University of Westminster Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health MSc student Daniel Hernandez Gramajo has been awarded the second-place prize in the Smart Data Research UK’s Geographic Data Service’s (GeoDS) national Masters Dissertation Scheme. He was recognised for his work into improving fuel efficiency and sustainability in commercial fleets.
The Masters Dissertation Scheme is a UK-wide programme connecting Master’s students from universities across the country with industry partners to address real-world data challenges using Smart Data and Open Data sources. Daniel’s journey towards this achievement began before the dissertation itself. He first competed against students from universities across the UK for the opportunity to undertake an industry project through the Dissertation Scheme, and then developed this project into his dissertation titled Operating-Intensity Profiling and Fuel-Efficiency Benchmarking of Commercial Fleets Using Telematics Data. He brought the project together in collaboration with industry partner Mobility of Tomorrow (Mobito Technology), a mobility data and technology company that uses vehicle data to support more efficient and sustainable transport. He presented the research at the Data Partners Forum at the University of Oxford earlier in September.
The project applies machine learning to a real-world sustainability challenge, using data collected from more than 366,000 commercial fleet journeys to help improve fuel efficiency and support more sustainable fleet operations. It also identifies vehicles that are using more fuel than expected and compares their performance with similar vehicles operating under comparable conditions.
Daniel said: "This recognition means a lot to me because the project combined everything I hoped to achieve through my MSc: solving a real industry problem, applying data and machine learning in a practical way, and producing work with measurable impact. I’m extremely grateful to Dr Mahmoud Aldraimli, Mobito and GeoDS for their support and for giving me the opportunity to take the project this far. Presenting the research at Oxford and being awarded second place nationally is something I’m very proud of."
Daniel's dissertation supervisor, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering, Dr Mahmoud Aldraimli, said: "I was delighted to introduce Daniel to this opportunity and support him throughout. His achievement is a fantastic example of what can happen when academic excellence meets a real-world industry challenge. To see him progress from a competitive selection process to second place nationally is something I am extremely proud of."
Daniel’s work directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, while the University remains committed to SDG 4: Quality Education. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Computer Science and Engineering and Data Science and Informatics courses at the University of Westminster.
