Volpe Center: Volpe Center Highlights

Information Resources

Volpe Center Highlights - February 2000

Director's Notes

Volpe at TRB and Beyond

The Volpe Center's vision is to be a world-recognized catalyst for innovation in transportation and logistics. This Highlights issue demonstrates the major role that the Center has come to play in the activities of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), which works to bring together the entire transportation community. The many contributions cited here illustrate that the Center now is recognized domestically and internationally as a source of expertise, knowledge, and insight concerning transportation innovation.

Not long ago, the Volpe Center was referred to as the "best-kept secret in Massachusetts." The Center is no longer a secret. At venues such as the TRB Annual Meeting, a reference to the Volpe Center is understood immediately by the attendees, and is recognized as a guarantee of competence and objectivity. In the transportation world, we truly are seen as a national resource.

This well-deserved and highly visible success is a tribute to the entire staff of the Volpe Center, which not only has maintained the highest professionalism, energy, and creativity in project performance, but also has gone the extra mile in participating effectively in professional associations and other transportation committees.

Every issue of the Volpe Journal, as well as these monthly Highlights, notes the extensive participation of Volpe staff in working groups of government and industry representatives and in conferences around the world where staff present technical papers and serve as organizers, panelists, and session chairs. In addition, recognition of the Volpe Center's expertise is expressed in many other ways.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) technical community's respect for Ms. Karen Van Dyke clearly is reflected in the many offices that she holds in the Institute for Navigation, including the office of Executive Vice President of the Executive Committee. The Department of Defense (DoD) expressly asked that Mr. Ross Gill be part of the team assessing the condition of Russian railroad lines and railcars to be used for transporting nuclear missiles to dismantling facilities. Dr. Kim Cardosi's professionalism and reputation as an expert on human factors issues has made her an influential member of the international air traffic control community. The Department of State specifically requested Mr. Kevin Green's participation on the U.S. delegation at several major international climate change conferences.

The Panama Canal Commission (PCC) initially sought out the Volpe Center because of the work performed by our Center for Navigation for the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. In turn, our work for PCC has led to further programs in Central America. Dr. John Hobbs, a nationally recognized expert in the field of explosives detection, recently received an Award of Appreciation in recognition for his "many years of outstanding service" from a committee of industry, government, and university representatives at the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

The Volpe Center's GPS expertise has led to work with Germany, Australia, and Chile. The long-standing Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS) developed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now is generating requests for work by other international organizations such as the private nonprofit Canadian Air Traffic Control (ATC) organization. The Center is cooperating on a project to examine ways to promote sustainable urban travel with the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Conference of Ministers of Transport. The Center also has a cooperative agreement for collaboration on high priority research with the Transport Research Center of the Dutch Ministry of Transport.

The Volpe Center has a steady stream of visitors from across the technology and transportation community, both domestic and global, seeking our expertise on major issues, guidance on promising areas for innovation, and insights into a wide range of specific topics. A sample of our visitors during the last year includes officials from the Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand and the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, the Research Director for New Mexico's DOT, and the President of the Council on Competitiveness.

The examples noted above-and many more could be listed-demonstrate the Volpe Center's steadily growing reputation and influence. The Center's high stature is a tribute to the entire staff and management, and provides an auspicious beginning for the 21st century.

Volpe Staff Have Active Role in TRB

From January 9 to 13, 2000, the Volpe Center had a significant role in the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) activities during its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Attracting more than 8,000 transportation professionals from around the world, the meeting offered the Center an unparalleled opportunity to share its knowledge and perspectives in transportation policy, practice, and research with others and to promote innovation in transportation. The TRB meeting agenda spanned all areas and modes of transportation. Participation by Volpe staff included chairing 11 sessions, and delivering 26 papers and other presentations. Staff also gave demonstrations on vehicle tracking and information systems, noise measurement and modeling techniques, and facilities and environmental management systems at the Volpe Center exhibit.

