Praprut Songchitruksa, Ph.D., P.E.

Songchitruksa, Praprut

Associate Research Engineer

System Reliability Division - Gilchrist, Room 155
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 862-3559 Ext. 23559
praprut@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Dr. Songchitruksa holds Ph.D., M.Eng., and B.Eng., all in Civil Engineering, from Purdue University, Asian Institute of Technology, and Chulalongkorn University respectively. He joined the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) in January 2005 after serving as an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University at Kingsville (TAMUK). Dr. Songchitruksa is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas.

Dr. Songchitruksa's areas of expertise include traffic operations, traffic simulation, traffic safety, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and advanced statistical methods. His research is mainly to improve safety and efficiency of traffic operations through the integrated use of new technologies in traffic simulation and ITS data collection and advanced methods for transportation data analysis. During his tenure with TTI, Dr. Songchitruksa has involved as a principal investigator and a key researcher in a number of research projects specializing in the areas of traffic operations and control, freeway operations, incident management, traffic simulation, and safety modeling and analysis. Prior to joining TTI, he was a faculty member at TAMUK teaching and advising both undergraduate and graduate engineering students.

Dr. Songchitruksa has over a decade of professional experience in transportation research. He has been actively involved with Transportation Research Board committees AHB25 (Traffic Signal Systems) and ANB20 (Safety Data Analysis and Evaluation). He has published a number of articles in refereed journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings.

Education

  • Ph.D., Transportation (Civil Engineering), Purdue University. School of Civil Engineering, 2004.
  • M.Eng., Transportation (Civil Engineering), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, 2000.
  • B.E., Civil Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, 1998, Magna Cum Laude.

Experience

  • Associate Research Engineer, TransLink Research Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, March 2010 - Present.
  • Associate Research Scientist, TransLink® Research Center, Texas Transportation Institute, November 2008 - May 2010.
  • Assistant Research Scientist, TransLink® Research Center, Texas Transportation Institute, January 2005 - October 2008.
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University Kingsville, September 2004 - December 2004.
  • Research Assistant, Purdue University, August 2000 - July 2004.
  • Research Associate, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, April 2000 - August 2000.
  • Intern, Bilfinger+Berger, Chaw Karnchang & Tokyu Construction, Thailand, June 1998 - August 1998.
  • Intern, Bilfinger+Berger, Chaw Karnchang & Tokyu Construction, Thailand, April 1997 - June 1997.

Professional Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 103775.

Affiliations

  • Engineer-in-Training, State of Michigan, Fundamental Engineer/Engineer in Training, 2003 - Present.
  • Associate Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), 2000 - Present.
  • Individual Affiliate, Transportation Research Board Committee ANB20(A3B05) - Safety Data, Analysis, and Evaluation, 2003 - Present.
  • Associate Engineer, Office of the Board for the Control of the Engineering and Architecture Profession-Thailand, Licensed Civil Engineer, 1998 - Present.

Honors & Awards

Purdue Research Foundation Grant, Purdue University, 2000.

Barbara & John Hugh Jones Prize for Outstanding Academic Performance in the area of Transportation Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, 2000.

The Austrian Government Fellowship, Asian Institute of Technology, 1998.

The Austrian Government Fellowship, Asian Institute of Technology, 1999.

The Austrian Government Fellowship, Asian Institute of Technology, 2000.

Annual Honorary Award for Academic Distinction, Chulalongkorn University, 1995.

Annual Honary Award for Academic Distinction, Chulalongkorn University, 1997.

Siam Cement Prize for Distinction in Concrete Technology Course, Chulalongkorn University, 1996.

Selected Publications

D.H. Bierling, M.W. Martin, D.L. Jasek, L.A. Cutaia, P. Songchitruksa. Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study: Roadways in El Paso County, Texas. Prepared for the Texas Division of Emergency Management and El Paso County LEPC. September 2012.

B.T. Kuhn, D.L. Jasek, J.L. Carson, L.D. Theiss, P. Songchitruksa, J. Perkins, Y. Yang, J. Mwakalonge. Asset Management Guidebook for Safety and Operations. 0-6390-P1. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2012.

D.H. Bierling, M.W. Martin, D.L. Jasek, L.A. Cutaia, P. Songchitruksa, J.L. Franklin. Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study: I-10 Corridor in West and Central Texas. Prepared for the Texas Division of Emergency Management and LEPCs in Bexar, Crockett, Culberson, Gillespie, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Reeves, and Sutton Counties. September 2012.

