Kevin Gildea

Vulnerable Road Users - Biomechanics - Multibody Dynamics - Computer Vision - Artificial Intelligence

I am a final year PhD student in the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing & Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. I am a recipient of the RSA-Helena Winters Scholarship for Doctoral Studies in Road Safety.

The overall aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of cyclist collisions in Ireland and find ways to effectively increase cyclist safety. This research has the potential to significantly strengthen our understanding of the nature and scale of cycling collisions and will assist road safety stakeholders to develop evidence-based interventions to reduce their occurrence and severity.

Accidentology

Novel and detailed data sources are collected and analysed to provide a comprehensive view of the vulnerabilities of cyclists as a group (i.e. Forensic Investigation Files, and self-reported collisions). Representative collision scenarios are identified to inform an engineering analysis [1, 2].

Engineering analysis

The engineering analysis involves combined Computer Vision, Deep Learning, and Multibody Dynamics approaches to collision causation and traumatic injury biomechanics.

For details see my blog posts:
Deep learning techniques for human motion capture: an injury biomechanics perspective
The 3D rotation group
Non-uniqueness of the Euler axis in vector mapping
Definining a kinematic chain and applying forward kinematics
Solution space for mapping serial kinematic chains: A modified inverse/forward kinematics approach
Euler integration of kinematic differential equations for position and orientation
Computational modelling of a bouncing ball using differential equations of motion

Selected publications:
[1] Characteristics of cyclist collisions in Ireland: Analysis of a self-reported survey. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2021. (questionnaire)
[2] Configurations of underreported cyclist-motorised vehicle and single cyclist collisions: Analysis of a self-reported survey. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2021.
[3] An investigation into the effects of European vehicle type testing regulations on cyclist injury occurrence. IRCOBI. 2020.
[4] Analysis of ball carrier head motion during a rugby union tackle without direct head contact: A case study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 2019.
[5] Cycling related major trauma in Ireland. Injury. 2020.
See more…
Media attention:
RTÉ Radio 1 - ‘Kevin Gildea, PhD Candidate at Trinity College Dublin, takes a look at new research showing they’re Dangerous, Preventable and Under-reported’ (01/09/2021)
Irish Independent - ‘Cyclists urged to report all collisions to gardaí’ (19/01/2021)
The Times - ‘Cyclists suffer ‘shocking’ number of accidents crossing Luas tram tracks’ (02/09/2021)
Dublin Inquirer - Research Tries to Pin Down What Causes Cyclists’ Collisions (20/01/2021)