Sofia Sollén

About Me

I am a postdoctoral researcher in Experimental Mechanics at Luleå University of Technology, where I obtained my PhD in December 2025. My research focuses on data-driven monitoring of road conditions and friction using connected vehicle data, combining experimental mechanics with data analysis to develop and validate methods for winter road maintenance follow-up.

Within the WiReTEN-c initiative, I further develop experimental methods and test platforms to study road conditions, visibility, and vehicle response in cold climates. The work includes field measurements, sensor evaluation, and integration of multiple data sources to achieve a more robust and reliable understanding of winter conditions, with a particular focus on autonomous driving and more efficient snowploughing strategies.

The research is carried out in close collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration and industrial partners, with the aim of improving traffic safety and increasing the efficiency of winter road maintenance through data-driven methods applicable in real-world operations.

Previously, I was part of the Digital Vinter project, where the Swedish Transport Administration initiated a first step towards large-scale implementation of vehicle data for friction monitoring across the public road network. My contribution involved independently evaluating suppliers of vehicle-based friction data and developing an aggregation model aligned with existing regulations, enabling operational use from October 2025.

In addition to my research, I am involved in teaching and supervision. I contribute to the courses M0035T Teknikprojekt 2 and F0033T Experimental Methods, and supervise both PhD students and participants in the Tekniksprånget programme.

Research Areas

• Experimental mechanics in cold climates
• Road condition and friction monitoring
• Connected vehicles and vehicle data (CVD)
• Field measurements, measurement techniques, and sensor evaluation
• Data-driven analysis and method development
• Winter road maintenance, traffic safety, and accessibility

Ongoing Projects

• WiReTEN-c – Winter-Resilient Transport Systems
  – Test methodology: Development of test platforms for evaluating road condition sensors and simulating autonomous driving in cold climates
  – Snowploughing project: Studies of ploughing effects and analysis of how different ploughing strategies impact friction, accessibility, and fuel consumption
  
  
• Digital Vinterväghållningsuppföljning (Kompetenscentrum Vägteknik, KCV)
  Analysis of vehicle data, maintenance action data, and weather data for the evaluation of winter road maintenance

Completed Projects

• Digital Winter / Digital Friction Monitoring
  National project in collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration aimed at implementing vehicle data for large-scale friction monitoring. My work included an independent evaluation of data usability, quality, and repeatability in comparison with conventional measurement methods, as well as the development of an aggregation method aligned with regulatory requirements, enabling operational use from 2025. The work has also gained international attention through presentations and participation in conferences and workshops.