People

Pasi Lautala, Ph.D., P.E.

Research Assistant Professor and Director of Rail Transportation Program

Office: 318 Dillman
Phone: (906) 487-3547
Email: ptlautal@mtu.edu    

Dr. Lautala was appointed in October, 2007 as a Research Assistant Professor and Director of Rail Transportation Program. Pasi has his BS from Tampere, Finland and his MSc. And Ph.D. degrees from Michigan Tech University. Dr. Lautala is leading and coordinating the overall development of the Program and most rail related courses offered at Tech. His previous experience includes work with Finnish Railways prior to his arrival in the US, as well as five years of railroad and highway-engineering consulting experience in Chicago before his return to Michigan Tech. Dr. Lautala is the Principal Investigator for several rail- related research projects in various topics. He is also the Secretary of ASCE Rail Transportation Committee, University Subcommittee Chair for AREMA Education and Training Committee and member of TRB AR040, Rail Freight Transportation Committee.

Link to Faculty Page

William Leder, P.E.

Roland A. Mariucci Distinguished Practitioner in Residence
   
Office: 815 Dow
Phone: 906-487-1647
Email: bleder@mtu.edu    

Bill Leder has forty years experience in government, consulting, university teaching, and research, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Michigan Tech. He holds a BSCE from Michigan Tech and an MSCE from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  His industry career includes positions with the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Lea+Elliott, a leading consultant in automated people mover and public transit systems.  Bill teaches Public Transit, High Speed Passenger Rail, Senior Design, and Introduction to Consulting Engineering.

Link to Faculty Page

Professor
Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Michigan State, 1985
M.Eng., Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, 1973
B.S., Civil Engineering, Michigan Technological, 1970

301C Dillman Hall
(906) 487-2568
email: wsproule@mtu.edu

Bill Sproule has over 35 years experience in government, consulting, and university teaching and research in Canada and the United States. He joined the faculty at Michigan Tech in 1996 and is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He received a BSCE from Michigan Tech, a M.Eng. in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Transportation) from Michigan State University. Over the years he has taught a variety of courses in traffic engineering, transportation planning, airport planning, highway design, public transit, and consulting engineering and helped develop the Rail Transportation Program at Michigan Tech. He has a wide range of professional experience and his current research areas include airport ground access and terminal planning, traffic safety, automated people mover systems, and hockey history. Bill has been active in many professional associations and has received several awards including the Michigan Tech Distinguished Teaching Award and the ASCE Robert Horonjeff Award for his work in airport engineering. He is also the Faculty Athletic Representative for Michigan Tech.

Link to Faculty Page

Other Faculty Involved in Rail Education & Research:

Paul G. Sanders, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Link to Faculty Page

John Hill, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Link to Faculty Page

RTP Coordinator

318 Dillman
(906) 487-3065
prhannon@mtu.edu