Kris Harbin, Ph.D.

TTI Assistant Research Scientist

Education

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, The University of Alabama, 2020
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Alabama, 2011
• B.S., Civil Engineering, The University of Alabama, 2010

Short Biography

Kristopher Harbin is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). His professional and research interests include utility investigations, data collection, and mapping; auctions, asset disposal, and sales; utility conflict management; utility accommodation and coordination; spatial data technology applications; construction management; asset and infrastructure management; and motorcycle operation and safety. 

Dr. Harbin has worked on numerous utility engineering projects, ranging from utility relocation, campus utility mapping, to SUE for highway and utility transmission design projects. He also worked on the design of utilities for the installation of microcell towers in downtown Houston to support Super Bowl LI.

In the past, Dr. Harbin completed a 3D modeling project of an underground hydronic utility system on a university campus. The project involved the research and investigation of as-built drawings and fieldwork. The model provided data needed to minimize conflicts with newly designed utilities and to identify areas of potential expansion. He led an effort to adopt the collection of utility location data during construction. He also implemented a low impact collection method to ensure future collection of utility data during future construction activities.

Dr. Harbin’s experience also consists of construction and engineering aide experience in municipal water distribution. Construction responsibilities included the installation and maintenance of water mains, service connections, hydrants, and water meters; as well as construction and repair of roadways, water lines, and service meters.

Dr. Harbin is active on several committees and organizations. At the Transportation Research Board (TRB), he is a member of the Standing Committee on Utilities and a member of the Standing Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design. At the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Dr. Harbin serves as a board member for the Construction Division. At the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), he is an active member of the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI). He is a member (and past chair) of the UESI Younger Member Engagement Committee, member of the UESI Marketing and Membership Committee, member of the UESI Awards Committee, and member of the ASCE Paper Review Committee. Dr. Harbin is also a member of the ASCE Recording and Exchanging Utility Infrastructure Data Standard Committee and a member of the ASCE Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data Standard Committee.