PERSONAL PROFILE

Passionate about transport and how transport interacts with its environment, I have over 19 years’ inter-disciplinary professional experience working in the public transport industry within London. I also have over thirty years of personal interest in the historical development of transport systems and their environments. Based on my professional experience and personal interest, the last 12 1/2 years has seen me undertake a variety of academic degrees, with my part time PhD in Transport Studies finalised in November 2019.

Both my academic research and professional practice required me to use qualitative methods of research, working collaboratively individually and as part of a team. Collectively my passion, professional, and academic interests have enabled me to develop a expertise within the fields of civil engineering, urban and transport planning, historical, geographical, contract and statutory law relating to the interfaces between transport infrastructure and its environment. This enables me to have an excellent perspective on the need to effectively plan and manage densifying urban environments and its transport infrastructure, internationally.​

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CURRENT RESEARCH

HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW

University of Aberdeen

June 2020-June 2023

• design and manage a research project for the development of a combined process of analysis, data gathering, verification, validation, and publication, the AIR processes, for evidence-based data relative to the interfaces of transport infrastructure and its environment;

• create a GIS workspace for the visual representation of data gathered from the AIR processes, along with supporting data sources and database;

• develop and manage a website advertising the research project, and enabling participating transport infrastructure owning/maintaining organisations to access information relative to the project;

• develop and manage a Sharepoint site for the storage and management of data generated through the research project;

• undertake international research with transport organisations to determine data requirements, and provide support for the application of the AIR processes;

• publish journal papers discussing the research, the findings, and its outputs, relative to academic and practitioner relevance;

• trained staff within transport infrastructure participating organisations, globally;

• acted as a consultant for the continuing analysis and management of data generated through the operationalisation of the research.

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EMPLOYMENT

​LAND & VESTING ENGINEER

London Underground Ltd./Transport for London

Oct 2011 – June 2020

This role was part of the day to day asset management of TfL infrastructure and its presence, property, and protection interfaces with its environment. As subject matter expert, I worked collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary organisation to ensure effective comprehension of the interfaces between TfL infrastructure, its environment, and stakeholders.

Using my practitioner experience skills and knowledge, my personal 30+ years of interest in transport, and applying my qualitative research based academic training, I undertook the following key responsibilities:

• assist civil engineers in the management of the safe presence and operation of the interfaces between TfL infrastructure and its environment, through legal, geographical, civil engineering, and historical analysis of source data;

• ·work individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-functional team, to develop and coordinate data management systems;

• using GIS, CAD, SharePoint, ProjectWise, tools and software to enable the effective documenting and dissemination of project related data;

• through case study research, I determined and analysed multi-disciplinary data relating to the interfaces of TfL infrastructure and its environment;

• outputs from those processes included, but were not limited to, providing evidence based decisions on asset ownership, rights, and responsibilities and effective methods of ensuring those interfaces were effectively managed in the short and long-terms; thus

• enabling TfL and external stakeholder asset managers to clearly understand their rights, roles, and responsibilities for TfL infrastructure and its environment;

• as subject matter expert I attended meetings with multi-disciplinary parties pan TfL and externally to TfL, to discuss and advise on asset interfaces, making suitable evidence based recommendations on the best processes for asset management, based on the evidence gathered through analysis;

• as part of my commitment to sharing knowledge and experience, to ensure the safe effective continued presence and operation of TfL infrastructure and to ensure comprehension of the effects and benefits of transport on its environment, I regularly supervised, and shared my knowledge and experience with:

  • TfL graduate trainees; University student placements;

  • school work experience students; colleagues pan TfL; and

  • external stakeholders; through site visits, talks, conference, and workshop attendance, and presentations.

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SYSTEMS INTEGRATION COORDINATOR (Project Assignment)

Transport for London

November 2018 – April 2019

This role was as part of a major proposed project for the extension of an existing TfL tube railway. This required working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure effective understanding of existing and proposed interfaces between TfL and external stakeholders. Based on the needs and requirements of the business and colleagues and working collaboratively pan TfL and with external contractors my key responsibilities were to:

• ·work individually and as part of a team to develop and coordinate data management systems;

• establish a data management system using GIS, CAD, SharePoint, ProjectWise, tools and software to enable the effective documenting and dissemination of project related data;

• manage and produce data relating to the interfaces between existing and proposed urban metro infrastructure and its environment.

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INFORMATION MANAGER

London Underground Ltd.

