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Volpe Center Highlights - August 1999

Human and Natural Environment

Director's Notes | 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.

Key Support in Developing New Aviation Data Standard

As part of ongoing Volpe Center support to the FAA's Office of System Safety, Mr. Richard Jordan, of the Automation Technology Division, recently delivered a logical data model to support the proposal of a new data standard for aircraft identification. The model indicates that a combination of make, model, and serial number provide a unique identifier for an aircraft. Also, Mr. Jordan delivered a business rules document containing data definitions and descriptions of related business rules to support the logical data model. The FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are reviewing the draft standard for use as an international data standard. A collaborative web-based tool provided by the FAA is being used to review and comment on the draft standard.

Coast Guard Research and Development Center: Comprehensive Marine Environmental Protection

In a recent meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard, staff from the Volpe Center's Environmental Engineering Division discussed a new task that requires a technology assessment of methods and equipment that could be used to eliminate aquatic nuisance species from ship's ballast water prior to discharge in U.S. ports. Volpe has been assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in analyzing and developing techniques for reducing spills of oil and other hazardous materials, and mitigating environmental damages. The Volpe Center has also been studying the effects of and control procedures for aquatic non-indigenous species that are being introduced into U.S. waters from foreign vessel cargoes and ballast water. Currently, there are no regulations controlling these discharges (though the International Maritime Organization has issued voluntary guidelines). The ongoing study is being conducted by the Volpe Center for the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center in Groton, CT; it will consider performance capabilities, costs, and environmental risks for the various systems. The results will be used by the Coast Guard to assess the magnitude of the problem and determine if regulatory development is necessary.

Fuel Storage Tank Removal/Replacement Support

The Volpe Center is supporting the fuel storage tank removal/replacement activities of the FAA's Western Pacific Region - removing or replacing fuel storage tanks that do not meet requirements for corrosion, leak detection, and spill prevention. Since 1996, the Volpe Center has been preparing designs for removal/replacement activities, providing construction oversight, and conducting project management support for 28 sites throughout the Hawaii Pacific Sector, the Golden Gate Sector, and the Desert Pacific Sector. Reflecting a project milestone, Ms. Julie Borgesi, of the Environmental Engineering Division, recently submitted the final construction as-built drawings to the FAA Western Pacific Region.

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