Spotlight on: Mike Harding

In our monthly feature, we are shining a spotlight on members of the PETRAS community, to help us get to know the people that make up our diverse research hub. This month into the spotlight steps Mike Harding, Research Fellow at Lancaster University. If you would like to be featured in a future edition please contact robert.j.thompson@ucl.ac.uk

What is your role and what does it involve?
I’m a research fellow working on the PETRAS RoadMaPP project where I explore the challenges of stakeholder trust in IoT-enabled highways maintenance, and in particular how the digitisation of maintenance processes such as road-side drainage cleansing is introducing new attack surfaces and cyber threats to the wider ‘mobility-as-a-service’ (MaaS) transport infrastructure.  

MIKE WORKS ON THE PROJECT ROADMAPP –
SMART ROAD & STREET MAINTENANCE, PRICING AND PLANNING

How long have you been with PETRAS and what was your previous role?
I’ve been part of the PETRAS community since the very beginning of the programme. Previously, I worked as an RA on a range of CR&D projects with highways maintainers (Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald, Carillion, Bristol Council) developing a novel road-side drainage sensor network and decision-support framework for supporting the proactive management of highways surface water. 

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?
At the moment my priority is a collaborative commercial, research and development (CR&D) project with Network Rail and the Transport Systems Catapult – investigating the feasibility of using IoT drainage management technologies within a rail context. Later in the year the project will run a live track-side deployment of the technology.

What about the IoT attracted you to working in this area?
The IoT is another stepping stone towards realising Weiser’s vision of non-obtrusive experiences with technology. I’m keen to ensure through my research that this ideal is somewhat safeguarded but currently many IoT applications fail badly – just think how IoT in restrooms is making the fairly straightforward act of washing your hands overly complex and confusing for most.  

What is your favourite album, film and novel?
Hmm…Blues for the Red Sun by Kyuss, film would be ‘Control’ by Anton Corbijn and I don’t really have a favourite novel but any popular psychology book by Ed de Bono.

Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Mark E. Smith, Ross Noble, Frank Zappa, Bill Hicks, Stewart Lee, Jimmy Page, Elon Musk… 

What advice would you give your younger self?
Buy bitcoin and ‘HODL’ !

What would it surprise people to know about you?
I’ve a phobia of certain fruits, including raw Apple 8-/