Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Staff Bio

Related Links

Pan Lu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Associate Research Fellow
Phone: (701)212-3795
Email: pan.lu@ndsu.edu
ORCID: 0000-0002-1640-3598

Dr. Pan Lu is an Advanced Research Fellow for the UGPTI and focusing on the intersection of autonomous trucking, infrastructure optimization, and transportation safety research. Her research integrates advanced sensor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics ensuring safety, sustainability, efficiency, and equitable access of the transportation system. Dr. Lu has been promoted as associate professor of Transportation and Logistics since 2017. She is also an associate director for the Tier 1 University Transportation Center (UTC) for Multi-Modal Mobility in Urban, Rural, and Tribal Area (CMMM). Dr. Lu authored and coauthored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal papers/research report/conference proceedings which can be found in Google Scholar.

Research Interests

  • Rural Connected and Autonomous Trucking
  • Smart Material and Structure Health Monitoring
  • Multimodal Freight Transportation
  • Transportation Safety
  • Infrastructure Management
  • Sensing Technology and AI

Recent Research Activities/Major Programs of Activity

  • Assessing Critical Vulnerabilities to Natural Gas Power Plants from Pipeline Infrastructure Disruptions – DOE/Oakridge Laboratory
  • Assessing Condition of Rehabilitated Concrete Pavement with Slab Fracturing and Asphalt Overlay Using Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors – USDOT/Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability
  • Expanding Summer Youth Programs in Rail through Virtual Learning and a National Camps Network – USDOT FRA/Michigan Technological University
  • Center for Multi-Modal Mobility in Urban, Rural, and Tribal Areas – USDOT/University of Maryland
  • All-In-One Data Collection Station for Real-Time Traffic and Pavement Bottom-Up Cracking Monitoring – FHWA/NDDOT
  • NCHRP 17-99 Assessing Safety Effectiveness of Treatments and Technologies at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings – FHWA/Oklahoma State University

Employment

  • 2022-Present, Advanced Research Fellow, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
  • 2022-Present, Associate Director, Tier 1 University Transportation Center (UTC) for Multi-Modal Mobility in Urban, Rural, and Tribal Area (CMMM)
  • 2017-Present, Associate Professor of Transportation and Logistics, Department of Transportation, Logistics, and Finance, College of Business, North Dakota State University
  • 2012-2021, Associate Research Fellow, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
  • 2015-2016, Assistant Professor of Transportation, Department of Transportation and Logistics, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institution, North Dakota State University
  • 2012-2014, Adjunct Professor of Transportation, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, College of Engineering, North Dakota State University
  • 2010-2011, Research Analyst, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
  • 2005-2009, Research Assistant, Department of Transportation and Logistics, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University

Education

  • Ph.D., Transportation and Logistics, North Dakota State University, 2011
  • B.S., Technological Economics, North China Electric Power University, 2002

Professional Memberships/Affiliations

  • Committee Research Coordinator (CRC) and member, TRB AR080 Committee on Highway/Rail Grade Crossings, 2023-Present
  • Chair and Moderator, Presentation Planning Subcommittee of 14th IACIP Annual Workshop, 2023
  • Member, Automated Vehicles Symposium (AVS2020) AI Breakout Session Planning Committee, 2020
  • Chair, Green and Extreme Weather Pavement Maintenance Committee, World Transport Convention (WTC), 2018-Present
  • Member, Freight and Logistics Committee, Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Member, Rail Transport Committee, Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Editorial board, World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research, 2015-Present
  • Editorial board, International Journal of Scientific Research and Civil Engineering, 2015-Present
  • Editorial board, Global Environment, Health and Safety, 2017-Present
  • Member, International Association of Chinese Infrastructure Professionals (IACIP), 2016-Present
  • Member, Chinese Overseas Transportation Association (COTA), 2017-Present
  • Member, World Transport Convention, Infrastructures Investment, Financing and Management Committee, 2017-Present
  • Member, Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS), 2010-2012
  • Member, SAS & Analytics Users, 2010-Present
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2016-2017
  • Member, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, 2013-2014
  • Member, American Statistical Association (ASA), 2014-Present