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Robert Francis De Roche

Robert Francis De Roche

Interoperability Test Lab - Gilchrist, Room 150
Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-6154 · fax (979) 845-9873
AFFILIATE
Homepage: http://ttiresearch.tamu.edu/b-deroche

Short Biography

Robert De Roche received his Bachelors Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. After joining the work force, he continued his education part-time by attending Syracuse University and the University of California - Irvine. In addition to taking a number of traffic engineering related courses, he earned certificates in Computer Networking and Computer Programming.

In 1974, Mr. De Roche was hired by Crouse Hinds - Traffic Control Division as part of their student co-op program. He remained with the company after graduation and worked his way up to product development engineer. His most notable accomplishment was the design and implementation of their Closed-loop System. In 1986, he was hired by Econolite Control Products as a senior programmer to enhance their Closed-loop System Software. Much of his work was related to graphical displays and he received a US Patent on one of them. Switching to a hardware design role, he was the project engineer for re-packaging AutoScope®, a machine vision, vehicle detection system, for field use. He assumed the role of Engineering Manager in 1992. In 1994, Peek Traffic Systems had just acquired Traffic Control Technologies, a spin-off of the Crouse-Hinds - Traffic Division. They asked Mr. De Roche to come and help integrate the two product lines and systems. There was also an interest in developing an implementation plan for the emerging National Transportation Communication for ITS Protocols (NTCIP) Standards. When Peek's Tallahassee facilities relocated in late 2001, he chose to leave the company and go into business for himself.

In 1992, Mr. De Roche became a company representative on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association Technical Subcommittee developing a communications standard for closed-loop systems. This eventually led to a new title as standards engineer and full-time involvement in the NTCIP Standards development process. Among his many past endeavors related to standards, Mr. De Roche has served as a data steward to the ITS Data Registry and a US Technical Expert to the ISO TC 204 - Transport Information and Control Systems Working Group. Currently, he chairs the NTCIP Base Standards and Protocols Working Group that focuses on communications protocols. He is also an active member of five other Working Groups that are defining standards that relate to traffic signal controllers and on-satreet masters.

Since joining the Texas Transportation Institute in 2002, Mr. De Roche has been involved in an effort to establish an ITS Testing Lab and an AASHTO project to test the interoperablility of traffic signal controllers. he is currently working on a TxDOT project for the development of procedures and specifications to ensure compliance with NTCIP standards.

Professional Interests

Traffic signal control systems

Intelligent transportation systems

Education

Certificate, Micro Computer Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 1990.

B.S., Electrical Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, 1977.

A.S., Electrical Technology, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, New York, 1974.

Experience

Senior Research Specialist, Interoperability Test Lab, Texas Transportation Institute, January 2002 - October 2009.

Standards Engineer, Peek Traffic Systems, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida, May 1996 - September 2001.

Senior Engineer, Peek Traffic Systems, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida, September 1994 - May 1996.

Engineering Manager, Econolite Control Products, Inc., Anaheim, California, June 1992 - August 1994.

Senior Engineer, Econolite Control Products, Inc., Anaheim, California, September 1986 - June 1992.

Product Development Engineer, Traffic Control Technologies, Inc., Liverpool, New York, September 1980 - September 1986.

Applications Engineer, Traffic Control Technologies, Inc., Liverpool, New York, May 1977 - September 1980.

Technical Specialist, Traffic Control Technologies, Inc., Liverpool, New York, May 1974 - March 1977.

Consulting

G.C. Herrick & Associates, Palm City, Florida.

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).

National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA).

Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc..

Affiliations

Chairperson, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Base Standards and Protocols Working Group, 2004 - Present.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Base Standards and Protocols Working Group, 1998 - 2003.

Chairperson, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Profiles Working Group, 1997 - 2003.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Actuated Signal Controller Working Group, 1997 - Present.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Field Management Station Working Group, 1997 - 2004.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Signal Control and Priority Working Group, 2000 - Present.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Global Working Group, 1998 - Present.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Transportation Sensor Systems Working Group, 1998 - 2001.

Member, National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol(NTCIP), Testing and Conformity Assessment Working Group, 1998 - Present.

Chairperson, National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA), NTCIP Technical Committee, 1996 - 2001.

Member, National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA), Technical Committee, 1994 - 2001.

Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), Data Registry Design Group, 1998 - 2002.

Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), 2002 - Present.

Member, International Municipal Signal Association, 2002 - Present.

Member, International Standards Organization, Technical Committee 204 - Transport Information and Control Systems, 1997 - 1999.

Patents

Method and Apparatus for Displaying a System of Traffic Signals, Patent No. 4814765, March 1989.

Selected Publications

R.E. Brydia, B.E. Brackin, R.F. De Roche, J.D. Johnson, G.B. Thomas. Development of a Video over IP Guidebook. 0-5942-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2009.

R.F. De Roche. Testing for Compliance to NTCIP Standards. Research Report. 0-5003-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2007.

R.F. De Roche. Development of TxDOT Procedures and Specifications for Testing Device Compliance to NTCIP Standards. Technical Report. 0-5003-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2005.

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