QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan posing together with his wins at the iCompEx 2026.
Traffic simulation overview highlighting traffic flow, transportation modes, peak hours and key traffic challenges around TAR UMT’s Kuala Lumpur Campus.
QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan (centre) receiving the Outstanding TVET Personality Award (Construction Management).
Research that addresses real-world challenges has earned QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan Vasudevan a number of awards. The latest research works by the Programme Leader cum Lecturer from the Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Built Environment (FOBE), TAR UMT, and his research team won them Gold medals at the iCompEx 2026 and TVET Pitching Competition on 12 – 13 August 2026.
The team won the Gold medal at iCompEx 2026 for their research, ‘Microscopic Traffic Simulation for Transportation Impact Assessment: TAR UMT Students Centre Arena for Campus Mobility Planning’. The research focus is on traffic and congestion around TAR UMT’s Setapak campus, particularly the Jalan Malinja entrances and the area around TAR UMT Arena. It uses traffic data and computer simulation to identify bottlenecks and test possible solutions before any changes are made physically. This research not only won the team a Gold Medal in the Innovation Category F: Transportation, Automotive & Aircraft, but also Third Place – Best Innovation in Class F.
According to QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan, the idea for the research came from the team’s observations of traffic and mobility challenges around the campus. “The traffic impact study was actually part of a bigger research project undertaken by our research team, which looks at campus mobility and how we can use data and technology to develop smarter and more resilient solutions,” he said. Building on this broader research, the team conducted traffic surveys and used automated traffic counting, AI-based video analytics and computer simulation to understand vehicle movements, pinpoint bottlenecks and assess possible improvements before any physical changes are made.
“The strength of this project is the integration of real-world data with predictive simulation. So, instead of asking only, ‘What is happening now?’, we can also ask, ‘What will happen if we change the junction layout, provide a right-turn lane, relocate a bus stop, or introduce other traffic-management measures?’” said Gunalaan.
The study found that the main issues were concentrated around the campus access points, where factors such as roadside parking, bus drop-off activities, the absence of dedicated right-turn lanes and inadequate pedestrian crossings contributed to delays. Simulation showed that targeted improvements could enhance traffic circulation without requiring major junction upgrades.
The team’s other research, ‘Digital Campus Modelling Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) for Risk Resilience’, won a Gold Medal at the TVET Pitching Competition in Category A: Built Environment & Interior Design. For this research, QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan was the team’s presenter at the competition.
The TLS project uses three-dimensional scanning technology to create a detailed digital model of the campus, providing an accurate representation of its buildings, infrastructure and physical assets. Such a model could support risk assessment, emergency planning, asset management and maintenance, while laying the groundwork for the development of a more functional digital twin.
“A modern campus is not simply a collection of buildings. It is a complex physical environment containing buildings, infrastructure, circulation networks, utilities, assets and people. To manage that environment effectively, institutions need accurate and up-to-date information about their physical facilities,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the research could be developed into smart tools to help TAR UMT manage its campus more effectively, from monitoring traffic and managing facilities to planning for emergencies. Ultimately, this provides TAR UMT with better data for decision-making, contribute to safer and more efficient campuses, and support its longer-term development towards a smart campus and digital twin.
Apart from these accolades, QPr Gs Ts Gunalaan also won the Outstanding TVET Personality Award (Construction Management) at the Malaysia Education TVET Awards 2026.