Human Factors Across the Modes

Dr. Donald Sussman, Chief of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, was one of four featured guest speakers addressing the TRB's executive council on approaches to achieving advances in transportation safety. His talk was entitled "The Human Factors in Safety: Operator Performance and Other Behavioral Issues Across Modes." Dr. Sussman also chaired the first meeting of the new Subcommittee on Railroad Operational Safety and was the moderator of the "Human Factors Considerations in Railway Operations" session, which was sponsored by the Committee on Vehicle User Characteristics.

During that session, Mr. John Pollard of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division and Ms. Stephanie Markos of the High Speed Ground Transportation Division presented "Passenger Rail Car Emergency Evacuation Considerations." The presentation described analytical and experimental studies of problems related to evacuating railroad passengers during emergencies.

At the same session, Mr. David Skinner of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division presented the results of a Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) working group. The group was formed at the request of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to review recent fatal incidents and to develop recommendations for reducing fatalities in switching operations. The group included representatives from the FRA, the Association of American Railroads, the United Transportation Union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the American Short Line, and the Regional Railroad Association.

Dr. Judith Brki-Cohen also of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division organized and co-chaired a workshop on the Challenge of Simulator Validation. In addition, Dr. Brki-Cohen presented "Simulator Validation: The Case of Platform Motion" at the Human Factors in Transportation 33rd Annual Workshop.

Dr. Jordan Multer of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division and Ms. Anya Carroll of the Accident Prevention Division gave presentations at the Passive Highway-Railroad Crossings Workshop. Dr. Multer's presentation was entitled "Solving the Accident Puzzle: Human Factors Methods for Highway Grade Crossings." Ms. Carroll's presentation was entitled "Federal Railroad Administration's Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Research Needs Workshop." Ms. Carroll's talk provided an historical background of the workshop that was sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and was conducted at the Volpe Center in 1995 to determine research needs for highway-railroad grade crossing safety. Her presentation focused on human factors issues related to passive crossings that were identified at the workshop. Ms. Carroll also presented the current status of grade crossing safety research being conducted at the Volpe Center in support of the FRA and DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS/JPO) to the Committee on Rail-Highway Grade Crossings.

Mr. Michael Sheehan of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division presented "International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 204 Activities." This ISO Technical Committee promotes the development of international Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) standards for the public transport industry. Mr. Sheehan discussed four proposed standards: an Australian proposal for a public transport stop numbering protocol; a U.S. proposal for public Transport Communications Interface Profile (TCIP) standards; a U.S. proposal for a public transport vehicle area network standard; and a U.S. proposal for a public transport vehicle cabling standard. The last two items are based on existing Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) standards in use in the United States. The presentation was given at the "Transit Intelligent Transportation Systems: International Developments" session, which was sponsored by the Section on Public Transportation. Mr. Sheehan filled in for Mr. Alan Kiepper of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas, Inc. who was unable to attend.

Rail Technology and Safety

Mr. Robert Dorer, Chief of the High Speed Ground Transportation Division, chaired the first portion of a two-part session entitled "Development and Deployment of High Speed Rail and Maglev Technologies." The session focused on the status of technology and was sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Committee on Guided Intercity Passenger Transportation. Mr. Dorer also chaired the Committee's annual meeting. The second portion of the same session discussed high speed ground transportation in the marketplace and, as part of that session, Mr. Ron Mauri of the Center for Transportation Information presented "Defining the Market for Seven U.S. Maglev Projects." The seven proposed Maglev projects are located in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

Ms. Debra Chappell of the Accident Prevention Division presented a status report on the Four-Quadrant Gate Project, which includes obstacle detection and positive train control technologies, at a session entitled "Advances in High Speed Rail Technology." The Committee on Guided Intercity Passenger Transportation sponsored the session. In addition, Ms. Chappell and Mr. Ashish Aggarwal, Mr. Andy Lam, and Mr. Marco DaSilva also of the Division were invited by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to demonstrate the benefits of the system in place at the Four-Quadrant Gates Project (School Street, Groton, Connecticut) as part of the FRA's "Showcase on Technology" exhibit.

