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Kevin N. Balke, Ph.D., P.E.

Kevin N. Balke, Ph.D., P.E.

Research Engineer
Center Director
TransLink® Research Center - Gilchrist, Room 160
Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-9899 · fax (979) 845-9873
k-balke@tamu.edu
Homepage: http://ttiresearch.tamu.edu/k-balke

Short Biography

Since rejoining the Texas Transportation Institute in 1990, Dr. Balke has been working in the areas of transportation management, traffic operations, and motorist information systems. Dr. Balke is currently the Director of the TransLink® Research Center at the Texas Transportation Institute. The TransLink® Research Center is a multi-modal, public/private research program to develop and implement new concepts and technologies for linking together the different elements of the transportation system to improve the overall operation and efficiency of the entire transportation system. TransLink® explores concepts and develops solutions to ensure that commuters and transportation professionals alike have the right information at the right location at the right time. Dr. Balke is responsible for directing the entire research program for TransLink®, which has an annual research budget of approximately $2 million. He is also personally involved in several TransLink® research projects on the following subjects:

· Intelligent bus priority at traffic signal systems,

· ITS data management and archiving,

· Advance train preemption algorithms,

· Advance traffic management system software and integration, and

· Integration of diamond interchange and ramp metering systems.

Prior to becoming the Director of the TransLink® Research Center, Dr. Balke was a member of the Transportation Management and Information Systems program. Dr. Balke's research efforts have been concentrated in the areas of traffic signal systems, freeway management, operational effects of geometric design, and motorist information systems, and he has participated in numerous state and national research projects. Dr. Balke was the co-principal investigator in a project to update the Freeway Management Handbook for the Federal Highway Administration. He was also primary author and instructor for the Freeway Traffic Operations Training course developed for the National Highway Institute and the Federal Highway Administration. In past research activities, Dr. Balke was involved in the evaluation of the system architecture of TRAVTEK, a prototype Advanced Driver Information System in Orlando, Florida. In addition, Dr. Balke has conducted research in the areas of freeway management and traffic operations. Specific areas of research included the following:

· Freeway incident detection algorithms,

· Advanced technologies for communicating with motorists,

· Alternative strategies for detecting and clearing freeway incidents,

· Impacts of street vending on intersection capacity,

· Integration of transit into advanced traffic management systems, and freeway work zone traffic control

Professional Interests

Traffic control centers

Freeway management systems

Traffic signal control systems

Arterial highways

Education

Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1998.

M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1987.

B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1984.

Experience

Research Engineer, TransLink® Research Center, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2003 - Present.

Center Director, TransLink® Research Center, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1999 - Present.

Associate Research Engineer, TransLink® Research Center, Texas Transportation Institute, January 1999 - August 2003.

Assistant Research Engineer, Texas Transportation Institute, April 1990 - December 1998.

Engineer II, Transportation and Public Work Department, City of Austin, 1986 - January 1990.

Research Assistant, Texas Transportation Institute, August 1984 - December 1985.

Student Technician, Mobility Analysis, Texas Transportation Institute, May 1983 - August 1983.

Professional Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 66529.

Affiliations

Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas Section (TexITE), Brazos Valley Chapter, 2001 - Present.

Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee A3B08, User Information Systems, 2000 - Present.

Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee A3A18, Traffic Signal Systems, 1997 - Present.

Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), Texas Chapter, Board of Directors 2000-2002, Secretary 2002, 1995 - Present.

Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee A3B08, User Information Systems, 1993 - 1999.

Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee A3A09, Freeway Operations, 1990 - Present.

Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas Section (TexITE), Membership Committee Chairman 1990-1998, 1984 - Present.

International Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Technical Committee 4S-6, School Zone Speed Limits 1995-1998, 1982 - Present.

Honors/Awards

TTI/Trinity Researcher Award, Texas Transportation Institute, 2001.

Academic Courses Taught

Introduction to Transportation Engineering. Texas A & M University, Spring 2002, Spring 2001, Fall 2001, Fall 2000.

Selected Publications

K.N. Balke, P. Songchitruksa, N.A. Chaudhary, G. Pesti. Operating Guidelines for TxDOT Ramp Control Signals. 0-5294-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2009.

P. Songchitruksa, K.N. Balke, X. Zeng, C. Chu, Y. Zhang, G. Pesti. Evaluating and Improving Incident Management Using Historical Incident Data: Case Studies at Texas Transportation Management Centers.. 0-5485-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2009.

K.N. Balke, N.A. Chaudhary, P. Songchitruksa, G. Pesti. Development of Criteria and Guidelines for Installing, Operating and Removing TxDOT Ramp Control Signals. 0-5294-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2009.

P. Songchitruksa, K.N. Balke, X. Zeng, C. Chu, Y. Zhang. A Guidebook for Effective Use of Incident Data at Texas Transportation Management Centers. 0-5485-P2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2009.

B.T. Kuhn, K.N. Balke, N.A. Chaudhary, D.L. Jasek, G.J. Karkee, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, J.A. Shelton, S.P. Venglar. Managed Lane Strategies Feasible for Freeway Ramp Applications. Research Report. 0-5284-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2008.

