Current News

Let's Go Flying

by Lou Cohn, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE
President, Transportation and Development Institute of the ASCE

I couldn’t resist adding the “Let’s Go Flying!” tag to the title of this letter, as I anticipate the 29th International Air Transport Conference, set for August 19-22, 2007 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel DFW Airport in Irving, Texas.  The IATC is certainly one of T&DI’s most successful activities, and this year’s conference would appear to be the best one ever.

But, my tagline is because when I think of aviation and airports, I hearken back to my time as a private pilot.  A friend gave me a book about general aviation flying, and I was hooked.  Twelve years, eight ratings, 2600 flight hours, and a ton of adventures later, I moved on to another phase of my life and sold my well used A36 Bonanza.

To read the full article please click here.

 _______________

29th International Air Transport Conference

A World of Growth

Aviation is changing, and with change come new challenges for airports and aviation systems worldwide to keep pace.  Airlines in the United States have repositioned themselves to respond to new low-fare competition, new security requirements and the rising cost of jet fuel as they attempt to return to profitability.  Meanwhile, air travel has been introduced to the masses in places like China, India, Brazil and Mexico.  The low-fare model, introduced in the United States and copied successfully in Europe, is now being discovered in places like Latin America, Asia and Australia.  Passenger growth has accelerated since the dark days after September 11, 2001, and massive new airport construction programs are underway to accommodate that growth – in countries as diverse as China, India, The Gulf states and the United States.

The three-day Conference will include a plenary session, technical sessions presented in multiple tracks as determined by the Technical Program Subcommittee, panel discussions and workshops as well as a trade exhibit and technical tour. Proceedings will be provided to full registration attendees at the Conference.

For more information please click here.

 _______________

Call for Papers

The National Technical University of Athens, the Transportation & Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Transportation Research Board would like to invite you to the 10th Conference on Application of Advanced Technologies in Transportation, which will take place in Athens, Greece, in May, 27th-31st, 2008.

The main objectives of the 10th AATT are to discuss and showcase advanced technologies, innovative equipment, expert skills and new materials applied to transportation modes and systems. Academics, researchers and professionals interested in the field of transportation are invited to attend the conference to learn about innovative solutions and the application of new methods, theories and technologies in the areas of transportation infrastructure, planning and operations.

The deadline for submitting an abstract is July 2nd, 2007.

For more details please click here.

 _______________

Successful 11th International Conference on

Automated People Movers Held in Vienna

The Austrian Academy of Sciences dating back to the 1700’s was the venue for T&DI’s 11th International Conference on Automated People Movers which was held on April 22 – 25, 2007 in Vienna, Austria.  The conference, co-sponsored by the Academy of the Chamber of Architects and Engineers, had the theme of “The Sound of Moving People, Scaling Automated Mobility to Urban Development, Security and Comfort.”  The conference was attended by approximately 350 people, representing 16 countries.  T&DI President Lou Cohn was part of the opening plenary session and welcomed everyone on behalf of the Institute.

For more information please click here.

 _______________

T&DI Continues its Asian Outreach Efforts

Over the past 18-months T&DI has looked for opportunities to reach out to our colleagues in Asia, especially in China.  We are currently working with the Chinese Academy of Transportation Sciences (CATS) to organize and hold the 1st International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices (TDIBP) on April 24 – 26, 2008 in Beijing.  We were a cooperating organization at the 6th International Conference of Chinese Transportation Professionals (ICTTP) held in May of 2006 in Hong Kong and the 7th ICTTP held May 21 – 22, 2007 in Shanghai at the new campus of Tongji University.  Recently T&DI has initiated a project with the North American Chinese Overseas Transportation Association (NACOTA) to create an English – Chinese/Chinese – English glossary of transportation terms. 

For more information please click here.

_______________

First International Symposium on

Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices

The First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices to be held in Beijing, China, April 24-26, 2008 is shaping up to be a premier event for engineering and planning professionals from around the world seeking to present and learn about innovative best practices in transportation and development.  Held in conjunction with Asia’s largest transportation technology exhibition, TRANSPO2008 (www.transpo.com), the event will mark T&DI’s formal entry into the world’s largest developing nation.  High-ranking public officials will be participating, including the China Vice Minister of Communications, who will personally open the program.

For more information please click here.