Dr. Ted Sussmann of the Structures and Dynamics Division co-chaired the session entitled "Track Substructure: Reconstruction Versus Maintenance." The session was sponsored by the Committee on Railroad Track Structure System Design and the Committee on Railway Maintenance.

Mr. David Tyrell of the Structures and Dynamics Division gave a presentation entitled "FRA Full-Scale Crash Test Program" at the "Advances in High Speed Rail Technology" session. The Committee on Guided Intercity Passenger Transportation sponsored the session. Mr. Tyrell also presented the results of the first full-scale rail passenger car collision test at a meeting to the presidents of the commuter railroads. The test consisted of a single car with accelerometers, strain gages, and displacement transducers colliding with a fixed wall at 35 mph, and included instrumented dummies in several interior configurations. The tests were designed by Mr. Tyrell and Ms. Kristine Severson and Mr. A. Benjamin Perlman also of the Division. The structural portion of the test was implemented by Transportation Technology Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads. The occupant protection portion of the test was implemented by Simula Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Simula, Inc. The test was conducted at DOT's Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado.

Intercity Passenger Transportation

Mr. Robert Dorer, Chief of the High Speed Ground Transportation Division, chaired the annual meeting of the Committee on Guided Intercity Passenger Transportation.

Mr. John Zolock of the Structures and Dynamics Division gave a presentation entitled "A Study of Low-Speed Curving Performance of MU Type Commuter Cars" at the "Contemporary Commuter Rail Issues" session. The Committee on Commuter Rail Transportation sponsored the session.

Mr. William Lyons of the Service Assessment Division chaired the "Advances in Research for Managing Public Transit" session. The Committee on Transit Management and Performance sponsored the session.

Travel Demand: Capacity and Pricing

Mr. Larry Barr of the Accident Prevention Division presented a paper entitled "Testing for the Significance of Induced Highway Travel Demand in Metropolitan Areas." The paper presented the results of a study performed at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the sponsorship of an Eisenhower Research Fellowship grant. The paper was one of five included in the "Statistical Evaluation of Induced Travel Effects" session that presented recent research results on the effects of induced travel; that is, the effects of adding highway capacity on travel behavior. A panel discussion of the policy implications of induced travel immediately followed the session. The addition of highway capacity as a transportation improvement strategy continues to be a controversial issue of interest to transportation analysts, planners, environmental groups, and the traveling public. An article summarizing some of the findings presented in the session and the panel discussion appeared in the Washington Post on January 13, 2000. The session was sponsored by the Committee on Statewide Multimodal Transportation Planning, the Committee on Passenger Travel Demand Forecasting, the Task Force on Transportation and Sustainability, and the Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service.

Dr. Robert Dial of the Service Assessment Division presented a paper entitled "Minimal Revenue Congestion Pricing, Part II: Efficient Algorithm for the General Case" at the "Network Pricing and Traffic Equilibria" session. The session was sponsored by the Committee on Transportation Network Modeling and the Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. Dr. Dial also gave a presentation on a new traffic assignment algorithm at a meeting of the Committee on Transportation Network Modeling.

Dr. Douglass Lee of the Service Assessment Division gave a presentation entitled "The Efficient City: Impacts of Transportation Pricing on Urban Form" at the "Transportation Pricing and Urban Form: Using Market Forces to Achieve Smart Growth Objectives" session. The Committee on Transportation Economics sponsored the session. Dr. Lee's presentation explained how transport underpricing might be the cause of many of the features of sprawl that people do not like, and how addressing transportation pricing and investment might be more effective at correcting these features than methods such as land use controls and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. These conclusions (and others) are derived from a review and informal synthesis of several theories from urban geography, an evaluation of the degree of inefficiency in urban transport pricing and investment, and an empirical assessment of how large the impacts would be if transportation and land use were efficient.

Dr. Lee also presented a paper entitled "Benefit-Cost Evaluation of Traveler Information: Seattle's WSDOT Web Site" at the Use and Evaluation of Advanced Traveler Information Systems session. The Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems sponsored the session. The paper was based on a spreadsheet model to assess the benefits and costs of providing traveler information via the Internet.

