Current News
Reports Are In!
by Kam K. Movassaghi, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
President, Transportation and Development Institute of the ASCE
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In my last article I reported on your Board of Governors November 29 and 30th meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. I also reported on the formation of four task committees to look into the organizational structure of T&DI, T&DI conferences, the “D” in T&DI and sustainability in transportation.
The reports are in! T&DI Board of Governors and Council chairs spent a day and a half (February 22 & 23) analyzing and discussing the reports and recommendations. First, I would like to express the Board’s sincerest gratitude to the four task committees for a job well done. The four task committees were chaired by David Lee on T&DI Conferences, Scott Murrell on Organizational Structure, Adjo Amekudzi on Sustainability and Sandra Otto on “D” in T&DI. It is important to note that there was a great deal of cross pollination and contribution between the members of all task committees. The entire exercise was conducted with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, and I would like to thank all participants for their efforts and contributions.
To read the full article please click here.
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2008 Joint Rail Conference
The 2008 Joint Rail Conference (JRC) will be held in Wilmington, DE, April 22-24, 2008, at the DoubleTree Hotel, jointly sponsored by three societies: (1) The Rail Transportation Committee of The Transportation Development Institute of The American Society of Civil Engineers; (2) The Rail Transportation Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and (3) The Land Transportation Division of The Vehicular Technology Society of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
For more information please click here.
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T&DI Co-Sponsors Design-Build Conference
The 10th Annual Design-Build in Transportation Conference will be held April 16 – 18, in Louisville, KY. From the beginning, ASCE and T&DI have been instrumental in the formation and development of this conference with the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).
Since T&DI’s formation in 2002, it has co-sponsored this annual event with DBIA. ASCE’s Highway Division was the co-sponsor before T&DI’s formation. Also, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has always been a co-sponsor. Now the American Public Transportation Association has joined as a co-sponsor as well. This year’s conference is termed, “TRANSPOWER 2008 – Planes, Trains, Automobiles…& Ships!” The 2008 conference will feature three tracks. One on Ports, Airports & Rails. A second on Roads & Bridges and a third on Issues and Emerging Trends. This conference is the preeminent conference on Design-Build delivery of Transportation projects. Members who have an interest in this area should have a close look at this conference.
T&DI Vice President, Matt McDole, is a member of the Conference Program Committee, chairs the Transportation Owners Council and will represent T&DI at the conference. Further, information and the registration form can be found at www.designbuildtransportation.com.
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Transportation and Development Institute Journals Seek Paper Reviewers
T&DI sponsors three peer-reviewed archival journals. All are in continuing need of submittal reviewers. Paper reviewers provide a valuable service to the professional community and also can learn new approaches and results from reviewing new papers in their specialization areas. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, contact the editors, providing your specialty area of expertise and interest:
The Journal of Infrastructure Systems publishes cross-disciplinary papers about methodologies for monitoring, evaluating, expanding, repairing, replacing, financing, or otherwise sustaining the civil infrastructure. Contact: Samer Madamet, madanat@ce.berkeley.edu.
The Journal of Transportation Engineering contains technical and professional articles on the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of air, highway, rail, and urban transportation, as well as pipeline facilities for water, oil, and gas. Specific topics include airport and highway pavement maintenance and performance; management of roads, bridges and transit systems; traffic management technology; construction and operation of pipelines; railway engineering and economics and environmental aspects of urban transportation systems. Contact: Chris Hendrickson, cth@cmu.edu.
The Journal of Urban Planning and Development covers the application of civil engineering to such aspects of urban planning as area-wide transportation, the coordination of planning and programming of public works and utilities, and the development and redevelopment of urban areas. Subjects include environmental assessment, esthetic considerations, land use planning, underground utilities, infrastructure management, renewal legislation, transportation planning, and evaluation of the economic value of state parks. Contact: Gang-Len Chang, gang@umd.edu.
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T&DI Would Like to Congratulate Kumares Sinha, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE on his Election to the National Academy of Engineers
T&DI would like to congratulate Kumares Sinha’s, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE recent election to the National Academy of Engineers. Kumares is a founding member of T&DI, has served on the Institute’s Board of Governors and is a former President of the Institute.
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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 the premier event in China 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.
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First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices Offers Free Admission to Two of Asia's Largest Transportation Exhibitions
Plan to attend T&DI's First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices at the newly-refurbished and expanded Beijing Friendship Hotel, April 24-26, 2008 and enjoy free admission to Transpo 2008, Asia's largest transportation technology exhibition (40,000+ square meters) and Intertraffic China 2008. More than 80 international speakers will present talks on a wide range of transportation and development topics, including global trends in infrastructure financing, metropolitan and regional planning, traffic safety, transportation and land use modeling, intelligent transportation systems, and others. This is a T&DI-wide event...don't miss it!
