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Marquis Scholar Katrina Gibbons ’03 (Ocean Pines, Md.) is researching ways to make railroad crossings safer in the state of Missouri. Gibbons is working this summer as an EXCEL Scholar with Kristen Sanford Bernhardt, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

“We’re working with a team of researchers from the University of Missouri to determine the best allocation of funds for upgrading railroad crossings in that state. It’s a large, complex project with all sorts of variables and issues involved,” Sanford Bernhardt says.

The research addresses a wide range of problems. Issues include determining which crossings are on private, state, or county roads and whether the tracks lie on a school bus route.

“Each state’s department of transportation seeks to ensure that where highways and railroad lines intersect, each crossing is as safe as possible,” says Gibbons, who is majoring in civil and environmental engineering with a minor in environmental science. “However, it is not possible under the confines of a state’s transportation budget for every crossing to be upgraded to an ‘active’ status, that is, be equipped with lights and gates to warn traffic of an oncoming train.”

Gibbons is attempting to quantify the best way to determine which crossings are in need of upgrading and how to stretch DOT funds.

“There are several methods in place in the United States for doing this,” she explains. “I am working with researchers in Missouri to determine how, if at all, Missouri’s current method for crossing prioritization could be improved. We are doing this by examining the practices of other states, deciding which method is best for Missouri, and determining the amount and type of data that would be necessary to implement this procedure.”

This project builds on Gibbons’ interest in the field of transportation engineering and is helping her decide if she’d like to pursue a career in this discipline.

“This project provides an excellent way for me to learn about the transportation engineering field through experience and research for a real-life problem,” she says. “This is really one of my first out-of-the-classroom research experiences. It differs from other research I have done in that it is applicable to a real transportation problem, rather than a hypothetical one. Also, I am gaining knowledge in the practice of data collection and analysis.”

Sanford Bernhardt concurs. “Katie is doing very well. She’s really getting up to speed on how to tackle real-world problems through this project.”

“Lafayette provides a good environment for student research, because it is so accessible to those who wish to work with faculty on a project in their area of interest,” says Gibbons. “The small size of the college helps to foster an intimate academic atmosphere. Students and professors can get to know each other and develop a sound working relationship.”

Gibbons plays an active role in the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of Women’s Engineers, and has served as a Writing Associate in the College Writing Program. She is also a member of the varsity tennis team, the Ski/Snowboard Club, and the Newman (Catholic) Association.

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Katrina Gibbons ’03 investigated ways of improving the safety of railroad crossings in EXCEL research with Kristen Sanford Bernhardt, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Categorized in: Academic News