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Volpe Center Highlights - April 1999

Mobility

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

Ensure that the transportation system is accessible, integrated and efficient, and offers flexibility of choices.

Presentations at Symposium on Aviation Psychology (FAA)

The Volpe Center's Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division was well represented at the Tenth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology in Columbus, OH. As part of the division's ongoing support to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Human Factors, the Division presented a poster session, and Drs. Eric Nadler and Mary Stearns presented three technical papers. The first paper presented by Dr. Stearns was entitled, "Vertical Navigation Displays: Pilot Performance and Workload During Simulated GPS Constant Angle of Descent Approaches." The paper, authored by Mr. Andrew Kendra, of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, Mr. Charles Oman, of the MIT Man Vehicle Laboratory, and Dr. Stearns, focused on new ways for displaying vertical navigation and altitude information. Dr. Stearns also presented a paper entitled, "General Aviation and Controlled Flight Into Terrain Accidents: 1983-1994," which was authored by Ms. Melissa Bud, formerly a Volpe Center employee, Mr. Peter Mengert, another Division member, and Dr. Stearns. The technical paper detailed the role of controlled flight into terrain in general aviation accidents. Dr. Nadler presented a paper entitled, "User-Driven Iterative Development of Thunderstorm Forecast Products Optimized for Collaborative Decision-Making: A Discussion of Process and Interim Findings," which described the methodology and performance of collaborative weather forecasts. The symposium also included a poster session entitled, "Track Angle Error Displays Format Affects Simulated Non-Precision GPS Approach Performance and Workload," that highlighted the Division's new ways of presenting navigational information clearly and in easily understood formats.

Presentation on Using Color in Air Traffic Control Displays (FAA)

Dr. Kim Cardosi, of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, traveled to Toulouse, France, to present a paper titled "Use of Color in Air Traffic Control (ATC) Displays - The U.S. Experience" at a Technical Interchange conference sponsored by the FAA, EUROCONTROL, and France's Centre d'Etudes de la Navigation Aerienne. The purpose of the meeting was to examine a variety of Controller-Centered Human Machine Interface development issues and exchange lessons learned. In addition to the use of color on ATC displays, other issues discussed were the use of paper flight strips, and means of enhancing controllers' and pilots' situational awareness.

Volpe Center's Expertise in GPS displayed at World Bank Transport Expo '99 (PCC)

Messrs. Jon Pietrak and Henry Wychorski, of the Center for Navigation, represented the Volpe Center's technical expertise in the area of Differential Global Positioning Systems at the World Bank Transport Expo '99 held in Washington, DC. The Volpe Center's Panama Canal Project for the Panama Canal Commission was the centerpiece of the exhibit, with demonstrations of the Communications, Tracking, and Navigation System Pilot Display Software (CTAN) developed by the Center for Navigation. The CTAN system provides two-way digital communications coverage for the entire length of the Panama Canal, and has the capability to track simultaneously well over 100 vessels carrying CTAN transponders. Actual recorded transits were displayed in order to highlight the superior performance, versatility, and adaptability of this technology.

Volpe Center participates in ITS Massachusetts (ITS JPO)

Mr. Gary Ritter, of the Policy and Technology Analysis Division, chaired the ITS Massachusetts 4th Annual Meeting and Conference panel session on "A Federal Vision of ITS." Panelists included Mr. Daniel Berler of the DOT ITS Joint Program Office, Mr. Richard Doyle, Administrator of the FTA Regional Office, and Mr. Peter Markle, the Massachusetts FHWA Administrator. Also attending was Deputy Secretary Mortimer Downey, who, in his keynote speech, highlighted DOT's efforts to update the National ITS Program Plan and other FHWA and FTA activities in Massachusetts.

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