University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

TRP chair spotlight: Yogesh Gautam

8/1/2012

Yogesh Gautam, an IDOT Traffic Systems Engineer, has served as the TRP chair on several ICT projects. Most recently, he has advised the following three projects:

  • R27-95 Field Evaluation of Smart Sensor Vehicle Detectors at Intersections and Railroad Crossings

  • R27-59 Evaluation of Performance of Solar Powered Flashing Beacons
  • R27-58 Evaluation of Wireless Detection Systems at Railroad Crossings and Signalized Intersections.

Gautam, who has been with IDOT for 19 years, states, “the research at ICT has given IDOT signal personnel insight into the functioning of different traffic signal systems under both field conditions and controlled lab conditions.” Because of this scientific research, IDOT has been able to make sound decisions in the selection and application of traffic signal systems. The research has provided confidence in the field implementation of a new system on a project by project basis or statewide, as has been the case with energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) modules replacing conventional lamps in signal heads.

“In addition to being scientifically-based, the research at ICT has practical applications”, Gautam says. The systematic evaluation of two systems in particular, LED modules and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), has led to the development of specifications and highway standards in use today at IDOT. Gautam believes ICT research has facilitated the statewide implementation of these systems, which has resulted in energy savings and reliability. For instance, traffic signals can now operate during power outages. Gautam also states that research on various vehicle detection systems has provided the practicing engineers with the knowledge base for the selection of a particular technology and of a particular vendor system for a given application.

A registered professional engineer in Illinois, Gautam holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Transportation from the University of Minnesota.