Student Spotlight: Miguel Lugo

Miguel Lugo is a doctoral student in UF’s Civil engineering department who began his graduate program in Summer 2010. His research focus is on urban transportation and transportation planning, and he really enjoys the research challenges within these two areas.

Currently, Lugo is working on Automated/Connected Vehicle (AV/CV) technologies, specifically the state of practice, gaps, and concerns, with his dissertation advisor Dr. Siva Srinivasan. What he enjoys most about Dr. Siva is the much appreciated guidance. “Advisors guide you, they give warnings and assist you, keeping the student centered to the goal,” Lugo said.

With the AV/CV technology so new, many working in this field are asking the same questions with little to answer yet without further research. “I feel this project gives me an edge on this area,” Lugo said. “We’ve just started seeing what these technologies can do. A good referencing software and, speed reading techniques are essential to judge if something may be relevant to the issues of liability, safety, security, data, and travel demand.”

After completion of his graduate program in Summer 2015, Lugo is looking forward to being involved either from the public or private sector in cutting-edge metropolitan transportation projects.

“I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many cities inside and outside of Florida, and each one of them not only gives you an additional perspective, but also challenges you to create better places and transportation facilities,” Lugo said. “Also, taking courses outside of engineering have helped me understand how our impact as civil engineers is viewed by others: It teaches you just how important it is to communicate engineering to the general public.”

Hear more about Miguel Lugo’s research project and well as experiences here at UF in this short interview. [see video]

“It has never been a better time to study transportation,” Lugo said about others looking at careers. “Find what your goals are, get involved, and work towards them.”