Jan 2008 – Oct 2011

This was an asset management role to ensure the safe continued presence of London Underground infrastructure during periods of proposed, planned, and undertaking urban change and urban management. Key responsibilities included, but were not limited to:

• consultation with civil engineers, solicitors, urban planners, among other disciplines, I assisted the management of the safe presence and operation of the railway and its interfaces with internal and external stakeholders; though review of and commenting on planning applications submitted to London Underground for review and comment;

• working with internal and external stakeholders I clarified and confirmed the requirements of London Underground, with regard to protecting the metro infrastructure, to ensure its safe continued presence and operation;

• provided appropriate diagrammatic and textual information to internal and external TfL Stakeholders, to assist the management of the interfaces between London Underground and external stakeholders, providing suitable verbal advice as required.

• supervise, share knowledge and experience of TfL infrastructure asset interface management with TfL graduate trainees; work experience students; colleagues pan TfL, through site visits, talks and presentations.

TRAM DRIVER

First Group Ltd.

Jan 2003 – Jan 2008

• manage the safe operation of the tram and its operational environment alone and as part of a team.

• manage passenger safety.

BUS DRIVER

London United Busways Ltd.

Jan 2001 – Jan 2003

• manage the safe operation of the bus and its operational environment alone and as part of a team.

• manage passenger safety.

EDUCATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, TRANSPORT STUDIES

University of Aberdeen (Part Time)

May 2014 – November 2019

My PhD research was based on my full time employment within TfL and through my passionate interest in transport. The research consisted of:

• the development and testing of a conceptual framework and related processes for its application to the analysis of the presence, property, and protection interfaces between urban underground metro infrastructure and its environment;

• testing the applicability of the conceptual framework and its application processes through qualitative approaches to analysis, including case study, desktop study, observational analysis, questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews, of Glasgow Subway, members of the Community of Metros, and London Underground;

• development of a process of data gathering, verification, validation, and publication to produce an evidence based Asset Interface Register, to assist the application of BIM and asset data management processes, between transport owning/managing organisations and their interfacing stakeholders;

• publication of 2 x journal articles, outlining the findings of my research, whilst relating my research to real life practical applications (two further papers, based on the research, are currently in production);

• attendance at workshops and conferences, nationally and internationally, sharing my practical knowledge of undertaking practitioner research and asset management within TfL, whilst sharing the findings from my academic research;

• presentation of lectures at two universities based on my research, and skills, knowledge and experience of practical asset management of TfL infrastructure and its environment.

MASTER OF ARTS, RAILWAY STUDIES BY RESEARCH

University of York (Part Time)

Sep 2010 – Sep 2012

My MA was based on my full time employment within TfL and through my passionate interest in transport. My research saw me:

• research the development of tube railways in London and the effects and affects of legal, historical, geographical, and civil engineering disciplines on the development, presence, and operation of tube metro infrastructure and its environment;

• produce a dissertation considering the development of, and changes to, London’s deep tube railways and their interfaces with their urban environment, with especial reference to the affects of the urban environment, legislation, and engineering, on the design, presence, and operation of the tube railways; and how the tube railways have subsequently affected their environment.

MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF ASSET MANAGEMENT

October 2017 – present

• further develop my personal current skills and knowledge;

• participate in workshops and conferences as a subject matter expert;

• apply the skills and knowledge of asset management I have developed through membership, further training, practice, and academia to my employment within TfL, and to my academic studies;

• further develop my own practices through learning from colleagues within and without the Institute of Asset Management.

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ADDITIONAL ROLES

HOURLY PAID LECTURER

London South Bank University

Apr 2017 – present

MSC IN TRANSPORT ENGINEERING AND ASSET MANAGEMENT: present lectures on railway asset management and the technological, engineering, legal, and historical development of London’s underground railways, and how they relate to their environment; mark student coursework; provide suitable advice and support to students;

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HND/BEng in RAILWAY ENGINEERING: assist course topic development and content; present lectures on railway motive power and rolling stock, considering the different types and natures of railway vehicles and their benefits in relation to other modes of transport; provide suitable advice and support to the apprentices;

VISITING LECTURER

University of Aberdeen

May 2014 – present

UNDERGRADUATE ‘FEARSOME ENGINES’ COURSE: present lectures on the technological, engineering, legal, and historical development of London’s underground railways, and how they relate to their environment.