_______________

Deadline for T&DI Ballot Sumbission Fast Approaching

This is a reminder that the deadline for submitting your T&DI Ballot for the Board of Governors is July 1, 2007.  All ballots must be received by this date.  Any ballots that arrive after July 1st will not be counted.  Please mail or fax your ballot to:

Transportation and Development Institute

1801 Alexander Bell Dr

Reston, VA 20191

Fax: 703-295-6421

_______________

T&DI Becomes Lead Organization on the Put the Brakes on Fatalities Program

T&DI recently succeeded the National Society of Professional Engineers as the lead organization responsible for the activities connected with the Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day (PBFD) program.  PBFD was initiated on October 10, 2001 to educate the public about the major causes of transportation fatalities, primarily highway fatalities, and their avoidance in an upbeat and positive fashion.  Since then, on October 10 of each year, states and local communities commemorate Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day with public educational programs.  This program is a great way that you can become involved in educating the public in your community that there are ways to reduce the number of fatalities related to highway crashes.  If you are interested in participating in this activity please contact T&DI staff at pbfd@asce.org.

For more information regarding this event please visit the Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day website.

_______________

Technical Region Directors Report

May 5 , 2007

  Stan R. Caldwell, P.E., F. AEI/ F.ASCE, Technical Region Director

Thomas M. Rachford, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, Technical Region Director

All members of the ASCE Board of Direction are expected to communicate

effectively with the constituents in their respective regions.   The Technical Region is a worldwide,  virtual region comprised of ASCE's seven Institutes.  This report is the second in a series of brief summaries intended to keep you informed of news from the ASCE Board of Direction.  Communication is a two-way process.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with your questions and concerns.  I would especially appreciate receiving any thoughts that you might have on how ASCE and its Technical Region can better serve you.

For the rest of this article, please click here.

Announcements

Editorial Changes in the Journal of Transportation Engineering

There are several recent changes in the editorial board of the ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering. Katie Zimmerman of Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. has stepped down from her position as Area Editor for Highway and Airport Pavements and Materials after serving three years with great professionalism and competence.
Dr. John Zaniewski of University of West Virginia will be the new Editor for that area. Dr. Zaniewski comes with many years of experience in academia as well as in private and public sectors. The Journal has also added a new area of rail transportation. Prof. Chris Barkan of University of Illinois-Urbana will be the Area Editor. Dr. Barkan has a long record of activities in this area.  We welcome both of the new editors!

_______________

A New Book on Transportation Decision Making

A new book, Transportation Decision Making: Principles of Project Evaluation and Programming, has just been published by John Wiley & Sons. The authors are Kumares C. Sinha, Olson Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University and Samuel Labi, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue. Sinha is a Past President of the Transportation and Development Institute and an Honorary Member of ASCE. Labi is currently a visiting scholar at MIT and an Associate Member of ASCE. This much- needed book presents in details how to measure and estimate various impacts of transportation projects and programs, including travel time, safety, vehicle operating cost, economic efficiency, economic development, air quality, noise, ecology, water resources, visual, energy, land use, and social and cultural impacts. The book also includes procedures for combining these impacts in making investment decisions and for programming projects to fulfill optimally given goals and objectives.

 _______________

Call for Members – ASCE/T&DI/ICPI Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standard Committee

The Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) of ASCE and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) are seeking members for the Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standards Committee.  The committee is developing a consensus guideline for the design of pavements using interlocking concrete pavers in applications of full traffic loading. Membership on the T&DI/ASCE/ICPI standard committees is open to all those who might reasonably be expected to be or who indicate they are directly affected by the activity without dominance by any single interest group: Producer, Consumer and General Interest, including Regulatory.  Those interested in applying to the committee should contact Phillip Mariscal, ASCE Standards Administrator, for an application at pmariscal@asce.org or (703) 295-6338.

 _______________

T&DI Transportation Safety Committee Seeks New Members

T&DI's Transportation Safety Committee is seeking people interested in becoming a member of the committee. The committee's responsibilities include dissemination of safety information and to provide education and training pertaining to safety issues related to the planning, design, construction and operation of transportation facilities. The Transportation Safety Committee is also the lead T&DI technical committee in planning the Put the Brakes on Fatalities program. If you are interested in becoming a member of T&DI's Transportation and Safety Committee, please send an e-mail to tanddi@asce.org to obtain a committee nomination form.

 _______________

2006 T&DI Applications of Advanced Technology in Transportation

The 2006 T&DI Applications of Advanced Technology in Transportation Conference Proceedings are now available in bound format.  The proceedings can be purchased through the Publications Department of ASCE.  To view the table of contents and an abstract or to order your own copy please click here.

_______________

2006 T&DI Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference Proceedings

The 2006 T&DI Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference Proceedings are now available in bound format.  The proceedings can be purchased through the Publications Department of ASCE.  To view the table of contents and an abstract or to order your own copy please click here.