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National Transportation Week (NTW)
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2007 Winning Poster |
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) annually sponsors the National Transportation Week (NTW) program. In 2008 NTW is May 11 - 17. NTW is aimed at youth to educate them and encourage them to consider the transportation industry as one of their career choices. Each year there is a poster contest for 5th grade students that awards savings bonds to the winners and cash to their school. T&DI encourages its members to link with an elementary school and help a student with an entry to the poster contest and help the teachers with the suggested topics for classroom discussion that can be found on the NTW website. The rules for the poster contest and other information on the poster contest and NTW can be found at www.ntweek.org. If you have questions concerning NTW contact T&DI at tanddi@asce.org or NTWeek@fhwa.dot.gov.
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Illinois Center for Transportation Winter 2008 Newsletter
The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) is an innovative partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The ICT builds on the experience of renowned experts in transportation and related fields at the University of Illinois, IDOT, and other universities in Illinois and across the country by providing the appropriate tools and support required for objective research. The ICT facilitates the development and timely implementation of cost-effective technologies that improve safety and reliability, reduce congestion and impact on the environment, optimize the utilization of the state transportation infrastructure, and maximize the return from taxpayers’ dollars.
To read the newsletter please click here.
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Technical Region Directors Report
February 5 , 2008
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
LTPP Contest Winners
The Transportation and Development Institute would like to congratulate the following award recipients in this years' LTPP Contest. The recipients are as follow:
First place for Undergraduate Students: Jared Weisman and Brian Wolfgang from The Pennsylvania State University- "Observational Study of Unbonded concrete Overlays in the LTPP Database"
First place for Graduate Students: Orlando Nunez, Soly Alvarez and Oscar Gonzalez from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University- "Verification of the Proposed MEPDG Asphalt Pavement Rehabilitation IRI Model Using the LTPP Database"
Second place for Graduate Students: Chen Chen from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University-"Calibrating Fuzzy-Logic-Based Pavement Rehabilitation Decision Models Using the LTPP Database"
Third place for Graduate Students: Feng Hong and Vanessa I. Rosales-Herrera from The University of Texas at Austin- "Development of Transverse Crack Initiation Models in Asphalt Pavements by Applying Generalized Liner Models to Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Data"
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Nominations are now being Accepted for the 2008 Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) Excellence in Highway Design Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the FHWA’s 2008 Excellence in Highway Design Awards. This biennial awards program recognizes innovation and excellence in the design of context sensitive highway-related facilities. This year’s awards will showcase outstanding design projects, methods, initiatives or programs that have significantly advanced how their agency approaches and designs context sensitive highway solutions.
Nominations are only being accepted electronically through April 19, 2008 at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/eihd/. Anyone may submit a nomination for an award if it has involved a facility on the National Highway System or used Federal-aid highway funding administered by FHWA.
For more information please click here.
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How Can Sustainable Engineering Affect Global Health?
Register for EWB-USA's 2008 International Conference for Answers
What exactly is global health? Does it mean clean water, eradication of disease, 
access to health care, or elimination of poverty? And how can sustainable engineering affect communities? Join in the solution when Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) gathers dynamic people in Seattle for its 2008 International Conference, March 27-30. Hear firsthand experiences from EWB-USA project participants and learn how to distinguish between “vision” and “reality” in creating more effective and relevant answers toward the development of healthy and secure communities.
Take your first or next step in maximizing sustainable results and broadening the opportunity for successful, meaningful and long-term collaborations. Register today!
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OPAL Gala, April 30, 2008, Arlington, VA
I hope you have marked your calendars and registered to join your colleagues at the annual OPAL Gala on April 30, 2008 in Arlington, VA. Help us recognize the Lifetime Achievements of the 2008 award winners:
- William H. Luyties III, P.E., M.ASCE (Construction) Clyde N. Baker, Jr., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, NAE (Design) Ernest T. Smerdon, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, NAE (Education) Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Hon.D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, NAE (Government)
- John M. Dionisio, P.E., M.ASCE (Management).
In addition to the OPAL awards, we will applaud truly unique projects in the OCEA finalists:
- Arsenic Crisis in the Indian Subcontinent: Sustainable Engineering Solution, West Bengal, India Mission Valley East Light-Rail Transit Project, San Diego, California Pasadena City Hall Seismic Upgrade and Rehabilitation Project, Pasadena, California Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma to Gig Harbor, Washington
- Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, Washington, D.C.
And finally, CEFI will be presenting two awards:
- Charles Pankow Award for Innovation to Lightweight Modular Composite Firewall System, Composite Support & Solutions, Inc.
- Henry L. Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research to LTG Carl A. Strock, P.E., M.ASCE, U.S. Army (Ret.).