Transportation Workforce Census

Dr. Basav Sen of EG&G Technical Services, Inc. presented a poster of the paper "Complete Count of the U.S. Transportation Workforce," which he co-authored with Mr. Michael Rossetti of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Office. The paper used different types of economic classification data to develop a methodology that provides a consistent and comprehensive count of the U.S. transportation workforce. The poster was presented at the "Using Information Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Economic Data for Transportation" session. The session was sponsored by the Committee on Spatial Data and Information Systems and the Committee on Information Systems and Technology.

Airport Capacity Enhancements and Economic Development

Dr. Eugene Gilbo of the Automotion Applications Division presented a paper entitled "Optimal Utilization of Airport Capacity for Strategic Traffic Flow Management" at the session on "Airport Operations and Performance." The Committee on Airfield and Airspace Capacity and Delay sponsored the session. The paper showed how optimal, dynamic allocation of arrival and departure capacity could reduce delays and increase airport throughput, solving congestion problems. The optimization model can be used as an efficient decision support tool for operational enhancement of existing airport capacity and strategic traffic flow management. The work reported in the paper is being conducted in the scope of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) program, which is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Mr. Stewart Butler of the Economic Analysis Division was the discussant at the panel discussion entitled "Role of Airports in State and Local Economic Development." The panel was sponsored by the Committee on Transportation and Economic Development and the Committee on Aviation Economics and Forecasting. As the panel discussant, Mr. Butler spoke last and commented on the remarks of the previous three speakers. He concurred with a general theme of the panel that a new airport, or the expansion of an existing airport, will not by itself generate economic development in a region. Airport expansion helps a region's economy only if it is undertaken primarily to accommodate the area's growing needs for passenger and cargo air transportation. Mr. Butler illustrated this point using Orlando International Airport as an example.

Techniques for Predicting Traffic Information

Dr. Haris Koutsopoulos of the Service Assessment Division co-authored a paper entitled "Simulation Laboratory for Evaluating Dynamic Traffic Management Systems" that was presented at the session "Network Flow and Assignment Models," which was sponsored by the Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. The paper discusses a simulation-based laboratory for the evaluation of Advanced Traveler Information Systems/Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATIS/ATMS). It demonstrates the technology's applicability with a case study on the benefits of ATIS that provides traffic information based on predicted traffic conditions.

Ms. Jane Lappin of EG&G Technical Services, Inc. presented "Who Are the Likely Users of ATIS? Evidence from the Seattle Region" at the "Use and Evaluation of Advanced Traveler Information Systems" session, which was sponsored by the Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems. Ms. Lappin also presented "Technology Push Versus Demand Pull" at the "Intelligent Transportation Systems: What is Appropriate to Ensure Mobility?" session, which was sponsored by the Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility and the Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Environmental Transportation Alternatives and Noise

Ms. Melissa Laube of the Service Assessment Division co-authored a paper entitled "Grand Canyon National Park: Assessment of Transportation Alternatives." The paper presented the results of the Volpe Center's review of the alternatives analysis performed by the National Park Service (NPS) for transit service at the Grand Canyon. The review was sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in response to a requirement by the U.S. Congress. Alternatives considered were light rail, standard bus, articulated bus, and articulated bus on busway. The paper was presented at the second portion of a two-part session entitled "New Transportation Initiatives for National Parks and Public Lands," which was sponsored by the Task Force on Transportation Needs for National Parks and Public Lands, the Committee on Bus Transit Systems, the Committee on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation, and the Committee on Intermodal Transfer Facilities.

Ms. Cynthia S.Y. Lee of the Safety and Environmental Technology Division was the chair of the first portion of a two-part session entitled "Transportation-Related Noise Issues." The Committee on Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration sponsored the session. Dr. Judith Rochat of the Safety and Environmental Technology Division was the chair of the second portion of the session. Ms. Lee and Dr. Rochat also presented an update of the software upgrade and model validation status of the Traffic Noise Model (TNM), the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) state-of-the-art computer program for highway traffic noise prediction and analysis. The presentations were given during a meeting of the Subcommittee on Highway Noise.

