Who am I and what do I do? I am from Glenview, Illinois, where I attended Glenbrook South High School, graduating in 1995.  I attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and received my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree in May, 1999.  I stayed on at Purdue, attending the Graduate School, and earned my Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree in May, 2001.   I took the majority of my classes, and focused my research work in the Transportation and Infrastructure Systems Engineering area.  While pursuing my Master's degree, I worked as both a Graduate Research Assistant (see my research information) and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for CE 498 - Senior Design. Now, I work as a Traffic Operations Engineer for Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., in Rosemont, Illinois.  I am a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer™ (PTOE).

Who is my Wife? I am married to a wonderful woman named Kelly.  She graduated from Purdue and is now working for CDW in Vernon Hills, IL. We were married in October, 2001.  You can see a photo of us together.

What was my Graduate Research Topic?

My advisor (major professor) in graduate school was Dr. Darcy Bullock.  I spent the first year of my Master's working on an internet based learning tool for traffic signal design and construction. Look here to see the results of the research effort. You may be able to view live video from several different traffic cameras and a PTZ camera at the Stadium and Northwestern Ave. intersection in West Lafayette.  I'm no longer involved with this research, and although I'm happy to talk to you about it, please don't contact me with troubleshooting issues and broken links. I can't fix them.

I've written several research papers for conferences, and even had one of them published. My thesis topic is research using the Highway Capacity Manual. I wrote a paper on the first phase of my thesis research entitled Analysis of Arrival Type Estimation Procedures.  The paper was presented in a poster session at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in January, 2001 and was subsequently published in the Transportation Research Record #1776.  I am extremely excited to be honored in that way.

Another paper I wrote, entitled Emerging Education Opportunities in Civil Infrastructure was also accepted for presentation at TRB in 2001. This paper is related to the internet-based traffic signal design and construction teaching tool I developed during my first year in grad school (see above).

The third paper I presented at a conference was entitled Tools for Educating Students on ITS Fundamentals.  I presented it in October 2002 at the 9th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, in Chicago, Illinois.  More information and links to my research is available online.

Why am I holding a Trombone in the picture above?

Because I am a Trombone player.  Currently I play in the Glenview Concert Band, which is an all-volunteer group that plays at various venues around the northshore, as well as throughout the Chicago area.  We rehearse Monday nights at Glenbrook South High School.  In addition to playing trombone in the band, and the component Dixieland band, I serve as Band President, adjunct equipment coordinator, and webmaster.  On occasion, I play in community theater productions and fill in with local community orchestras. 

During my four years as an undergrad at Purdue, I marched in the Best Damn Band in the Land, the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band. Check out the Purdue Trombone web page.  We had a lot of fun hanging out and making music.  For a few years, everyone who came to the games was there to see us.  But that all changed when Coach Joe Tiller arrived in 1997.  See the next section for more about the Joe Tiller era.

I also played in the Purdue Jazz Band and the Purdue Symphony Orchestra. Both the Orchestra and the Jazz Band played all around the state and region.  The Jazz Band even occasionally ventured around the nation, playing in places such as California and Arizona. During the summer of 2000 we went to Europe. We performed in Saas-Fee and Montreux, Switzerland, in Mannheim, Germany, and in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  We had a blast.

I spent six years in the athletic bands, as well.  I played in regularly in the Volleyball Band, in Boiler Brass (Men's Basketball pep band) and in the Gold and Black Sound (GABS), the pep band for the 1999 National Champion Women's Basketball Team. If you look closely in this GABS picture, you will see me playing trumpet (only for one season - several :) years ago).  I was a member of Volleyball Band and GABS for 6 years and Boiler Brass for 3 years.

Did the Band go to any big games?

