Helmut Zwahlen, professor emeritus in Ohio University's Russ College of Engineering and Technology died Sunday. He was 71.
The university could not confirm the cause of death.
Zwahlen joined the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in 1971 and later became a research professor at the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment.
Dennis Irwin, dean of the Russ College, said Zwahlen was a leader among faculty in the college.
Helmut will always be remembered as one of our first truly successful researchers in the Russ College and thereby encouraged many of us to follow his example
Irwin said in a university release.
Zwahlen worked as an investigator on many state and regional projects, most often focusing on various areas concerning traffic safety. Bob Judd, chairman of the industrial and systems engineering department, said Zwahlen's work can be seen across the state.
His major interest was in the area of reflectivity of signage Judd said. So a lot of what you see now in terms of the types of signs you see on the highways are largely due to his work.
Judd added that Zwahlen expected high performance from his students, but that he taught just as intensely.
Many of the students would say how demanding of a teacher he is but then they would always come back and say they'd learned a lot in those classes
Judd said.
Zwahlen received a master's degree from OU in 1968 and later earned his doctorate from Ohio State University.
Visitation hours for Zwahlen were last night at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home.
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Emily Grannis
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