NUI Galway’s first-year Engineering students have scooped first, second and third prize in the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland ‘Student Idea of the Year’ Awards. The awards are presented to the originators of the most innovative ideas which could make the most significant contribution to some aspect of the transport industry in Ireland.
NUI Galway students Declan Bredin and Liam Coakley, both from Ennis, Co. Clare, Jarlath Donoghue from Gort, Co. Galway, Brian Fitzgibbon from Oranmore, Co. Galway and Cathal O Murchu from Celbridge, Co. Kildare, were announced as the overall winners. Their project, entitled ‘Tachographs Against Speeding’, focused on a digital tachograph, integrated with a GPS tracking system, to monitor the speed of motor vehicles and to compare this, in real time, with the speed limit of the road and to record infringements. The device is also useful to remove or at least reduce the inequity that the team perceived to exist in the current system of car insurance, where safe driving cannot be fully recognised because of the absence of relevant driving behaviour data.
Second place was awarded to NUI Galway students Ciaran Coen from Roscahill, Co. Galway, Gary Dillon from Kilkishen, Co. Clare, Kevin Gilmartin from Colgagh, Co. Sligo, Ruán Naughton from An Spideál, Co. Galway and Ian Richardson from Bray, Co. Wicklow. Their project, ‘University Carpooling Website’ consisted of the establishment of a university website, with an app for smart phones, to enable students to make carpooling arrangements and thereby reduce travelling costs and CO2 emissions.
Third place was presented to NUI Galway students Mark Roche from Glasson, Co. Westmeath, Michelle Egan from Menlough, Co. Galway, David Connolly from Gurraun North, Co. Galway, Gavin Connolly from Cregmore, Co. Galway and Rikki Graham from Gort, Co. Galway, for their project ‘Car Insurance Decreaser’. The team devised a method, using GPS technology, of acknowledging good driving behaviour thereby eliminating the stereotyping of all young drivers as ‘boy racers’, improving road safety and reducing insurance costs.
CAPTION:
Ian Richardson from Bray, Co. Wicklow; Mark Roche from Glasson, Co. Westmeath; David Connolly from Gurraun North, Co. Galway; John Henry, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland; Mary Dempsey, College of Engineering and Informatics, NUI Galway; Aidan Murphy, President, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland; Michelle Egan from Menlough, Co. Galway; Declan Bredin from Ennis, Co. Clare; and Rikki Graham from Gort, Co. Galway.