MEMBER/CHAIR OF THE INDUSTRIAL ADVISORY BOARD

London South Bank University School of Engineering

June 2017 – July 2020

• working collaboratively with colleagues from across the civil engineering industry and academia, highlight industry trends and needs to University panel members;

• manage the expectations of the professional and academic panel members;

• work collaboratively with practitioner panel members to plan, chair, and support employability workshops with civil engineering undergraduate students within the university.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

            [MA Thesis] Darroch, N., 2012. London’s deep tube railways: visibly invisible. MA. University of York. [online] Available t: <http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/3905> [Accessed 9 May 2018].

[Journal Article] Darroch, N., 2014. A brief introduction to London's underground railways and land use. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 7(1), pp.105-116. [online] Available at: <http://dx.doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v7i1.411>.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2014. An introduction to London’s underground railways and land-use. Transport for London, 2014. CPD course for TfL Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. London, UK, 24 November 2014.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2015. London Underground’s Railway Infrastructure in the Suburbs. Transport for London, 2015. CPD course for TfL Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. London, UK, 15 April 2015.

            [Consultee] Railway Accident Investigation Branch, 2014. Penetration of a tunnel at Old Street. [online] Railway Accident Investigation Branch. Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/penetration-and-obstruction-of-a-tunnel-between-old-street-and-essex-road-stations-london>.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., Nelson, J., 2016. A conceptual framework for land use and metro infrastructure. Universities Transport Studies Group, 2016. 48th Universities’ Transport Study Group annual conference. Bristol, UK, 6-8 January 2016.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2016. Protecting London Underground’s Infrastructure. Institute of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division Young Members Christmas Technical Forum: Engineering Challenges Posed by Infrastructure Upgrades. London, UK, 5 December 2016.

            [Journal Article] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., Nelson, J.D, 2016. A conceptual framework for land use and metro infrastructure. Infrastructure Asset Management, 3(4), pp.122–131. [online] Available through: ICE Virtual Library  <https://doi.org/10.1680/jinam.16.00008>.

            [Workshop] How Railways Contribute to Improving Quality of Life? Researcher Links Workshop, 2017. Joinville, Brazil, 31-4 August 2017.

            [Lecture] Darroch, N., 2017. Protecting Metro Infrastructure. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 2017. Semana Internacional de Engenharia Ferroviária e Metroviária & Engenharia de Transportes e Logística. Joinville, Brazil, 1-3 August 2017.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., and Nelson, J.D, 2018. Going underground: an exploration of the interfaces between underground urban transport infrastructure and its environment. Universities Transport Studies Group, 2018. 50th Universities’ Transport Study Group U.K. annual conference. London, UK, 3-5 January 2018.

            [Workshop] Darroch, N, 2018. Understanding the interfaces between Metros and their environment. Presentation and workshop, with Metro de Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo, Brazil, 9 May 2018.

            [Journal Article] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., & Nelson, J., 2018. Going underground: an exploration of the interfaces between underground urban transport infrastructure and its environment. Tunneling and Underground Space Technology. [e-journal] 81 (November), pp.450-462. Available through: ScienceDirect <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.08.027>.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2018. Understanding London’s underground railway infrastructure: how the past explains the present. Institute of Historical Research as part of the Transport and History Series. London, UK, 11 January 2018.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2018. Understanding London’s underground railway infrastructure: how the past explains the present, and the future. TfL Corporate Archives Lunchtime series of talks. London, UK, 19 November 2018.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2018. Identifying and clarifying the interfaces between urban underground space and its environment. Institute of Asset Management Annual Conference. London, UK, 27 November 2018.

            [Presentation] Darroch, N., 2019. Understanding urban underground metro infrastructure: how the past explains the present, and the future. Universities Transport Studies Group, 2019. 51stth Universities’ Transport Study Group annual conference. Leeds, UK, 8-10 July 2019.

[Presentation] Darroch, N., 2019. Understanding urban metro infrastructure: how the past explains the present, and the future. TfL Engineering, Lunchtime Professional Development Lunchtime Talk. London, UK, 28 November 2019.

            [PhD Thesis] Darroch, N., 2020. Towards an understanding of the complex relationship between underground urban space and its environment, with particular focus on urban underground metro infrastructure in London. PhD. University of Aberdeen. [online] Available at: <pending>.

            [Journal Article] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., and Nelson, J.D., 2020. A qualitative analysis of the interfaces between urban underground metro infrastructure and its environment. Pending publication.

            [Journal Article] Darroch, N., Beecroft, M., and Nelson, J.D., Bobrowicz, M., Fuller, F., 2020. Development of an asset interface register for the analysis of metro infrastructure and its environment. Pending publication.