
	Masters of Modelling Awards 2019

What are the Masters of Modelling Awards?

Says Modelling World Chairman, Tom van Vuren: ''Outsiders, even transport planning colleagues, often think that we are geeks, a homogeneous mass of introverts that rarely see the world outside, and that we are a necessary evil rather than a particularly valuable or helpful profession.

'I disagree; of course I disagree. That is why I am pleased to award the Master of Modelling title to professional peers; and over time we will build up a cadre of masters of modelling who can be trail-blazers for our profession. We need to surround this with positive publicity, build the reputation of modelling and modellers, shine a light on the excellent work that we, and particularly the winners, do.'

	2019 Award Categories

Master of Modelling 2019

Enter by May 31 2019

Lifetime Achievement

The Master of Modelling Award is a lifetime achievent award and is open to all modellers who are working, or who have worked, in the UK. It will be awarded to an individual who has:

excelled in driving change
challenged thinking
done the most for 'moving modelling on' during their career

This award will be peer-reviewed and judged by the Modelling World Steering Group and key partners.

Winner in 2017: Luis Willumsen, Director, Willumsen Advisory Services & Kineo Mobility Analytics

Winner in 2018: Sonny Tolofari, Team Manager, Leicestershire County Council

The New Master of Modelling Award: Moving Modelling On

Enter by May 31 2019

The 'Moving Modelling On' New Master of Modelling Award will recognise a young professional between the age of 20 – 35 who has:

shown willingness to challenge thinking and methodologies
developed new ways of thinking and driven practitioner thinking forward
inspired colleagues and wider industry

Entry criteria

Applicants must be a young professional between the age of 20 - 35
Applicants must supply details of submitted project in less than 2000 words
Supporting evidence can be supplied, including images and video

Winner in 2017: Chris Wroe, Telefonica UK
Winners in 2018: Rebecca Wilson, Systra (Highly Commended: Steven O'Hare, Mott MacDonald)

Data visualisation challenge

Enter by May 31 2019

This Award is for initiatives in data visualisation that presents modelling output (or input!) data effectively, with proven success in gaining new and dependable insights.

Models are in the end simplifications of reality. But many of the outputs that models produce are not recognisable as proxies of reality (for example, who outside of modelling understands trip length distributions or speed-flow curves?). We often present models and data as tables, sometimes as bar charts, but rarely as information that can be easily understood by non-modellers or even non-planners. This is not helpful for our professional reputation, and stops engagement by end users in the modelling and forecasting process. Big data does not ease this problem – quite the opposite.

This Award is for initiatives in data visualisation that present modelling input and output data effectively, with proven success in gaining new and dependable insights for decision-making. We are particularly keen to receive nominations that increase access to data and model results without losing sight of their limitations. This award is not so much about increasing realism in the visualisation of microsimulation models, but about the complex representation of travel dynamics in space and time, across different modes and trip purposes, and the need to compare between different scenarios (assessment years and policy options). There must be some excellent examples out there!

Entry criteria

Applicants must supply details in less than 2000 words
Supporting evidence is encouraged, including images and video

Winner in 2018: Transport for London

Entry deadline for all categories: Friday 31st May 2019

Please send entries to

The winners will be announced during the drinks reception at Modelling World 2019, 5 June at Edgbaston Stadium. Please note that all nominees will need to be in attendance.