Volpe Center Highlights
Safety
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade |
National Security |
Published and Presented
Promote public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. |
Transit Safety and Security Support
In response to the recent fire on Via Rail in Canada, the Volpe Center's Safety and Security Systems Division has been contacted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSBC) and Via Rail to provide assistance. The TSBC is presently conducting an investigation of the fire, which resulted from the placement of a rail across the track. The subsequent accident caused the release of 1,600 gallons of fuel and the ignition of a fire that also destroyed a passenger car. The engineering branch of TSBC is examining the materials requirements that are used by VIA Rail and rail operators in the United States. At TSBC's request, the Volpe Center provided a briefing and copies of the flammability and smoke emission requirements employed in the interiors of U.S. rail vehicles. While all vehicle occupants survived the fire, TSBC is concerned about issues of emergency preparedness and response. TSBC was provided with information and copies of the transit emergency preparedness guidelines.
Aviation Safety Expert Invited to Join Canadian Scientific Review Committee (FAA)
Dr. James Hallock, chief of the Volpe Center's Aviation Safety Division, has been invited to become a member of a Transport Canada scientific review committee. Dr. Hallock is an expert on the subject of wake vortex, which refers to the strong turbulence that follows an aircraft in flight. This turbulence can be hazardous for aircraft that fly behind large aircraft. To ensure safety, aviation standards require certain aircraft following other aircraft to do so with a minimum separation in between to safeguard from the potentially dangerous effects of wake vortices. Based in part on the Center's wake vortex work, Transport Canada, which is Canada's DOT, has requested the Center's support in evaluating the development of a vortex forecasting system, to be developed by the Moscow Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute. Data already collected by the Center will be used in the evaluation of dynamic models.
Railroad Track Systems Research (FRA)
Under the Track Systems Research program, the Volpe Center supports FRA efforts in track stability research, including disseminating information on these efforts to industry. Recently, Dr. Andrew Kish, of the Structures and Dynamics Division, participated in a meeting of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Engineering Management Research Committee, held in Washington, D.C. The Committee's charter is to establish research priorities, evaluate progress of ongoing research, and provide recommendations for future activities. Dr. Kish gave a presentation on joint research efforts between FRA (with technical assistance provided by the Volpe Center) and AAR to evaluate methods of readjusting and de-stressing continuous welded rail.
Presentation of IVHS / Crash Avoidance Research
Dr. Wassim Najm, of the Volpe Center's Accident Prevention Division, recently presented a technical paper, entitled "Comparison of Alternative Crash Avoidance Sensor Technologies," at a symposium sponsored by the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, in Boston, MA. Dr. Najm described the application of sensor technologies to motor vehicle collision avoidance systems. His paper compared potential sensor technologies for crash avoidance systems for various types of crash situations. These sensor technologies encompass microwave, millimeter-wave, and near-infrared radars; ultrasonic transducers; charge-coupled device cameras operating in near-infrared or visible bands; uncooled, passive far-infrared detectors; millimeter-wave imaging radar; and near-infrared communications.
Alcohol Countermeasures Support (NHTSA)
Dr. Arthur Flores, of the Volpe Center's Safety and Environmental Technology Division, is often called upon by NHTSA and state and local law enforcement and safety organizations to provide expert testimony with regard to alcohol detection technology. As part of this support, Dr. Flores was recently in St. Louis, MO to meet with officials of AC Specialty Gases, Inc., in order to review procedures used by that company in the manufacture of gaseous ethyl alcohol calibration gases. These gases are used to check the calibration of breath-alcohol testers. Having satisfied himself of the validity of these procedures, Dr. Flores advised NHTSA of his findings. In a separate development, Dr. Flores was recently in Columbia, SC at the request of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and in coordination with NHTSA, to provide testimony at two pre-trial hearings. The hearings focused on whether the evidential breath alcohol tester used by South Carolina law enforcement agencies complies with all performance requirements of NHTSA's Conforming Products List, and whether the breath-testing procedure is sound in all respects.