 _______________

Key Contact Program

Public policy information you should know in easy to read briefs.  That’s what ASCE’s Key Contact Program can provide to T&DI members. T&DI members are invited to join ASCE’s Key Contact Program and receive “This Week in Washington” a weekly email newsletter with information on issues active in Washington, D.C. and the state capitals.  In addition, Key Contacts receive periodic Key Alerts asking for grassroots action from ASCE members on a specific issue. 

For more information please click here.

Committee Updates

Airfield Pavements Committee

The Airfield Pavement Committee will hold its next meeting in conjunction with the 2007 International Air Transport Conference on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 7:00 pm.  The meeting will include a presentation by Karen Dix-Colony from Boeing, on the latest details of the 787 and 747-800.  In addition, discussion will continue on plans for the next combined Airport-Highways Pavement Specialty Conference, scheduled for July 20-23, 2008 in Seattle, WA.

APC members have completed reviews of two draft FAA Advisory Circulars over the past months:  AC 150/5370-XX Rapid Construction of Rigid (Portland Cement Concrete) Airfield Pavements and 150/5380-6B Guidelines and Procedures for Maintenance of Airport Pavements.  Comments were submitted to FAA by T&DI and copies of the letters are posted in the E-Room.  Thanks to all members for taking the time to review and write comments – it’s a great way to let share your knowledge and help shape the industry criteria.

For questions or more information, contact Rich Thuma (217-787-8050, rthuma@cmtengr.com).

Continuing Education

Webinars

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 ~ 12 Noon - 1:30pm Eastern Time Traffic Control Devices

Thursday, June 28, 2007 ~ 12 Noon - 1:30pm Eastern Time Planning for Transportation Emergencies

Thursday, July 19, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time The Modern Roundabout As A Traffic Signal Alternative, Part I

Thursday, August 2, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time The Modern Roundabout As A Traffic Signal Alternative, Part II

Thursday, August 9, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Signalized Intersection Safety

Tursday, August 30, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30 pm Eastern Time On-Site Circulation and Access Design for Commercial Developments~Part I

Thursday, September 6, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1pm Eastern Time On-Site Circulation and Access Design for Commercial Developments~Part II

Thursday, September13, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Intersection Design and Channelization

Thursday, September 20, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Traffic Calming: Best Practices, Part I

Thursday, September 27, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1pm Eastern Time Traffic Calming: Lessons Learned, Part II

Seminars

Techniques for Pavement Rehabilitation, September 26-28, 2007, Boston, MA.

Planning and Designing Service and Systems Interchanges in Urban and Suburban Areas, September 27-28, Seattle, WA.

To sign up for either a seminar or a Webinar please go to the Continuing Education page on ASCE's website located here.

 _______________

Become An ASCE Continuing Education Instructor

Share your professional experience and technological advances with your colleagues through ASCE Continuing Education Seminars.  As your professional society we need to continually offer the latest information regarding advances and breakthroughs in your field. To do this we need your help - "the practicing engineer". if you are working on something innovative or cost saving that would be of benefit to ASCE consider sharing the news. 

For more information please click here.

Upcoming Conferences

Transportation Planning; Land Use; and Air Facility, July 9-11, 2007, Orlando, FL.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.

International Conference on Transportation Engineering, July 22-24, 2007, Chengdu, China.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.

MAIREPAV5, August 8-10, 2007, Park City, UT
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information about this event please click here.

10th Transportation Summit: The Future of Transportation Starts Today, Irving, TX,
August 7-10, 2007.
For more information about this event please click here.

29th International Air Transport Conference, Irving, TX, August 19-22, 2007.
For more information on this event please click here.

First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices (TDIBP 2008), April 24-26, 2008, Beijing, China.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.

10th International Conference on the Application of Advanced Technology in Transportation, May 27-31, 2008, Athens, Greece.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)

For more information please click here.

Product Information

The Transportation & Development Institute in conjunction with Lands' End Outfitters are pleased to announce the addition of the T&DI logo to the Lands' End Family.  This logo can be placed on shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc. from Lands' End.  Contact Lands' End at www.landsend.com or by phone 1-800-963-4816.  Please reference our logo number #0352715W.  (There is a fee for the addition of the logo to the garment.)

The Transportation and Development Institute newsletter is a bi-monthly publication of the Institute for its members. Please direct any questions or comments about the newsletter to tanddi@asce.org

To unsubscribe, please visit http://www.asce.org/enews/