TTI Assistant Research Engineer
Research & Implementation - HoustonTexas A&M Transportation Institute
701 N. Post Oak Road, Suite 430
Houston, TX 77024-3827
(713) 613-9216
h-zhou@tti.tamu.edu
Education
- Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Texas A & M University, 2016
Short Biography
Dr. Zhou has over 14 years of experiences in several areas of traffic and transportation engineering. Working with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Dr. Zhou has assisted TxDOT on many research projects in the area of traffic operations. She is currently the principal investigator of a research project using connected vehicle technologies to improve emergency signal preemption. Results of this project will be used as guidelines for TxDOT to implement connected vehicle devices for incident management throughout the State. She has been leading an effort of implementing a dynamic ramp metering system in Houston to enable coordinated operations among ramp meters and intersection signals. She was the principal investigator in developing a program to optimize the innovative uneven double cycling operation for arterial signal coordination. She also served as a key researcher on projects developing guidelines for U-turn lanes at signalized diamond interchanges and guidelines for freeway lighting curfews for TxDOT. With extensive experience in microsimulation modeling, Dr. Zhou has evaluated numerous alternatives of roadway design and operation to determine the best solutions to improve mobility and safety of arterial and freeway systems.
Dr. Zhou is also experienced in statistical analysis and visualization of travel time and crash data. The travel time contour maps and Origin-Destination flow maps she generated using Bluetooth data have facilitated multiple MPOs in evaluating regional mobility and making decisions for long term transportation planning. The “heat maps” and tabular presentations she generated using 911 call center data of wrong way driving reports have helped TxDOT in selecting sites to implement countermeasures to improve safety.
Dr. Zhou received her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. She has authored over 30 technical memoranda and reports, peer reviewed journal papers, and conference papers and presentations. She has been very active in the TRB Traffic Signal System Committee (AHB 25) and has co-authored the FHWA's Traffic Signal Simulation Cookbook on signalized Intersection Control.