Asset Management

Mr. Allan DeBlasio of the Economic Analysis Division and Dr. Sue McNeil of the University of Minnesota presented "Asset Management: What is the Fuss?" at the first portion of a two-part session entitled "Asset Management Concepts and Innovations." The Committee on Strategic Management sponsored the session. This presentation highlighted the work that the Volpe Center has been doing for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Asset Management and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Task Force on Asset Management. Mr. DeBlasio presented the findings of a survey sent to the AASHTO member states. This survey identified the inventories and management systems used by state DOTs to administer assets. The survey also ascertained how the management within the state DOTs makes investment decisions and values their assets. Dr. McNeil presented the common themes that emerged from a peer-to-peer exchange that was sponsored by the AASHTO and the FHWA in December 1999. Dr. McNeil also discussed the experiences of the participants in asset management, the successes they achieved, the barriers that they face, and the directions in which they want to move in the future.

Ethics in Partnering

Mr. David Glater, Chief Counsel of the Volpe Center, was the chair of the "Ethics in Partnering" session. The Committee on Transportation Law sponsored the session. The program consisted of presentations by three panelists: a senior ethics counsel with a large defense contractor (Raytheon), the U.S. Navy's chief ethics attorney, and an attorney in private practice who is the co-chair of the American Bar Association's Public Contracts Section Committee on Ethics. To provide background for the panelists, Mr. Glater described the origins of current efforts to promote partnering, provided several alternative definitions, and described examples of partnering taking place in the transportation industry today. He summarized the benefits and risks associated with partnering activities, and listed the major legal issues that typically arise in transportation-related partnering relationships, including ethical standards for public and private sector partnership participants.

Transportation Education

Volpe Center staff from the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Office played an integral part in the planning and implementation of a special forum entitled "Innovative Tools for Identifying and Delivering Training for Transportation Practitioners." The forum was sponsored by the Committee on Education and Training and the Committee on Technology Transfer. The event drew approximately 130 people, representing three continents. The insights that practitioners, academics, and government officials received from the morning presentations and afternoon panels will provide an excellent resource to support the formal and informal learning endeavors of employees who operate the transportation enterprise.

Volpe Center Exhibits at TRB

This year's exhibit theme was "Bringing about Transportation Innovations by Teaming with State and Local Government Agencies." The exhibit featured demonstrations focusing on vehicle tracking and information systems, noise measurement and modeling techniques, and facilities and environmental management systems. The Volpe Center exhibit also gave attendees the opportunity to view and order technology and policy reports and to meet the authors of those reports, bringing to life the people that make innovations in transportation happen. Nearly 50 reports were ordered at the exhibit. In addition, new employees were recruited in conjunction with the unveiling of the Center's new Career Opportunities Web site.

Vehicle Tracking and Traveler Information Systems

The Volpe Center is assisting several federal and local agencies in implementing vehicle tracking and communications systems. The Center is continually enhancing its vehicle tracking and data fusion capabilities to incorporate new technologies such as the distribution of vehicle location data over the Internet, low-cost communications methodologies, and interactive kiosks for dissemination of traveler information. The vehicle tracking system is capable of providing a seamless display of tracking and other information from vehicles that use a wide range of tracking technologies, including Cellular Digital Packet Data (CPDP) cellular, two-way paging, radio frequency, and low-earth and geosynchonous satellites. The system also can send text messages to mobile units and to monitoring stations, and offers centralized map serving. Mr. Bill Baron and Mr. Scott Ardisson of the Infrastructure Protection and Operations Division demonstrated these technologies and explained how they are being tested with local transportation agencies such as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. To further illustrate how this technology works, they set up a system that tracked the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) shuttle bus as it made rounds among the three hotels sponsoring the TRB Annual Meeting.