D.R. Middleton, R. Rajbhandari, R.E. Brydia, P. Songchitruksa, E. Kraus, S. Hernandez, K. Cheu, V. Iragavarapu, S.M. Turner. TxDOT Uses of Real-Time Commercial Traffic Data: Opportunity Matrix. 0-6659-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, Houston, TX. January 2012.

D.R. Middleton, R. Rajbhandari, R.E. Brydia, P. Songchitruksa, E. Kraus, S. Hernandez, K. Cheu, V. Iragavarapu, S.M. Turner. Synthesis of TxDOT Uses of Real-Time Commercial Traffic Data. 0-6659-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2012.

J.A. Bonneson, M.P. Pratt, P. Songchitruksa. Development of Guidelines for Pedestrian Safety Treatments at Signalized Intersections. 0-6402-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2012.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, S.S. Samant, G. Lim. Prototype Design for a Predictive Model to Improve Evacuation Operations. 0-6121-S. Texas Transportation Institute, Arlington, TX. 2011.

D.R. Middleton, R. Rajbhandari, R.E. Brydia, P. Songchitruksa, V. Iragavarapu, E. Kraus, S.M. Turner, S. Hernandez, K. Cheu. Synthesis of TxDOT Uses of Real-Time Commercial Traffic Routing Data. 0-6659-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2011.

J.A. Bonneson, M.P. Pratt, P. Songchitruksa, K. Fitzpatrick. Development of Pedestrian Safety Based Warrants for Protected or Protected-Permissive Left Turn (PPLT) Control. 0-6402-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2011.

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.

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.

B.T. Kuhn, D.L. Jasek, J.L. Carson, L.D. Theiss, P. Songchitruksa, J. Perkins, Y. Yang, J. Mwakalonge. Research on Asset Management for Safety and Operations. 0-6390-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. November 2011.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, G. Lim. Prototype Decision-Making Software (web-based). 0-6121-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, Arlington, TX. November 2011.

J.A. Bonneson, S.R. Sunkari, M.P. Pratt, P. Songchitruksa. Traffic Signal Operations Handbook, Second Edition. 0-6402-P1. University Transportation Center for Mobility, Texas Transportation Institute. October 2011.

J.A. Bonneson, M.P. Pratt, P. Songchitruksa. Pedestrian Safety Treatments for Signalized Intersections. 0-6402-P3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2011.

S.R. Sunkari, H.A. Charara, P. Songchitruksa. A Portable Toolbox to Monitor and Evaluate Signal Operations. 0-6177-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2011.

R.H. Henk, P. Songchitruksa, S.P. Venglar, G. Lim. Prototype Design for a Predictive Model to Improve Evacuation Operations: Technical Report. 0-6121-1. Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX. August 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.

S.P. Farnsworth, E.S. Talbot, P.R. Reeder, D.F. Pearson, P. Songchitruksa, E.N. Hard. Methods for Developing External Travel Survey Data. 0-6583-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2010.

S.R. Sunkari, H.A. Charara, P. Songchitruksa, N.A. Chaudhary. Portable Traffic Signal Monitoring and Evaluation Toolbox to Improve Signal Operations and Safety. 0-6177-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2010.

S.P. Farnsworth, E.S. Talbot, P. Songchitruksa, P.R. Reeder, D.F. Pearson. Alternative Methods for Developing External Travel Survey Data. 0-6583-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2010.

S.R. Sunkari, P. Songchitruksa, X. Zeng, K.N. Balke, K.O. Obeng-Boampong. Guidelines for Signal Operations at Intersections with Wide Medians. 0-6176-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2010.

S.R. Sunkari, P. Songchitruksa, H.A. Charara, X. Zeng. Improved Intersection Operations During Detector Failures. 0-6029-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2010.

S.R. Sunkari, P. Songchitruksa, H.A. Charara, X. Zeng. Fully Adaptive Detection-Control System for Isolated Intersections. 0-6029-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2010.

S.R. Sunkari, P. Songchitruksa, X. Zeng, K.N. Balke, K.O. Obeng-Boampong. Consistent Signal Timing Strategies at Intersections with Wide Medians to Improve Efficiency and Safety. 0-6176-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2010.

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.