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Events Archive

Archive Index | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

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2001

GOTRANS

GOTRANS (Global Optimized TRANsportation System) also known as RTMS (Research Traffic Management System) is a multi-modal traffic management system (air, land, and sea). The system runs on HP servers running HP-UX which is an open system version of UNIX. Our current system has what we call the TSD (Traffic Situation Display) for all aircraft in the system. Our latest expansion of the display is of roadways, next will be railroads and, finally, shipping lanes. Eventually we would like to be able to display topographic visualizations of the terrain. We are able to see how current weather is affecting the transportation systems. Our next step is to get live traffic data of the other modes, probably starting with highways. After we are able to view live traffic data of the other modes we will be able to perform complete trip analysis including mode changes by passengers and interface bottlenecks in the global transportation system. These bottlenecks are of particular interest to the shipping community. We are experimenting with improving the information displayed to operators by using 3-D display devices and data visualization software.

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CSC TSSC Showcase Event

CTUG and CSC co-hosted this Showcase Event. Consider this.

• What if we had all the knowledge we needed at our finger tips?
• Would we know how to harness it and have it at our beckon call?
• What if we could leverage all the professional knowledge in our staff to its optimal performance?
• What if we had a striking competitive advantage over our competition for work, funding?
• What if we had a knowledge management solution to all of the preceding what ifs?

Ralph Miller, CSC Civil Group's Knowledge Management Lead, demonstrated this solution. CSC is a recognized leader in the Knowledge Management Applications and Solutions.

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International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the world body for industrial and technological standards. Over the past three years, Michael Sheehan has been involved in the development of Public Transit ITS standards for international use. His CTUG presentation provided a brief overview of the ISO Standards development process and a discussion of the current work program of his ISO Working Group.

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Strategic Mobility - Projecting the Force

Mike Buonopane (DTS-35) and Edgard Medina (DTS-36) presented on the acquisition, engineering and life cycle support that the Volpe Center provides to the Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command on their rail and watercraft programs to meet the Army's Strategic Mobility responsibilities.

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The State of the Volpe Center

Dr. Richard R. John, Volpe Center Director, will be CTUG's February guest speaker. Dr. John will discuss The New Administration and the State of the Volpe Center. This CTUG presentation was scheduled for Thuesday, February 20, 2001.

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Libby, Montana, The EPA and W. R. Grace

John McGuiggin, Environmental Engineering Division, DTS-33 presented Libby, Montana, The EPA and W. R. Grace

Asbestos exposure resulting from vermiculite mining, processing, and transportation activities has been linked to 192 deaths in Libby, Montana, and 375 additional cases of asbestos-related disease since 1961, according to the Post-Intelligencer, a Seattle, Washington, newspaper. The towns' residents are concerned that they are at risk for asbestosis and lung cancer because of the vermiculite, a nonmetallic mineral containing toxic asbestos fibers that is naturally occurring in large deposits in the Libby area. Of those who have contracted asbestos-related diseases, some worked at the mines or were family members of miners. Others had no link to the mine other than living in Libby. It is suspected that the mining, processing, and shipping operations are responsible for the environmental releases of asbestos fibers.

Since the 1890s, the Zonolite Mountains near Libby have been mined for their enormous deposits of vermiculite, reportedly providing 80 percent of the world's supply. The mined vermiculite was transported from Libby in bulk rail shipments to approximately 50 processing plants throughout the United States for the manufacture of building insulation and lightweight concrete aggregates, and for use as an agricultural soil additive. The mine, which was a major source of employment for the residents of Libby, was operated by the W.R. Grace Company from 1963 until it was closed in 1990.

Since January 1999, the Volpe Center has been supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's(EPA) Region VIII in responding to a request from the State of Montana and officials from Libby to investigate the potential for on-going exposure of town residents to asbestos-containing vermiculite. The Center continues to provide environmental engineering, remediation, and information systems support; laboratory analyses; and technical coordination to the Libby Asbestos Project for the EPA.