For more information about the evening’s festivities, the sponsors and how to plan your attendance, visit www.asce.org/opal. To learn how to nominate for next year’s awards visit www.asce.org/awards. I look forward to welcoming you to the 2008 OPAL Gala.
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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.
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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.
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Help ASCE Recognize Greatness
Colleagues who have contributed to civil engineering through their outstanding leadership, research or substantial career accomplishments merit the accolades of their peers. The Society’s Honors and Awards Program invites your nominations for the 2008 selection cycle. Of more than 80 ASCE awards, Transportation and Development Institute members will be especially interested in the following:
Awards for achievement:
Distinguished Member
OPAL
Harland Bartholomew Award
James Laurie Prize
Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award
Wilbur S. Smith Award
Francis C. Turner Award
Robert Horonjeff Award
For more information please click here.
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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.
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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.
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Participate in the ASCE Salary Survey
ASCE members can win one of 10 $100 Visa gift cards by participating in the 2008 Engineering Income and Salary Survey. Each year, ASCE asks its members to take five minutes to log in and enter their salary data. By becoming one of the more than 20,000 ASCE members who have already participated, the Survey will continue offering official, robust data over 35 engineering disciplines. The Survey gives members the ability to search for compensation data by fields such as licensure, length of experience, location, and engineering grade, as well as set the compensation benchmark for their organization.
Submit your salary information today.
Committee Updates
Great Attendance at Annual Airfield Pavement Committee Meeting
The Airfield Pavement Committee held its annual meeting on Sunday, January 13st, 2008 in conjunction with TRB in Washington, D.C. The meeting was well attended by more than 60 members and colleagues.
Key topics of discussion included the upcoming 2008 T&DI Airfield and Highways Pavement Specialty Conference to be held in Seattle, 13-15 Oct 2008. Conference plans are well underway – abstracts have been reviewed and accepted, and tours of Boeing’s assembly line as well as the new Sea-Tac Runway are scheduled.
The committee adopted a new, more inclusive mission statement at the meeting. Our mission now states “To gather, review, develop, evaluate and disseminate new criteria, research, technologies and other information in the areas of Airfield Pavement Design, Evaluation, Construction and Maintenance. To liaison with government agencies and industrial groups to identify airfield pavement issues that need further research, guidance or criteria development.”
Bernadette Caparas, Advisory Circular Review Coordinator, reported on the accomplishments of the committee in the last year, which included providing comments on six draft FAA Advisory Circulars. She encouraged more members to take this opportunity to voice their opinion on upcoming draft Circulars.
Rich Thuma encouraged members to submit nominations for the Horonjeff Award; nominations and sponsors due to APC by 1 Apr 08, followed by Eroom Ballot (votes by mid-April), and our Nomination Package due to T&DI 1 Nov 07.
“Five Minute Updates” were provided from the DoD, FAA, AAPTP, IPRF, and the asphalt and concrete industry associations. In addition, a technical brief+ was presented on the ice runways in Antarctica used by the US Air Force.
For questions, more information about the meeting, or obtaining a membership application form, contact Rich Thuma (217-787-8050, rthuma@cmtengr.com) or Greg Cline (805-982-3655, gregory.d.cline@navy.mil).
Master Calendar of Events 2008
March
3rd International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security, March 12-14, 2008, Stockholm, Sweden.
(T&DI is a co-sponsor)
(T&DI Members receive a 10% reduction on the registration fee)
For more information please click here.
Webinar- Wednesday, March 19, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1pm Eastern Time, Signal Synchronization ~ Part I
Webinar- Thursday, March 20, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1pm Eastern Time, Traffic Calming: Lessons Learned, ~ Part II
Webinar- Wednesday, March 26, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1pm Eastern Time, Signal Synchronization ~ Part II
April
The 2008 Design-Build Transportation Conference, April 16-18, 2008, Louisville, KY.
(T&DI is a co-sponsor)
For more information please click here.
Webinar- Wednesday, April 18, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1:30 pm Eastern Time, Traffic Impact Studies
Webinar- Wednesday, April 23, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1:30 pm Eastern Time, Designing Bicycle Facilities
IEEE/ASME/ASCE Joint Rail Conference, April 22-24, 2008, Wilmington, DE.
(T&DI is a co-sponsor)
For more information 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.
To view a PDF of the Preliminary Program click here.
OPAL- April 30, 2008, Washington D.C.
For more information please click here.
May
"Emerging Issues in a Challenging and Ever Changing Environment"-11th Annual Aviation Conference at John F. Kennedy International Airport, May 1, 2008 .
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please contact William Fife.
Webinar- Thursday, May 15, 2008 ~ 12 noon to 1pm Eastern Time, Traffic Control Devices
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.
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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.
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.)
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