Dirk Kemper

Dr. Dirk Kemper serves as Deputy Head of the Institute at the Chair and Institute of Highway Engineering, RWTH Aachen University. His academic career spans over two decades at RWTH Aachen, where he has held positions including Substitute Professor and Head of the Chair and Institute of Highway Engineering (2021-2023), Chief Engineer and Deputy Head of the Institute (since 2010), and Research Associate (2002-2010).

His educational background includes:

• 1993-2002: Civil engineering studies at RWTH Aachen University (Diploma degree in "Traffic Engineering and Spatial Planning")
• 2010: Dissertation on "Comparative analysis of the safety and economy of workplaces of shorter duration on motorways by day and night"

Dr. Kemper's research focuses on traffic flow in work stations, traffic safety in workplaces, operation and maintenance of traffic facilities, work safety, road equipment, and traffic data collection and analysis. His work bridges theoretical transportation engineering with practical applications in highway construction and maintenance, with numerous projects examining psychological effects of construction site arrangements and safety measures for temporary traffic routing.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating advanced technologies with traditional highway engineering, with significant focus on automated vehicle infrastructure compatibility, CO2 reduction through traffic management, and machine vision applications for road marking detection. His work increasingly addresses sustainability concerns while maintaining safety standards.

Professional affiliations include:

• Forschungsgemeinschaft Straßenwesen, Erd- und Tunnelbau e. V. (SETAC) (Member since 2001)
• IVSt Working Group on "RSA / ZTV-SA + TL" (Member 2002-2005)
• Federal-State Working Group "OKSTRA" (Member 2003-2004)
• Road and Transportation Research Association (FGSV) Working Committee 3.5 "traffic signs and facilities" (Guest since 2004)
• Working Group 3.5.4 "Securing Workstations" (Member since 2003)

Dr. Kemper supervises teaching activities in noise protection, traffic quality, road equipment, and road operation. He has led major research projects including Habituation effects in fluorescent materials, Temporary Traffic Routes on Long-Term Work Sites, ACCorD (Corridor for New Mobility Aachen-Düsseldorf), and numerous studies on traffic safety in construction zones.

As part of RWTH Aachen's Institute of Highway Engineering, Dr. Kemper contributes to one of Germany's leading transportation research centers, collaborating with industry and government agencies to improve highway safety and efficiency through evidence-based innovation.