During my last two marching band seasons, the Purdue Football team traveled to and dominated the Alamo Bowl in sunny San Antonio, Texas. The "All-American" Marching Band traveled with the team to help keep morale high and keep everybody in the games. That really paid off in 1998 when we upset the #4 team in the country (Kansas State) with a last minute drive. The game ended in a 37-34 Purdue victory and a repeat as Champions of the Alamo Bowl. In 1997 we witnessed a 33-20 thumping of Oklahoma State in our first bowl game since 1984!  Although I didn't march at the 2000 Outback Bowl, Purdue played there and I had a good time. Georgia managed to beat us, but it was a good game.  Unbelievably, we also broke the Rose Bowl drought in 2001 and Kelly and I got to travel to California to celebrate the first trip in 33 years.  Even though we lost, the game and the parade were very cool.

We both still cheer on the Boilers every chance we get.  We are also die-hard Chicago Cubs fans.  This is the year!

What were my college activities?

I am a brother and Life Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Fraternity for College Bandmembers.  I am an alum of the Gamma Pi Chapter at Purdue, which is located in the North Central District.  I am honored to have served over the years as President, Treasurer, Activities Chair, and Finances Chair.  While in graduate school, I served as chapter Advisor.   My other Kappa Kappa Psi affiliations include the NCDAA and the NAA alumni organizations. I currently serve as Advisor for the Gamma Pi Chapter and Secretary/Treasurer of the NCDAA.  I've attended the last three National Conventions in St. Louis, Corpus Christi, and Norfolk, and had a great time.  This summer is in Lexington, KY - see you there!

What Professional Organizations are you a member of?

My professional affiliations include the American Society of Civil Engineers (Member), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (Associate Member), the Society of American Military Engineers (Member), and the International Municipal Signal Association (Associate Member).  I currently serve as the Advertising Chair for the Illinois Section of ITE.

Purdue University also has student chapters of ASCE and ITE, as well as Chi Epsilon, the national Civil Engineering honorary, all of which I was in while at Purdue.

Which Community groups do you work with?

I am actively involved with both the Boy Scouts and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  Some of the highlights of my activities are below.

Boy Scouts of America
	I have a new web page that details more of my Scouting activities and achievements.  Check it out!     I am proud to be an Eagle Scout, Class of 1991, from Troop 69 in Glenview, Illinois.   I am currently serving with the Boy Scouts of America as the Order of the Arrow Lodge Adviser for the Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40.  When I am available, I also serve as Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 69, Northeast Illinois Council, in Glenview IL.  I have completed Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Training, as well as Troop Committee member training, the OA's NLS & NLATS training programs, and the District Committee Training course.   I participated in the Wood Badge for the 21st Century program, course number C-48-03 in the fall of 2003.  My critter is the Eagle.  I finished my ticket in January 2005 and received my beads in February.
	I've had the good fortune of working on the Northeast Illinois Council Training Staff for Outdoor Leader Skills courses (Scoutmaster training) in the Spring and Fall of 2003, and the Spring of 2004. I am also a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40.
	I worked as a member of  the youth staff in the Pioneering Area (B) at the 1997 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill in Virginia. I had a blast and I am looking forward to going back someday.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary I am a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 03-06 in Wilmette, Illinois.  We are based at Coast Guard Station Wilmette Harbor.  Currently I am qualified as a Vessel Examiner and I am happy to provide complimentary Vessel Safety Checks to any boat owner in the Arlington Heights or Rosemont areas, and occasionally in Glenview. When I first joined the Auxiliary in July 2002, I began in the Boat Crew program.  I've gone on patrol and assist the crew in actual Coast Guard Auxiliary operations on Lake Michigan and had a great time. Check out my Auxiliary web site for more details.

What Else Do You Do?

I am a General class Amateur Radio Operator, though I'm not actively involved right now. My call sign is N9ITZ. For more information check out this link.

I think that's it.  I stay pretty busy, and if I finish what I'm working on, I've got other things waiting in the wings.

Interested in seeing my class schedule from Purdue?

You can take a look at my class schedule throughout my six years at Purdue.

To get a hold of me, try emailing weidson@kkpsi.org