• Information Resources
  • Volpe Library
  • Volpe Journal
  • Volpe Highlights
  • Points of Pride
  • Bibliographies

Volpe Center Highlights - January 2000

Director's Notes

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade | National Security

As economic and technological advances continue to draw the world's nations closer together, the need for understanding the international aspects of transportation and logistics also grows. I am pleased to say that the Volpe Center has responded readily to this new challenge. In recent years, our activities with overseas parties and with non-U.S. sponsors have been increasing. You have read about many of these projects in previous issues of the Highlights. I would like to draw your attention to a major example of our international activities that is included in this issue, as well as other significant projects.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch and other major storms devastated several Central American nations and destroyed many navigation aids (navaids) in key port cities in Honduras and Nicaragua. This destruction caused a severe economic setback and proved to be a major impediment to the recovery effort. Fortunately, the Volpe Center was able to respond. On short notice, the Center for Navigation demonstrated a system using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) satellite-based navigation that could be deployed rapidly to replace the lost navaids and restore vessel traffic. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) subsequently asked the Center for Navigation to set up similar systems in key ports as part of the Central America Reconstruction Project. As you will read in this issue, the team has made its initial site visit and the process is well underway.

There are other international projects at the Volpe Center as well. We established a multidivisional team to help upgrade the National Airspace System (NAS) at U.S. Air Force bases in the United States and overseas. Australia and several European nations have asked Ms. Karen Van Dyke of the Center for Navigation to assist them in taking advantage of GPS navigational capabilities. The Center for Navigation also spearheaded the implementation of an Enhanced Vessel Traffic Management System for the Panama Canal. Mr. John Krumm of the Intermodal Logistics Systems Planning and Integration Division is assisting the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence in incorporating "broker technology" improvements to automated logistics systems. The Volpe Center originally developed this technology for the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Ross Gill of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Division has made a number of trips to the former Soviet Union to inspect the ability of their railroad system to transport nuclear weapons to disposal sites as part of arms reduction agreements with the United States.

The Volpe Center also has been involved in several important long-term international activities. Since 1984, the Center has participated in collaborative research with the Cracow University of Technology in Poland. This research has focused on the measurement of residual stress in railroad track and wheels. Mr. William Lyons of the Service Assessment Division was instrumental in forging a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Center and the Dutch Transport Research Center (TRC) in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for the exchange of information and technical assistance. Mr. Mark Safford of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Office has been supporting a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Working Group on Transportation Science and Technology since 1996. His efforts helped lead to a 1998 "Initial Five-Year Plan for Increased Cooperation in the Field of North American Transportation Technologies," which was signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

This is only a sample of the Volpe Center's many international projects and activities. For more information on international activities, please visit our web site at http://www.volpe.dot.gov.

Return to Top