Noise-Related Measurement Programs

Mr. Christopher Roof, Ms. Amanda Rapoza, Ms. Cynthia Lee, Dr. Judith Rochat, and Mr. Gregg Fleming of the Safety and Environmental Technology Division's Acoustics Facility showcased their work in support of federal and state transportation-related agencies. The display highlighted noise-related measurement programs in the national parks in support of the National Overflights Rule. Examples of noise measurement instrumentation were on display. Recent publications supporting the Acoustics Facility's initiatives in noise measurement and modeling also were available. Acoustics Facility staff demonstrated noise measurement procedures in the field, answered questions, and were available to demonstrate computer models that were developed by the Volpe Center.

The Acoustics Facility currently provides support to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the transportation departments of several U.S. state highway agencies. Work for the FAA includes development of their Integrated Noise Model (INM), which is used for modeling aircraft noise near airports. Work for the FHWA includes the development of their Traffic Noise Model (TNM), which is used for modeling noise near highways, as well as the design of highway noise barriers and the development of educational tools related to highway noise. In support of NASA, the Acoustics Facility has been examining potential technical improvements to aircraft noise models. The Acoustics Facility also provides direct technical support to state highway agencies in the use of the TNM.

Facility and Environmental Management System

Photo: Volpe staff at the demonstration of Facility and Environmental Management System.
Volpe staff at the demonstration of Facility and Environmental Management System.
(left to right) Paul Kudarauskas; Dr. Frank F. Tung, Deputy Director of the Volpe Center; Jennifer Papazian; Paul Bushueff

Mr. Paul Bushueff, Ms. Jennifer Papazian, and Mr. Paul Kudarauskas of the Automation Technology Division demonstrated the capabilities of the Facilities and Environmental Management Information System (FMS/EMIS), which was developed originally for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The FMS/EMIS demonstration featured a complete facility management system with modules to describe real property and a project's management capability to acquire real estate, manage new construction, and conduct repair and alteration activities; and modules to perform lease management, contracting activities, and financial management. In addition, they demonstrated the Environmental Management System (EMS) component with modules to track asbestos surveys, tank surveys, compliance audits, storm water, pollution prevention including waste management and recycling, and energy management. This system includes an extensive management and performance-reporting component. The system is being extended to provide more comprehensive asset and real estate management tools in order to support the state DOT requirements of Colorado. A number of other state DOTs, including Pennsylvania, and regional transit authorities with similar business needs, showed strong interest in using the systems and in participating in the collaborative development process.

Career Opportunities Web Site Unveiled

The Volpe Center unveiled its new Career Opportunities Web site as part of an effort to take advantage of the many transportation-oriented college and university students at the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) Annual Meeting. This site features information on transportation careers, new job listings, and information on how to apply for a position at the Volpe Center. Mr. Peter Jones of the Center's Human Resources Management Division was on hand at the booth and in the TRB Recruitment Room to answer questions and to provide information about the Center. Faculty members and students from universities around the country were interested in the John A. Volpe Internship, which consists of work periods at the Volpe Center combined with tuition reimbursement for up to $10,000 for a graduate student whose studies are in the transportation field. The internship recipient is selected on a competitive basis.

SBIR Exhibit Featured at TRB (OST)

In keeping with DOT Secretary Rodney E. Slater's theme of technology and innovation, the DOT's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was featured at an exhibit at the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) Annual Meeting. Mr. Joseph Henebury of the Communications and Technology Outreach Division manages this program in support of the DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Mr. Henebury and Ms. Linda Duck also of the Division, Ms. Susan Sandler of EG&G Technical Services, Inc., and Mr. Robert Kelly of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supported the exhibit. Hundreds of attendees, representing small businesses, various state DOTs, and academia, visited the booth. The SBIR exhibit was a successful venue for developing and commercializing the innovative ideas of the small business community and promoting participation in the program. In conjunction with the exhibit, Mr. Henebury conducted an SBIR planning meeting with the modal SBIR representatives.

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