Ridge grows Transport Planning team with modelling and simulation expert

Multidisciplinary built environment consultancy, Ridge and Partners LLP (Ridge), has hired experienced Geographic Information System (GIS) expert and transport modeller, Dave Cope, as an Associate into its Transport Planning team.

With a masters in Planning and Transport, Dave brings 10 years of experience in transport and pedestrian modelling, providing clients with user-friendly visuals and data to support public consultations, reporting and planning for the future. At Ridge, Dave will develop its GIS analysis and illustrative processes, as well as its microsimulation and strategic modelling capabilities, working closely with Sarah Matthews, Partner, to develop the team.

Dave joins Ridge from Stantec where he worked on a wide range of projects including applying strategic, microsimulation and GIS capabilities to the assessment of public realm, multi-modal networks and the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. Prior to that, Dave worked at SYSTRA, where he specialised in strategic modelling, working with local authorities and developers on the development of long-term transport systems.

Starting as a graduate at WYG (now Tetra Tech) in 2013, Dave specialised in advanced simulation software including PTV VISSIM and PTV Viswalk for traffic and pedestrian models, as well as GIS to support urban planning.

Speaking of his appointment, Dave said: “It’s fantastic to be joining Ridge as it enters its next phase of growth. Our Transport Planning team works with a mix of private clients and local authorities to support land acquisition and local plans. Now, we’re able to provide rich visualisation and data analysis using GIS that allows our team to deliver the best possible scheme for clients, allowing them to make more informed decisions.”

Sarah Matthews, Transport Planning Partner at Ridge, said: “Dave is an expert in transport planning and modelling, underpinned by his knowledge of transport policy and industry-leading software. He has a huge amount of experience working with developers, councils, transport operators and governments to support business cases and infrastructure improvements. Dave is a fantastic addition and we look forward to developing the team together.”

Based in Oxford, Dave will split his time between the Transport Planning teams in Oxford and Reading. 

Ridge provides an array of transport planning and advice from feasibility studies to infrastructure design. Learn more: https://ridge.co.uk/expertise/transport-planning/