Volpe Center Highlights
Human and Natural Environment
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade |
National Security |
Published and Presented
Protect and enhance communities and the natural environment affected by transportation. |
Demonstration of Departmental Docket Management System (OST)
The Volpe Center is supporting the DOT's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration with its program to standardize all DOT rulemaking and adjudicatory dockets, and to automate those dockets to the fullest extent possible. These dockets maintain and public access to official actions related to proposed rulemakings, enforcement actions, and other documents of regulatory importance. A product of this support is the Departmental Docket Management System (DMS). The Center's support focuses on application of imaging and computer technology for automating the current labor and space-constrained docket function, which is primarily paper-based. Recently, Center team members demonstrated the status of work on initial system capabilities to DOT's General Counsel and his representatives, the DMS Steering Committee, and modal representatives. This event was one in a continuing series of briefings, and was the first to occur in the actual facility to be used by OST in serving its customers and stakeholders.
Delivery of Airway Facilities Operations Document (FAA)
As part of its current support to the FAA, the Volpe Center recently developed the "concept of operations" document for the Integrated Operations Control Center/Sustained Remote Maintenance Monitoring System. The final version, incorporating all comments received from the extensive FAA field and headquarters review, was delivered to the program sponsor and the FAA's Airway Facilities organization. The document serves as the cornerstone for all planning, implementation, prototyping, and system engineering efforts aimed at moving Airway Facilities toward its future concept of operations that emphasizes system management and service delivery. This future concept establishes a multi-tiered structure consisting of a National Operations Control Center, Operations Control Centers, and work centers. In addition, this structure will provide integrated, centralized command and control of National Airspace System operations and maintenance.
Expansion of Telecommunications Responsibility (FAA)
LINCS, the Volpe Center developed Leased Interfacility NAS Communications System, is moving toward completion as the FAA's new, 10,000-circuit leased air traffic control telecommunications network. A significant benefit of LINCS not previously available to the FAA is to have vendor-provided information concerning system performance, management, and configuration information available in an automated format. Such data will greatly improve the FAA's ability to monitor, manage, and maintain this vital telecommunications infrastructure. Recently, the FAA has requested that the Volpe Center be the central repository for data, providing on-line, nation-wide access for all users. The data will be hosted on the Telecommunications Information Management System (TIMS) developed by and resident at the Center. The FAA has established a LINCS Data Users Group to define user requirements for tools, queries, and reports to access and analyze the data. The Center recently sponsored a three-day meeting of the LDUG, with over 30 FAA representatives. Working together with Center LINCS and TIMS project staff, the participants identified and documented 19 reporting requirements, established priorities for their implementation, identified trial users to evaluate and provide feedback on prototype versions of the reporting software, and generated an extensive list of items for future consideration.
Enhancing Aviation Safety Through Cockpit Human Factors Research (FAA)
As part of the Volpe Center's support to the FAA, Dr. Stephen Huntley, of the Center's Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, recently presented the results of the Center's analysis of the usability of chart symbols designed for electronic cockpit display at Society of Automotive Engineers' Aerospace Committee meetings at Daytona Beach, FL. This is the latest in a string of accomplishments related to the Center's research into enhancing aviation approach plates, which are charts of detailed information needed by pilots for landing on specific runways.