Great Success for Our Faculty: FRI UNIZA Project Succeeds in the Global Strava Metro Competition
We are delighted to announce that the project "Using GIS to Support Managerial Decision-Making in Increasing the Attractiveness of Cycling Routes," part of the engineering-level project-based learning led by assoc. prof. Ing. Peter Márton, PhD., has been selected for the prestigious global programme Strava Metro for Academics.
This achievement is even more significant given the exceptionally strong international competition:
- More than 200 project applications were submitted from all over the world.
- The expert committee selected only 10 projects for support.
Selected Universities:
- The University of Maine, USA
- Kyoto University, Japan
- University of Leeds, UK
- University of Oulu, Finland
- University of Žilina, Slovakia
- University of Evansville, USA
- Old Dominion University, USA
- The University of Queensland, Australia
- University of the Philippines, Philippines
- The University of New Mexico, USA
We are proud to be one of only three supported teams from Europe!
Project Goals The project aims to bring innovative solutions for the development of cycling in Slovakia. We focus primarily on analyzing and increasing the attractiveness of the Vah River Cycling Route and developing cycling infrastructure in the city of Žilina.
By gaining access to unique data from the Strava Metro platform regarding cyclist movement, our students and researchers have obtained a tool that allows them to work with real-world data on cyclist intensity and preferences in the field, covering the period from January 2020 to December 2026.
Impact on Practice and Regional Development The results of our project will have a direct impact on regional development. We are collaborating closely on analyses and proposals with key partners:
- Žilina, Trenčín, Nitra, and Trnava Self-Governing Regions,
- The City of Žilina,
- Department of Road and Urban Transport (FPEDaS UNIZA),
- Mulica NGO.
Students involved in the project have a unique opportunity to solve real-world problems in cooperation with experts from the field, utilizing cutting-edge Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. This success is further proof that education at FRI UNIZA is of a high standard and delivers concrete solutions for better smart cities and regions.
Congratulations to the research team and students on this significant international recognition!
