Geza Pesti, Ph.D., P.E.

Pesti, Geza

Associate Research Engineer

System Reliability Division - Gilchrist, Room 145
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-9878 Ext. 59878 · fax (979) 845-9873
g-pesti@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Dr. Geza Pesti is an Associate Research Scientist in the Transportation Operations Group of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). He received his Ph.D. in 1993, and M.S. in 1990 in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and M.Sc. in 1982 from the Budapest University of Technology, Hungary. He also conducted graduate studies in mathematics and computer modeling at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary in 1988-89, and post-doctoral research at the Systems and Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Arizona in 1993-94.

Dr. Pesti's primary research interests include traffic operations and control, traffic flow theory and modeling, freeway operations, ITS, and work zones. Since joining TTI, he has been involved in research projects related to the effective use of portable changeable message signs, work zone speed control strategies, traffic responsive signal control, and dynamic message sign effectiveness.

Prior to his current employment, Dr. Pesti worked as a research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), where he had been involved in transportation research and education for over six years. He taught graduate- and undergraduate-level classes in transportation and water resources engineering. He was the principal or co-principal investigator in a number of research projects in the areas of traffic operations and safety. He evaluated various speed and merge control strategies at freeway work zones. Many of these studies were conducted in framework of the Midwest States Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative, which was awarded the National Highway Safety Award in Operational Improvements by the Federal Highway Administration and Roadway Safety Foundation in 2001. He also directed research projects related to the evaluation of traffic signal video detection systems, dilemma zone protection on high-speed signalized approaches, and application of digital camera systems to accident investigation. He also has two years of consulting experience, and over ten years of research experience in water resources, hydrology, and environmental hydraulics.

Dr. Pesti is currently a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the ITS America, and the American Geophysical Union. He is a past member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA).

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 1993.
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 1990.
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Budapest University of Technology, Hungary, 1982.

Experience

  • Associate Research Engineer, Work Zone and DMS Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, July 2005 - Present.
  • Associate Research Scientist, Work Zone and DMS Program, Texas Transportation Institute, November 2003 - June 2005.
  • Research Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska--Lincoln. Dept. of Civil Engineering, June 1997 - October 2003.
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska--Lincoln. Dept. of Civil Engineering, January 1997 - May 1997.
  • Consulting Engineer, WS Atkins Hungary Ltd, August 1994 - December 1996.
  • Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Systems & Industrial Engineering Department, University of Arizona, July 1993 - June 1994.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Nebraska--Lincoln. Dept. of Civil Engineering, January 1990 - May 1993.
  • Research Associate, Water Resources Research Center, Budapest, Hungary, September 1982 - December 1989.

Professional Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 95840, 2005.

Affiliations

  • Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), 2003 - Present.
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), 1998 - Present.
  • Member, Missouri Valley Section, ITE (MOVITE), 1998 - 2003.
  • Member, American Geophysical Union, 1997 - Present.
  • Member, ITE, Intelligent Transportation Systems Council, 2003 - Present.
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1991 - 1995.
  • Member, Air and Waste Management Association, 1994 - 1995.

Honors & Awards

National Highway Safety Award in Operational Improvement for the midwest States Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative, Federal Highway Administration and Roadway Safety Foundation, 2002.

Service Award, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2002.

Annual Award of Professional Excellence, Water Resources Research Center, 1986.

UNDP Research Fellowship, United Nations Development Program, 1984.

Academic Courses Taught

Traffic Characteristics. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Fall 2003, Fall 2002, Fall 2001.

Traffic Control Systems Design. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Spring 2003.

Traffic Engineering Laboratory. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Spring 2003, Spring 2002, Spring 2001.

Traffic Control Systems. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Fall 2002.

Hydraulic Engineering. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Spring 1997.

Water Resource Engineering. University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Spring 1997.

Short Courses Taught

Geostatistics, International Post-Gradual Courses on Hydrology. UNESCO/Water Resources Research Center. Budapest, Hungary, 1995 - 1995.

Selected Publications

J. Perkins, J. Mwakalonge, D.L. Jasek, J.L. Carson, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, G. Pesti. Research on Best Practices for Winter Weather Operations. 0-6669-1. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2012.

J. Perkins, D.L. Jasek, J. Mwakalong, J.L. Carson, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, G. Pesti. Winter Weather Response Guide. 0-6669-P1. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2012.

G. Pesti, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, P. Songchitruksa, L.D. Theiss. An Evaluation of the Performance of High-Impact Signs. 0-6120-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2011.

K.N. Balke, L.L. Higgins, S.T. Chrysler, G. Pesti, N.A. Chaudhary, R.E. Brydia. Signing Guidelines for Flooding Conditions and Warrants for Flooded Conditions Detection Systems. 0-6262-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2011.

D.R. Middleton, G. Pesti, P. Songchitruksa, R.E. Brydia, K.N. Balke, G.L. Ullman. Use of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Rural Work Zones. 0-6427-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2011.

K.N. Balke, L.L. Higgins, S.T. Chrysler, G. Pesti, N.A. Chaudhary, R.E. Brydia. Signing Strategies for Low-Water and Flood-Prone Highway Crossings. 0-6262-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. November 2011.

G. Pesti, K.O. Obeng-Boampong, P. Songchitruksa, L.D. Theiss. Treatments to Reduce the Frequency of Freeway Exit Sign Hits. 0-6120-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. June 2011.

K. Fitzpatrick, R.J. Porter, G. Pesti, C. Chu, E. Park, T.Q. Le. Guidelines for Spacing Between Freeway Ramps. 0-5860-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2010.

K. Fitzpatrick, R.J. Porter, G. Pesti, C. Chu, E. Park, T.Q. Le. Guidelines for Ramp Terminal Spacing for Freeways. PSR. 0-5860-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. December 2009.

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.

D.W. Borchardt, G. Pesti, D. Sun, L. Ding. Capacity and Road User Cost Analysis of Selected Freeway Work Zones in Texas. 0-5619-1. 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.