Paul J. Carlson, Ph.D., P.E.
CEO | Co-Owner
Dr. Paul Carlson is the CEO and co-owner of Automated Roads. Automated Roads is a woman-owned small business that provides strategic research partnerships, guides the advancement of highway infrastructure policies and practices, leads the safe deployment of connected and automated vehicles through the development of road readiness standards, and strategizes with partners on physical infrastructure solutions for automated vehicle platforms, new traffic control devices and materials, and selected mobility science platform programs. Dr. Carlson works with stakeholders such as highway agencies, the infrastructure industry, and the automotive industry to advance research results, with an emphasis on evolving standards, specifications, and policies to support safe connected and automated vehicle (CAV) deployment while enhancing safety for conventional road users.
Paul provides thought leadership for several national organizations working to evolve the highway infrastructure as automated vehicles become more prevalent around the globe. Paul is the SAE International Highway Infrastructure Task Force Chair, the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Device Connected Automated Vehicle Joint Task Force Chair, and the TRB Traffic Control Devices Committee CAV Liaison.
At the Texas A&M Transportation Institute Paul led research in the areas of smart infrastructure, traffic engineering, highway safety, vision science, traffic control devices, geometric design, and human factors. Paul has been a principal or co-principal investigator for numerous research studies covering topics such as traffic sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity, highway safety, nighttime driver visibility needs, centerline and edge line rumble strips, traffic signal warrants, and operational effects of geometric design. Paul’s research is often included in professional reference documents such as the MUTCD, the AASHTO Green Book, and most recently, the AASHTO Roadway Lighting Design Guide, 7th Edition (specifically Chapter 9 covering lighting of overhead signs).
Paul holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from The Texas A&M University, and a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree, both in Civil Engineering, from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA). Paul is also a licensed Engineer in Texas. Before joining TTI in 1995, Paul worked as a transportation researcher at the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, part of the Pennsylvania State University.