Keynote Speakers

Nagoya University, Japan

Toshiyuki Yamamoto is Professor of Transportation Planning and Vice Director of Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability at Nagoya University, Japan. Prior to Nagoya University, he served as Research Associate at Kyoto University, Japan, where he obtained Doctor of Engineering in 2000. His research interests are next-generation mobility, activity-travel behavior, traffic safety, etc. He is Principal Investigator of the project, Optimization of carbon emission management policy and low-carbon travel induction strategies for demand-responsive transportation systems, bilaterally funded by NSFC and JSPS. He serves as Associate Editor for the journal, Transportation, and International Steering Committee Member for International Conference on Transport Survey Method.

Speech Title: Commuter pass and MaaS in Japan

Abstract: This presentation examines the structure, challenges, and evolving innovations of Japan’s commuter pass within the broader context of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) development. Using examples primarily from Nagoya and other metropolitan regions, it highlights how traditional commuter passes—long a foundation of Japan’s public transport usage—are being adapted to support more flexible, multimodal, and user-centered mobility offerings. The presentation begins by explaining the logic of the Nagoya subway commuter pass, which is based on the “single continuous line” rule: routes must not overlap, duplicate stations, or branch, and fares are determined strictly by route length. This long-standing system, while simple and predictable, constrains multimodal integration and limits users’ ability to choose alternative travel paths across densely connected rail networks, as illustrated by diagrams of central Nagoya and regional inter-operator maps. The presentation then introduces empirical evidence from smart-card data showing age-dependent differences in spatiotemporal travel entropy, suggesting that non–pass holders exhibit greater variability in travel patterns than pass holders. This supports the hypothesis that fixed-route commuter passes may reduce users’ willingness to deviate from habitual paths. Subsequently, MaaS initiatives in Japan are introduced through the example of Kansai MaaS, which integrates rail, bus, taxi, bike share, tourism products, and even retail into a multilayered ecosystem supported by private operators and local governments. Additionally, emerging fare innovations—such as Fukuoka city subway’s post-pay fare caps and flexible multipath commuter passes offered by Tobu and Seibu railways—demonstrate industry-wide movement toward more adaptive, user-friendly fare structures. The Presentation’s core empirical contribution is a 2025 Nagoya survey evaluating willingness to buy and willingness to pay for expanded commuter-pass bundles that include downtown station access, bus routes, and bike sharing. Price sensitivity meter (PSM) analyses indicate optimal monthly additional prices around JPY 900–1,000, with higher acceptance for bundles incorporating multimodal benefits. Behavioral responses to congestion reduction options (e.g., shifting from the crowded Higashiyama line to the Sakura-dori line) and potential increases in downtown activities under bundled plans are also analyzed, demonstrating induced demand for central-city engagement. Finally, the study explores “mobility as a feature (MaaF)” subscription models, showing how multiservice bundles—combining mobility, delivery, media, and entertainment—could scale MaaS adoption by aligning diverse lifestyle services with mobility packages. Overall, the presentation illustrates how Japan’s commuter-pass paradigm is gradually evolving toward more flexible, integrated, and user-responsive mobility systems that support the broader objectives of MaaS.

University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China

Christos Spitas is professor of Aerospace Engineering and head of the Department Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China (UNNC). Prior to this appointment he served as professor of Machine Design and head of the Space, Industry and Transportation Cluster at Nazarbayev University, professor of Embodiment Design and head of the Product Engineering Section in the Dept. of Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology, and in various positions in the industry up to Manager Research and Development, working with clients such as ESA, Thales, CERN, Toyota etc.

Speech Title: Future of aviation in the emerging transportation landscape and outlook on its strategic technology development

Abstract: The global transportation ecosystem is undergoing a profound transformation driven by demands for greater efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity. Within this shifting landscape, the Low-Altitude Economy (LAE)—encompassing commercial activities facilitated by UAVs and eVTOLs—represents the most disruptive frontier in aviation, with potential to revolutionise urban logistics, passenger transport, and service delivery, among other applications. This keynote addresses the critical prospects and strategic technological imperatives for realising the LAE, focusing specifically on achieving sustainability, reliability, and robust business integration. Key technology enablers include: a) advancements in enabling technologies for powertrain and airframe subsystems (high-density and hybrid power sources, lightweight airframe design, low-noise propulsion, robustness and fail-safety); b) the deployment of sophisticated Sense-and-Avoid (SAA) systems and secure multi-source navigation to ensure operational safety and aircraft reliability; and c) the development of an intelligent Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) system to safely manage high-density air traffic and facilitate seamless integration with ground infrastructure via strategic vertiport construction.

The presentation will analyse how these technological and infrastructural elements must converge, proposing a strategic roadmap for their coordinated development and deployment. This includes advocating for the necessary regulatory and institutional frameworks to accelerate the transition from isolated trials to a fully integrated, commercially successful, and environmentally responsible low-altitude transportation network. By focusing on these pillars of technology and integration, this address aims to provide a clear outlook on how aviation will maintain its central, evolving force in the future of global mobility.

Concluding the discussion, the system-level question of environmental sustainability and business integration will also be formulated in an actionable manner.

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

Dr. Roberto Montemanni is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Methods for Engineering of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy since 2019. Previously, he was a Full Professor at the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence of the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland. 
He received a Laurea Degree in Computer Science from the University of Bologna, Italy in 1999, and he obtained a Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK in 2002. In 2015 he spent time as a Visiting Professor at the South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
He is the author of over 240 scientific contributions on top Journals and Conferences, with algorithmic and mathematical modelling contributions in different fields such as bioinformatics, healthcare, industrial engineering, logistics and transportations, with emphasis on the last two domains. He recently received the prize for the Best Paper of year 2024 from the International Transactions in Operational Research for a work on the use of drones for logistics. 

In the past, he served as an editor for several journals, and he is currently Section Editor-in-Chief for Algorithms. In the last 15 years he chaired dozens of International conferences and in he also delivered several Keynote speeches.  He led basic and applied research projects for millions of Euros both at a national (Swiss and Italian) and European levels.

Speech Title: Drones and last-mile logistics

Abstract: Unmanned vehicles, and particularly aerial drones, are attracting growing interest across multiple sectors, from precision agriculture to disaster management and freight delivery. Recent advances in hardware and software have transformed drones into practical and reliable tools for a wide range of applications, although some operational and legal challenges still remain. In this work, we focus on the use of drones in last-mile logistics, specifically for delivering goods to final-customers. Many operators are making significant investments in these solutions, driven by the potential economic benefits and the greater flexibility compared to traditional delivery methods. We examine the impact of drones when deployed alongside trucks in a hybrid delivery system, analysing the problem from both an economic and optimisation perspective. Simulations based on real-world scenarios allow us to quantify the potential economic gains that distribution companies can achieve by integrating drones into their operations.