UTT Students Confidently Present at the ATRANS 2026 Conference in Thailand
On August 28, 2026, in Bangkok (Thailand), a group of students majoring in Logistics and Transport Infrastructure (UTT) attended and presented in person at the Asian Young Researcher's Forum (AYRF 2026), held within the framework of the 19th Annual Conference of the Asian Transportation Research Society (ATRANS).
Established in 2008 with its headquarters in Thailand, the Asian Transportation Research Society (ATRANS) is one of the influential international academic organizations in the field of transportation and urban studies in the region. Over nearly two decades of development, ATRANS's Annual Conference series has become a prestigious scientific meeting point, bringing together policymakers, scholars, leading experts, and major institutes and universities from across Asian countries.
Entering its 19th edition, with a central theme oriented toward sustainable transport and urban adaptation, this year's conference attracted a large number of papers and research works submitted for participation. In particular, the Asian Young Researcher's Forum (AYRF) sub-track within the conference features a rigorous independent peer-review process and stringent selectivity, offering the opportunity to present in person, as well as sponsorship scholarships, only to works that are truly outstanding and rich in practical value.
A panoramic view of the ATRANS 2026 Conference in Bangkok, Thailand
A Persistent Journey: Following Each Garbage Truck to Solve an Urban Problem
The paper, titled "Study on the traffic and environmental impacts of single-use plastics reverse logistics: a case study of F&B chains in Hanoi," was carried out by the student group of Le Tuan Khang (74DCLH21), Hoang Minh Phuong (74DCLH21), Ho Thi Hong Lam (74DCLG22), and Le Thi Hue (74DCLG24), under the academic supervision of Dr. Truong Thi My Thanh — Head of the Division of Urban Planning and Transport, Faculty of Civil Engineering.
The student group attending and presenting in person at the ATRANS Conference
The research group's certificate of participation and presentation at the ATRANS Conference
Originating from just a course assignment in the Logistics and Transport Infrastructure training program, the research idea was nurtured and developed into a methodical, empirical scientific work. To collect data for the study of reverse logistics (the collection and recovery of plastic-waste packaging), the students went through a persistent journey of surveying, data analysis, building the research framework, and finalizing the paper.
Undeterred by hardship, the students personally followed waste-collection vehicles — from motorbikes towing manual collection carts that wove through the 2.75–3 m alleyways in Trieu Khuc and Yen Xa, to specialized trucks — patiently timing each stopping point, measuring traffic conflicts, and conducting in-depth interviews with environmental workers and garbage-truck drivers. Their spirit of dedication and refusal to give up in the face of fieldwork challenges enabled the group to gather a valuable set of real-world data covering 48 collection stops at 36 F&B businesses.
Students surveying alongside environmental-sanitation vehicles and interviewing environmental workers in the field
Affirming the Capabilities of UTT Students on an International Academic Forum
Thanks to its practical relevance and rigorous methodology, the research successfully passed the independent review rounds to receive an invitation to present in person. Notably, the work was highly regarded by the ATRANS Organizing Committee, which decided to fully fund round-trip airfare as well as hotel accommodation costs in Bangkok for the student representative to attend.
At the presentation session, the research group's representative confidently delivered the presentation entirely in English, clearly analyzing the "space–emissions paradox" within Hanoi's distinctive alleyway urban structure, while also proposing solutions for integrated, time-slot-based reverse-logistics coordination, technology application, and combined measures to raise awareness and adjust behavior. The presentation drew interest and high praise from professors and transportation experts across the Asian region.
UTT students confidently presenting at the conference podium
Beyond being a place to affirm research results, the ATRANS 2026 Conference also opened a special opportunity for UTT students to step into an international academic environment, listen to multidimensional critical feedback, and absorb experience from renowned professors and scientists from many countries in the region.
UTT's young authors had the honor of meeting, exchanging ideas, and taking a commemorative photo with Prof. Atsushi Fukuda (Nihon University, Japan) — founder and Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee
This success is a clear testament to UTT's training orientation, which closely links classroom theory with social practice. From real-world case assignments, with the dedicated guidance of lecturers and the persistent will of students, generations of UTT learners can confidently step out into the world and contribute practical scientific value to the sustainable development of the transportation sector.
