Ivan Beshentsev at the conference
Fourth-year student of the SPbGASU Faculty of Automibile and Road Building Ivan Beshentsev took part in the 84th International Scientific, Methodological and Research Conference of the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI).
Ivan spoke at the session "Development of sustainable urban transport systems at the international and national levels: challenges and opportunities." The session was attended by experts from Rosavtotrans, Rostransnadzor, JSC Mostransniiproekt, and other relevant organizations. The second part of the meeting was devoted to presentations by students and young researchers. The SPbGASU representative presented a paper on "Transport reform: a scientific and practical interpretation from the perspectives of passengers and enterprises."
The research methodology is based on a comprehensive scientific and practical approach, presented in the form of an architectural pyramid. From bottom to top, the model includes a structural and geographical analysis of the settlement, urban belt, and urban development sector, infrastructure, transport hubs, corridors, and route network, as well as an assessment of the socioeconomic impact. This approach allows us to consider the transportation system as a holistic architecture, where each level influences the next one.
Based on this analysis, the transport system is assessed from two key perspectives: passenger and carrier. The report proposed a framework for balancing the interests of these transport stakeholders, taking into account speed and regularity of service, stop density, route network structure, rolling stock selection, fare policy parameters, and the population's solvency level. Particular attention was paid to the development of common reference materials and indicators for assessing transport reforms, enabling a systematic approach to rolling stock renewal, infrastructure development, and ticket menu development.
Ivan's interest in this topic arose in 2025 during research trips to Russian cities—Kaluga, Cheboksary, Perm, and Chelyabinsk. During these trips, he developed projects aimed at improving the quality of public transportation services. At the end of 2024, the student conceived the idea of expanding his research and formulating his own scientific methodology. Following the recommendation of Aleksey Terentyev, a DSc in Engineering and Professor at the State University of Management and formerly at SPbGASU, the methodology was systematized into an architectural model. Taking into account the practical experience gained in Moscow, as well as his experience communicating with heads of departments and ministries of transportation in various cities, a report was prepared and presented at the conference.
Ivan Beshentsev plans to further refine the methodology for his PhD dissertation. His final thesis will use it to calculate the need for tram and trolleybus line development in various cities. While the student has previously published numerous transport survey materials in scientific journals, his original methodology has not yet been published.
In preparing his report, Ivan Beshentsev consulted with the Deputy Director of the St Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise Gorelektrotrans for the organization of transportation and transport management, Evgeny Vlasov, as well as with his supervisor, the senior lecturer at the Department of Transport Systems and Road and Bridge Construction of the SPbGASU Faculty of Automobile and Road Building, Aleksandr Figichev.
According to Ivan, studies of transport reforms have not previously been so comprehensive. The material presented was well received by the audience and highly praised by the session chairs: Vadim Donchenko, PhD of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor at the Russian University of Transport (RUT (MIIT)), and Aleksandr Solodkiy, DSc in Economics, Professor at SPbGASU, who noted the importance of a comprehensive approach to transport system design.
"The presentation lasted no more than 11 minutes, with the main discussion taking place behind the scenes. During the presentation, I was able to organize the material by the levels of the transport system—a task aided by the pyramid-shaped architecture. The audience was pleasantly surprised by the research's coverage of both theoretical and practical aspects of transport reform. Synthesizing theory and practice in the face of uncertainty is one of the key challenges in urban development today, in the areas of urban planning and transport," the student noted.
The topic of the report also interested the Head of the Department of Organization and Safety of Road Traffic at MADI, DSc in Engineering, Professor Sultan Zhankaziev, who suggested that Ivan discuss his final qualifying work in a startup format and prospects for further scientific research during the summer.
SPbGASU wishes Ivan Beshentsev further professional success and new scientific achievements!
