Volpe Center: Volpe Center Highlights

Information Resources

Volpe Center Highlights - March 2000

National Security

Advance the nation's vital security interests by ensuring that the transportation system is secure and available for defense mobility and that our borders are safe from illegal intrusion.

Volpe Supports U.S. Army Watercraft Program (U.S. Army)

The Volpe Center continues to support the U.S. Army's Watercraft Program and Logistics Over the Shore (LOTS) missions with engineering, life cycle, and logistics support. One key component of the Program is the Modular Causeway System (MCS), which is used for carrying wheeled and tracked vehicles and containers from vessels anchored offshore to the beach. Rolling cargo from a sealift ship is off-loaded via its ramp to Roll-On/Roll-Off Discharge Facilities (RRDF). The rolling cargo then is transferred to smaller vessels for movement to the beach or floating causeway.

On January 24, 2000, the Volpe Center performed rail impact testing of MCS containers at the DOT's Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The Center's team included Mr. Barry Mickela and Mr. Ross Gill of the Advanced Vehicles Technology Division and Mr. Rodney Cook of the Technology Applications and Deployment Division. Other participants included: Mr. Jim Schriefer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG); Mr. Gunars Spons of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), who is the Site Manager; and Mr. William Lundberg of the FRA, who is the Project Manager.

The tests were designed to verify the structural integrity of the MCS containers to ensure the safety of internal components when the containers are shipped by rail. The containers carry all the components, parts, and accessories that are used to assemble and operate the MCS. A total of ten 20-foot and 40-foot ISO-certified (International Organization for Standardization) containers were impact-tested. Acceleration data was collected for each. The impact tests stem from the policies of the Military Transportation Management Command and were the last in a series of tests for these containers prior to their shipment to Hythe, England, where they will be up-loaded to a Military Sealift Command vessel.

During the week of February 7, 2000, Mr. Michael Buonopane of the Technology Applications and Deployment Division conducted testing of Roll-On/Roll-Off Discharge Facility (RRDF) and Floating Causeway (FC) components for the U.S. Army's Tank-Automotive and Armament Command's (TACOM) Watercraft Systems Management Office at the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. The RRDF are floating platforms that are used as the landing platforms for the cargo ramps of sealift ships.

Organizations participating in the testing included the testing community (Aberdeen Test Center, TACOM), user representatives (7th Transportation Group and 331st Transportation Company), and the program manager (TACOM). The testing consisted of component operation, as well as the viewing of stowage arrangements, containerization, and in-field repackaging requirements. Waterborne testing was performed of two anchoring systems, RRDF Emergency Anchor System (EASY) and Floating Causeway Offshore Anchor Mooring System (FCAMS). The recommendations from this technical test are being reviewed and incorporated (as appropriate) into the final design and containerization package that will be delivered to the U.S. Army.

On March 14, 2000, Mr. Buonopane also participated in an Industry Day, which showcased MCS components. The U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, hosted the event. Twenty-one displays were set up of the containerization and causeway improvement effort for RRDF, FC, and Warping Tug (WT) Systems. The purpose of the Industry Day was to support TACOM's new acquisition program for the next generation of MCS. Industry Day was open to any and all interested parties that might bid on this future work.

Volpe Conducts Site Surveys in Guam (USAF)

Recently, Mr. Philip King and Ms. Linda Tang of the Airport Surface Division traveled to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to conduct site surveys in preparation for significant upgrades of four major National Airspace Systems (NAS), including the Department of Defense's (DoD) Advanced Automation System (DAAS/STARS); the Air Traffic Control Voice Communications Switching System (VCSS/ETVS); the Digital Voice Recording System (DVRS); and the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR). The site surveys are part of a much larger interdivisional Volpe team effort in support of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) NAS Program.

The Volpe Center is providing engineering and installation support to the Global Air Traffic Airspace (GAA) Office, the NAS Office of the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) Electronic Systems Center (ESC). GAA is responsible for national airspace implementation for the DoD. The Guam surveys were part of 60 that were planned. Approximately 35 remain. On February 28, 2000, Mr. King will travel to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas to participate in Litton/Denro's site survey for the VCSS/ETVS.

This project is a major multi-year effort for the Volpe Center with site surveys scheduled through 2001, and equipment deliveries and installations scheduled through 2007. For more information, see the Focus story in the November-December 1999 issue of Highlights.

Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is one of 60 sites that will receive upgrades of major National Airspace Systems (NAS).

The Guam Site Survey Report now is being prepared. Each Site Survey Report identifies the factors that are critical in the success of the equipment upgrade implementation process. The reports also document the civil engineering and communications requirements that are needed to support the installation of NAS equipment, and address integration issues raised by any of the participating agencies or host base organizations.

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