Armira Kontaxi

Armira Kontaxi is a Civil Engineer, PhD Candidate and Researcher at the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). She holds a Civil Engineering Diploma from NTUA majoring in Transportation Engineering (2017). Her research primarily involves data analysis and statistical modelling and she has attended several conferences.

Specialisation areas

Traffic Engineering
Transport Safety
Crash Analysis
Statistical and Econometric Methods
Data Science

Education

Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 2019 – ongoing, in the Department of Transportation, Planning and Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. Topic: “Integrated support of driver traffic behaviour and safety by smartphone data”
Diploma of Civil Engineering, 2009-2017, at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), (Graduating grade: 7.10/10.00).

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant in the graduate course “Traffic Management and Road Safety” of the 9th semester of the School of Civil Engineering of NTUA (2018 – ongoing)
Teaching Assistant in the graduate course “Urban Road Networks” of the 8th semester of the School of Civil Engineering of NTUA (2019 – ongoing)

Publications

At the present time (May 2023) forty two (42) scientific papers have been published (or have been accepted for publication):

7 papers in scientific journals with peer review
18 papers in conferences with full paper review
17 papers in conferences with abstract review and poster/presentation.

Publications in scientific journals with peer review

Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., “Analysis of mobile phone use engagement during naturalistic driving through explainable imbalanced machine learning”, Accident Analysis and Prevention, Volume 181, March 2023.
Ziakopoulos A., Petraki V., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., (2022) “The transformation of the insurance industry and road safety by driver safety behaviour telematics” Case Studies on Transport Policy
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Yannis G., (2020) “Trip characteristics impact on the frequency of harsh events recorded via smartphone sensors” IATSS Research (Under Review)
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Yannis G. (2021 – accepted). “Investigation of the speeding behavior of motorcyclists through an innovative smartphone application” Traffic Injury Prevention
Katrakazas C., Michelaraki E., Sekadakis M., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Yannis G. (2021 – accepted). “Identifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Driving Behavior using naturalistic driving data and time series forecasting” Journal of Safety Research
Papantoniou P., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., Fortsakis P., “Investigating the Correlation of Mobile Phone Use with Trip Characteristics Recorded Through Smartphone Sensors”, Advances in Mobility-as-a-Service Systems
Ziakopoulos A., Tselentis D.I., Kontaxi A., Yannis G. (2020) “A critical overview of driver recording tools.” Journal of Safety Research – Special Issue: Human Factors

Publications in scientific conference proceedings (full papers with review)