P. Songchitruksa, K.N. Balke, Y. Zhang, K. Hamad, G. Pesti. A Guidebook for Effective Use of Archived Operations Data at Transportation Management Centers. 0-5485-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2008.

K.N. Balke. DCIPS: Dynamic Congestion & Incident Prediction System. Product. 0-4946-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2007.

B.T. Kuhn, K.N. Balke, N.A. Chaudhary, D.L. Jasek, G.J. Karkee, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, J.A. Shelton, S.P. Venglar. Guidelines for Applying Managed Lane Strategies to Ramps. Research Report. 0-5284-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2007.

B.T. Kuhn, K.N. Balke, N.A. Chaudhary, D.L. Jasek, G.J. Karkee, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, J.A. Shelton, S.P. Venglar, R. Cheu. Feasibility and Guidelines for Applying Managed Lane Strategies to Ramps. PSR. 0-5284-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. November 2007.

R.E. Brydia, B.E. Brackin, J.D. Johnson, G.B. Thomas, K.N. Balke. Wireline Communications: A Design Guidebook for Intelligent Transportation Systems: Expanded Materials. Research Report. 5-4969-01-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2007.

L. Ruback, K.N. Balke, R.J. Engelbrecht. Non-Vital Advance Rail Preemption of Signalized Intersections near Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: Technical Report. Research Report. 0-4746-3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2007.

K.N. Balke, P. Songchitruksa, N.A. Chaudhary, C. Chu, S. Sunkari, P. Nelson, s. Kuchangi, V. Tyagi, D. Swaroop. Development of a Prototype Dynamic Congestion and Incident Prediction System. Research Report. 0-4946-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2007.

K.N. Balke, P. Songchitruksa, H. Liu, R.E. Brydia, D.L. Jasek, R.J. Benz. Concepts for Managing Freeway Operations During Weather Events. Research Report. 0-5278-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2007.

R.E. Brydia, J.D. Johnson, K.N. Balke. Improving TxDOT's Incident Detection Algorithm. PSR. 0-4770-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2006.

H.A. Charara, K.N. Balke. TTI's Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation System for Traffic Signal Controllers: 5-1752-01-P1 thru 5-1752-01-P8. Product. 5-1752-01-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2005.

K.N. Balke. TTI's Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System for Traffic Signal Controllers: Installation Programs. Product. 5-1752-01-P2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2005.

K.N. Balke, R.J. Engelbrecht, S.R. Sunkari, S.P. Venglar. Improving Safety and Operations of Traffic Signals Near Railroad Grade Crossings with Active Warning Devices. PSR. 0-4265-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2005.

R.E. Brydia, B.E. Brackin, J.D. Johnson, G.B. Thomas, K.N. Balke. Wireline Communications Workshop for Intelligent Transportation System Applications. PSR. 0-4969-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2005.

R.E. Brydia, J.D. Johnson, K.N. Balke. An Investigation into the Evaluation and Optimization of the Automatic Incident Detection Algorithm Used in TxDOT Traffic Management Systems. Technical Report. 0-4770-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2005.

R.E. Brydia, B.E. Brackin, J.D. Johnson, G.B. Thomas, K.N. Balke. Development of a Wireline Communications Design Guidebook for Intelligent Transportation Systems. Technical Report. 0-4969-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2005.

R.J. Engelbrecht, K.N. Balke, S.R. Sunkari, S.P. Venglar. Engineering Solutions to Improving Operations and Safety at Signalized Intersections near Railroad Grade Crossings with Active Devices. Technical Report. 0-4265-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2005.

K.N. Balke, N.A. Chaudhary, C. Chu, S.P. Kuchangi, P. Nelson, P. Songchitruksa, D. Swaroop, V. Tyagi. Dynamic Traffic Flow Modeling for Incident Detection and Short-Term Congestion Prediction: Year 1 Progress Report. Technical Report. 0-4946-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2005.

K.N. Balke, R.J. Engelbrecht, S. Sunkari, H.A. Charara. TTI's Hardware-in-the-Loop Traffic Signal Controller Evaluation System. Implementation Report. 5-1752-01-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2005.

H.A. Charara, R.J. Engelbrecht, S.R. Sunkari, K.N. Balke. User's Guide for Installing and Operating TTI's Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System. Product. 5-1752-01-P9. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. June 2005.

K.N. Balke, H.A. Charara, R.T. Parker. Development of a Traffic Signal Performance Measurement System (TSPMS). Technical Report. 0-4422-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2005.

K.N. Balke, H.A. Charara, R.T. Parker. Real-Time Measures of Traffic Signal Performance. PSR. 0-4422-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2005.

K.N. Balke, R.E. Brydia, R.J. Engelbrecht, Z. Tian, Sangita, L. Ruback, H.A. Charara, L.R. Rilett. TransLink: Innovations in Managing the Surface Transportation System. PSR. 1752-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2005.

S.R. Sunkari, R.J. Engelbrecht, K.N. Balke. Use of Advance Coordination Features in TxDOT Traffic Signal Controllers. PSR. 0-4657-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2005.

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