find a moment in
time suitable for all your supervisors!
• Reserve a room yourself and arrange neccessary equipment (f.e.
a beamer)
• Sent in your kick-off document in time
• At the kick-off meeting:
• Present your research proposal
• Allow supervisors to react and ask questions
• Make sure the whole committee agrees with what your proposal
A thesis project: what is it all about? 19
A thesis work: the real work
Progress meetings
Start executing your research proposal
To make sure you are on the right path and make (enough) progress:
• Make sure you meet with your supervisors on a regular basis
• For example every two weeks
• TIL: make sure you do not ‘forget’ one of your supervisors
• Make arrangements on what you will have done for your next meeting
Try to work towards your official meetings in the period you have
planned to and try to work towards your final report. That saves a lot
of time at the end of your graduation
A thesis project: what is it all about? 20

11. A thesis work: the real work
Literature research
Use literature throughout the thesis work but especially in the
beginning to answer questions like:
- What has been done until now?
- Which gaps in knowledge remain? (recommendations)
- Do other methods exist to solve the problem at hand?
- Etc.
• Write down the question you want to get an answer to
• First read the summary and conclusions to find out whether
an article/book is interesting for your research
• Use the references of the literature to get to other interesting
articles/books
A thesis project: what is it all about? 21
A thesis work: the real work
Progress meetings
Frequent problem: one of your supervisors disagrees with another
You will probably discover this during one of your progress meetings
• First try to explain to both supervisors separately how and
especially why the other supervisor thinks differently and try to
find a compromise that also satisfies your own ideas
• Bring the two sides together in a separate (progress) meeting
• If that doesn’t work: bring up the discussion in an official meeting
or even arrange one extra so the whole committee can decide
what to do
A thesis project: what is it all about? 22

12. A thesis work: the real work
Lack of motivation
Frequent problem: for example after an official meeting. You
worked hard for that one and after that… guess what… even
more graduation and meetings!
• First of all: don’t worry to much, it’s natural
• Having the right subject helps a lot in this case; if the subject
really interests you, continuing your research will be less of a
problem
• Indicate motivational problems to your supervisor(s), they might
be able to motivate you again
• It is better do something completely else for a change or even
take a few days off and go back to work with new energy after
that, than to get stuck in your dip
A thesis project: what is it all about? 23
A thesis or graduation project
What is it all about?
Carien Aalbers, CT5060/TIL5060
12-11-2010
Delft
University of
Technology
Challenge the future