Kontaxi A., Goulas E., Yannis G., “Free Public Transport in Athens: a stated preference approach”, Proceedings of the Transport Research Arena TRA 2022 Conference, Lisbon, 14-17 November 2022
Kontaxi A., Akritidou S., Ziakopoulos A., Yannis G., “Critical Factors Affecting Mobile Phone Use While Driving Through the Exploitation of Data from Smartphone Sensors”, Proceedings of the Transport Research Arena TRA 2022 Conference, Lisbon, 14-17 November 2022
Kyparissis I., Kontaxi A., Deliali A., Yannis G., “Electric or not? Factors affecting Greek Drivers’ Preference when Purchasing a New Vehicle”, Proceedings of the Transport Research Arena TRA 2022 Conference, Lisbon, 14-17 November 2022
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Katrakazas C., Yannis G. (2022) “Measuring the impact of driver behavior telematics in road safety” Proceedings of FERSI Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, 06-07 October, 2022
Frantzola E., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., “Impact of Road and Traffic Characteristics on Driver Behaviour and Safety Using Data from Smartphones”, Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design, Amsterdam, 26-29 June 2022
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Yannis G. (2022) “Discovering the influence of feedback on driver behavior through a multiphase experiment based on a smartphone application” Proceedings of 8th Road Safety & Simulation International Conference, Athens, Greece, 08-10 June, 2022
Tzoutzoulis D., Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Yannis G. (2022) “Exploring critical driving parameters affecting speeding using data from smartphones” Proceedings of 8th Road Safety & Simulation International Conference, Athens, Greece, 08-10 June, 2022
Kokkali K., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., “Correlation of declared and revealed driver behaviour using smartphone sensors”, Proceedings of the 8th Road Safety and Simulation International Conference, Athens, 8-10 June 2022
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Papantoniou P., Yannis G., Kostoulas G., “Monitoring and Improving Driving Behaviour of Motorcyclists Through an Innovative Smartphone Application”, Proceedings of the 7th HUMANIST Conference (26-27 September 2021).
Maragkoudakis V., Kontaxi A., Deliali K., Yannis G., “Public opinion on e-scooters in Athens: a stated preference approach”, Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on Transportation Research (1-3 September 2021).
Priftis G., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., “Public opinion on Flying Autonomous Vehicles in Greece: a stated preference approach”, Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on Transportation Research (1-3 September 2021).
Kontaxi A., Frantzola E., Ziakopoulos A., Kostoulas G., Yannis G., “Investigation of speeding and aggressive behavior of professional drivers on highways through an innovative smartphone application”, Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on Transportation Research (1-3 September 2021).
Papantoniou P., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., Fortsakis P. (2020). “Investigating the correlation of mobile phone use with trip characteristics recorded through smartphone sensors”, Proceedings of 5th Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility – CSUM2020, June 17-19, 2020, Virtual Conference.
Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Yannis G., Tselentis D., Fortsakis P. “Advanced driver monitoring using smartphone applications: The BeSmart project”, Proceedings of 8th Transport Research Arena TRA 2020 Conference (Helsinki, Finland, 27-30 April 2020)
Chaireti M., Kontaxi A., Pavlou D., Yannis G., “Investigation of the impact of weather conditions to young drivers’ behaviour and safety in cities”, Proceedings of the 8th Transport Research Arena TRA 2020 Conference (Helsinki, Finland, 27-30 April 2020)
Michelaraki E., Kontaxi A., Papantoniou P., Yannis G., “Correlation of driver behaviour and fuel consumption using data from smartphones”, Proceedings of the 8th Transport Research Arena TRA 2020 Conference (Helsinki, Finland, 27-30 April 2020)
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Tselentis D., Yannis G., “A Review of the Impact of Driver Distraction on Driving Behavior and Road Safety”, Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Transportation Research, organised by The Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers (HITE) and the Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT/CERTH) (Athens, Greece, 24-25 October 2019).
Kokkinakis A., Kontaxi A., Tselentis D., Yannis G., “Identification of Critical Driving Parameters Affecting Speeding Using Data from Smartphones”, Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Transportation Research, organised by The Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers (HITE) and the Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT/CERTH) (Athens, Greece, 24-25 October 2019).

Publications in scientific conferences (abstract with review and poster/presentation)

Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Nikolaou D., Yannis G. (2023). “State of the art on spatial analysis and visualization tools for potential telematics applications – SmartMaps” NTUA – Telematics and Driver Behaviour Workshop, Athens, 4 April 2023
Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Nikolaou D., Yannis G. (2023). “Spatial analysis of telematics surrogate safety measures across road environments – SmartMaps” NTUA – Telematics and Driver Behaviour Workshop, Athens, 4 April 2023
Yannis G., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A. “Driver behaviour KPIs through smartphone telematics”, for the 7^th IRTAD Conference “BETTER ROAD SAFETY DATA FOR BETTER SAFETY OUTCOMES, Lyon, 27-28 September 2022
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Papantoniou P., Nikolaou D., Yannis G. (2022). “Naturalistic driving experiments as a driving behavior recording tool” NTUA – Telematics and Driver Behaviour Improvement Workshop, Athens, 22 February 2022
Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Nikolaou D., Yannis G. (2022). “Assessment and Improvement of driving behavior and safety through the application of BeSmart” NTUA – Telematics and Driver Behaviour Improvement Workshop, Athens, 22 February 2022
Yannis G., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Nikolaou D. (2022). “Telematics and improvement of driving behavior” NTUA – Telematics and Driver Behaviour Improvement Workshop, Athens, 22 February 2022
Yannis G., Nikolaou D., Folla K., Chaziris A., Kallidoni M., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A. “Data visualization for Road Safety Decision Support”, for the 7th ITS Hellas Conference, December 2021.
Yannis G., Ziakopoulos A., Petraki V., Kontaxi A. “The transformation of the insurance industry & road safety by driver behaviour telematics”, for the Workshop “The Future of Insurance. How Does Algorithmic Prediction Affect Insurance Practices?”, November 2021.
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Papantoniou P., Yannis G. (2021). “Impact of driver feedback on behavior and safety through a smartphone application” 2nd International Conference “Intermodal Transports: Innovations in Planning, Management, Business Development & Decision Making”, 14-15, October 2021
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Papantoniou P., Yannis G. (2021). “Smartphone applications for driver safety behaviour support” Nrso Workshop, 20 May 2021, Athens, Greece.
Yannis G., Katrakazas C., Michelaraki E., Sekadakis M., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A. (2021) “Impact of COVID-19 on driver behaviour in Greece and selected countries”, at the 6th at the RSGB Joining the Dots Virtual Conference (2-3 March 2021).
Yannis G., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Fortsakis P. (2020) “Assessing the impact of personalized feedback on driving and riding behaviour through a smartphone application” ECTRI TG Safety Meeting, 30 November 2020
Yannis G, Katrakazas C., Michelaraki E., Sekadakis M., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A. (2020). “Impact of COVID-19 on traffic safety behavior in Greece and worldwide”, ECTRI Annual Meeting of Thematic Groups Safety and Security & Risk Analysis, Virtual meeting, 30 November 2020.
Yannis G., Katrakazas C., Michelaraki E., Sekadakis M., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A. (2020) “Impact of COVID-19 on traffic safety behavior in Greece and worldwide” at the 31st Virtual Meeting of the International Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD), (22 October 2020).
Kontaxi A., Ziakopoulos A., Papantoniou P., Yannis G. (2020). “Monitoring and Improving Driving Behaviour Through a Smartphone Application” 1st International Interdisciplinary Online Conference “The Traffic Society”, May 29 and 30, 2020
Yannis G., Katrakazas C., Ziakopoulos A., Kontaxi A., Michelaraki E., Fortsakis P., Maples (2019). “i-Dreams – Driver safety enhancement through behaviour monitoring via smartphones.” 5th ITS Hellas Workshop, 17-18 December 2019, Athens, Greece.
Yannis, G., Papantoniou, P., Ziakopoulos, A., Kontaxi A., Fortsakis, P., Tselentis, D. (2018). “Driver behavior telematics for safer, greener and smarter driving – The BeSmart project.” 4th ITS Hellas Workshop, 18-19 December 2018, Athens, Greece

Thesis

Kontaxi A., “The impact of nighttime driving to driver behaviour and safety in cities with the use of driving simulator”, Diploma Thesis, Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, NTUA, November 2017.

Research projects

Participation in four (4) research projects in the field of Transportation Planning and Engineering

“SmartMaps: Smart city mapping for safer and eco driver behaviour through smartphone sensor big data” of the framework of the research programme “Explore-Create-Innovate” of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (2021-ongoing).
“A-traffic: Innovative traffic and parking policies in the center of Athens” a cooperation between the Municipality of Athens and National Technical University of Athens (2020-ongoing)
“i-safemodels: International Comparative Analyses of Road Traffic Safety Statistics and Safety Modeling” of the National Strategic Reference Framework: Greece – China Joint R&D Projects, funded by the “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” framework (2019-ongoing)
“BeSmart: Multi-modal driver behaviour and safety support system on the basis of smartphone applications” of the framework of the research programme “Explore-Create-Innovate” of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (2018-ongoing). Activities: Consultant on various scientific procedures of the project, such as a three-stage literature review and evaluation: (i) driving behaviour, (ii) driver recording tools, (iii) driver feedback tools, and the design and execution of a 200-driver naturalistic driving experiment.

Additional Professional Experience

11/2017 – ongoing: Freelance Civil Engineer.
03/2018 – 09/2018: Employee in the insurance sector

Computer Skills and Software Knowledge

Experience in computer software and applications in Windows environments, experience in exploiting internet sources and various database forms for research and other scientific purposes
Knowledge of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
Statistical analysis software and coding: R, R-studio, SPSS
Transport modelling programs: Aimsun, SimTraffic7, Synchro7, Arena
Drawing and designing in AutoCad

Languages

Greek: Native Language
Albanian: Native Language
English: Proficient user – Certificate of Proficiency in English (Cambridge University). Sufficiency of Teaching English.
French: Proficient user – Sorbonne C2: diplôme de langue et littérature françaises. Sufficiency of Teaching French.

Affiliations