Volpe Center Highlights - July/August 2002
Mobility and Economic Growth
Director's Notes |
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility and Economic Growth
Human and Natural Environment |
Organizational Excellence |
Homeland Security
Papers and Presentations
Small Business Innovation Research Annual Report Submitted (U.S. DOT)
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The DOT SBIR Program encourages small businesses throughout the United States to submit proposals for innovative solutions to specific transportation problems. |
The DOT Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program helps ensure that small firms participate in DOT research and technology contracts. Mr. Joseph Henebury of the Communications and Technology Outreach Division manages the DOT SBIR Program Office, which recently submitted the FY 2001 annual report to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In FY 2001, small businesses received total obligations of $7.1 million, including $2.9 million in Phase I obligations sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Research and Special Program Administration; $1.3 million in Phase II obligations; and $2.9 million in incremental obligations.
Each year, small businesses throughout the United States submit proposals offering innovative solutions to evolving challenges and requirements of the transportation enterprise. On October 1, 2002, Phase I proposals recommended for 2002 awards will be posted on the SBIR Web site (www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/).
Developing Programmatic Communications Products (FHWA)
The Volpe Center designed a series of marketing and outreach products for the DOT's ITS PCB Program, including a new interactive Web site (www.pcb.its.dot.gov). |
The introduction of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) such as electronic toll collection, electronic fare payments, dynamic message signs, and traffic signal control systems has transformed the transportation profession. ITS provides transportation professionals with the tools to manage, operate, and maintain transportation systems in real time. Since 1996, two DOT programs have been helping transportation professionals optimize the benefits of ITS. The ITS Professional Capacity Building Program (PCB) provides training and education on these new information and communication technologies. The Volpe Center, working closely with the ITS PCB Program Coordinator, designed and implemented a comprehensive, nationwide program. For the ITS Standards Program, the Center is supporting an outreach campaign to build awareness of and demand for standards-based ITS.
Volpe staff are developing materials to help agencies deploy standards-based ITS. Most of the tools are available on CD or online from the DOT's ITS Standards Program. (www.its-standards.net) |
At the recent ITS America Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, Ms. Suzanne Sloan, Ms. Dana Larkin, and Mr. Gerry Flood of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division unveiled new communications products on behalf of the ITS PCB Program and the ITS Standards Program. As requested by the PCB sponsor, Mr. Ron Giguere, Volpe designed a series of marketing and outreach products. A new exhibit backdrop, information folder, redesigned Web site, and a new tool known as the ITS Curriculum Guide were displayed in the exhibit hall with great success.
In a similar vein, the ITS Standards Program sponsor, Mr. Mike Schagrin, has tasked the Volpe Center with translating the technical work of the last six years into useful articles, case studies, and products that can help the ITS practitioner in the field apply ITS standards during deployment. Mr. Flood has worked closely with the ITS Standards Program to develop new Web-based products and a series of application tools. Distribution of materials at the conference revealed a great need and demand for this information. In all, the work of the last six months has helped move both of these programs into the forefront of ITS programmatic communications and outreach.
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