New and Noteworthy
Career Day Open House at Volpe Center, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
View flyer (PPT, 98KB)
Career Day Open House
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
(by the Red Line - Kendall Square Train Station)
- Student Jobs
- Professional Jobs
- Entry Level Developmental Program
We offer full and part-time work with flexible schedules
Students can work while attending classes or during breaks
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Operations Research
- Public Policy
- Community Planning
- Economics
- Human Factors
- Information Technology
- Acquisition
- Finance
Live Demonstrations!
- Safety Performance Analysis System – RVT 32
- FMCSA’s CSA 2010 CSI, Large Truck Safety Monitoring System – RVT 33
- Noise in our National Park – RVT 41
- AVIDS – Vehicle ID System – RVT 51
- Marine Safety and Security Information System (MSSIS) – RVT 52
- Puncture Resistance Test for Railroad Tanks – RVT 61
- Lobby Video Demonstrations – Reviewing Pedestrian Behaviors - RVT 62
- Virtual Air Traffic Control (ATCT) – RVT 71
- Vehicle Simulation Tool – RVT -72
- Human Factors Research and Systems Applications – RVT 80
- FRA Train Simulator
- Train Simulation and Facial-recognition technologies
- Airport Surface Driving Simulator
- Configurable Air Transport Simulator (tentative)
- Vehicle crashworthiness and crash avoidance videos - RVT -92
Interested in attending? Please contact us!
If you have any questions, please call / e-mail
Tara Smallidge at (617) 494-2450
tara.smallidge@dot.gov
Eric Falzone at (617) 494-2418
eric.falzone@dot.gov
(Added 1/28/08)
Remembering John A. Volpe on the Anniversary of His 100th Birthday
December 8, 2008, is the anniversary of John A. Volpe's 100th birthday.
John Volpe was a distinguished businessman, civic leader, Federal administrator, ambassador, and public servant, who gave of himself so that others might benefit. During his third term as Governor of Massachusetts, he joined President Richard M. Nixon's Cabinet on January 20, 1969, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In 1970, Secretary Volpe's vision and initiative established U.S. DOT's Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, an innovative, Federal, fee-for-service transportation and logistics organization later renamed to honor Secretary Volpe and his many contributions to improving transportation safety, capacity, and efficiency. In a September 1990 rededication ceremony, the Transportation Systems Center was renamed in honor of Secretary Volpe.
(Added 12/10/08)
Advanced Wireless Communication for the Transportation Sector Summary Report
On May 22, 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) convened a roundtable on "Advanced Wireless Communication for the Transportation Sector." Leading experts from the private and public sectors, academia, research and advocacy communities gathered to present and discuss their ideas on enabling internet and wireless technologies to allow vehicle-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and infrastructure-to-system manager communications. These technologies may help drivers to avoid crashes and improve situational awareness, including dynamic rerouting and improvements in signal timing and synchronization based on real time and evolving traffic and weather conditions. The group also discussed advanced communications technologies including electronic tolling and fare collection for all modes of transportation, and developing mobility devices for remote monitoring of bridges, roads, rails, and other critical infrastructure. View the paper: Advanced Wireless Communication for the Transportation Sector (MS Word, 332KB) | HTML version.
(Added 11/18/08)
SafeTrip-21
"Gearing Up for SafeTrip-21," has been published in the September/October 2008 edition of the Federal Highway Administration's Public Roads magazine. The article, authored by Volpe Center staff, discusses technology solutions for improving transportation safety and reducing congestion. It can be found at: http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/08sep/02.htm. A short video on SafeTrip-21: Download (MOV, 6.32MB)
NOTE: You need Apple Quicktime installed to view this video.
(Added 10/21/08)
Mr. Gregg Fleming presents the paper "Trends in Global Noise and Exhaust Emissions from Commercial Aviation for 2000 through 2025"
Mr. Gregg Fleming participated in the 25th International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences, held in Anchorage, Alaska from September 14-19. He presented the paper "Trends in Global Noise and Exhaust Emissions from Commercial Aviation for 2000 through 2025". His co-authors include members of the Volpe Center’s Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division, EUROCONTROL, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and contractors. Using a variety of modeling techniques, the paper provided authoritative estimates of the industry’s growth in emissions fuel burn and noise.
(Added 09/22/08)
Volpe Center Develops Environmental Competency Navigator for FHWA
Environmental Competency Navigator, a tool that will help environmental professionals to determine the competency recommendations for their positions — showing results generated for a Planner.
In support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Project Development and Human Environment, a Volpe Center team has developed and implemented the Environmental Competency Navigator, a tool that will help environmental professionals to determine the competency recommendations for their positions. As part of the Environmental Competency Building (ECB) Program this provides a central source of information for transportation and environmental professionals to develop and maintain competencies (technical knowledge and skills) required for their work.
Policies such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act (Section 404) seek to ensure that consideration of environmental factors is built into the transportation planning and project development processes. At the same time, transportation projects in the modern era often present unique environmental and regulatory challenges that are difficult for even experienced practitioners to fully grasp and comply with. Transportation professionals, as well as specialists or consultants employed in the environmental analysis and review of transportation projects, are expected to possess a depth and breadth of knowledge of many discrete topics existing in the nexus of both transportation and environmental fields.
In collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Project Development and Environmental Review and the Environmental Competency Building Steering Committee (comprised of members of federal and state transportation and environmental agencies and private sector firms), the Volpe Center team identified a suite of environmental competencies and developed a framework for tailoring sets of competencies to job positions. The team also gathered a comprehensive collection of resources including webinars, guidance documents, and information on courses and networking events. With this information, the Volpe Center team developed the Environmental Competency Navigator.
The Environmental Competency Navigator debuted in June 2008, and the Volpe Center team has received positive feedback from initial users who have attested to the usefulness and originality of the online tool. The Volpe Center team may incorporate additional interactive elements to the Competency Navigator in future phases of the project, such as "wiki" capability and Web 2.0 technologies. These enhancements were suggested by enthusiastic early users of the Competency Navigator, demonstrating the high level of buy-in from policymakers and field professionals alike.
The Volpe Center team was led by Ms. Sharon Chan Edmiston of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division. Other team members include Ms. Cassandra Allwell of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division and Ms. Gina Filosa of Cambridge Systematics.
(Added 09/15/08)
DOT/RITA/Volpe Center - Winner of the Prestigious 2008 "Innovations in American Government Award"
Congratulations!!!! With the Washington, D.C., skyline in the background, the RITA/Volpe Center Global Maritime Domain Awareness team pauses with representatives from Harvard University’s Ash Institute for a picture with their 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards plaque. From left to right: McCharles Craven, Kam Chin, Tony Saich, Director of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation; David Phinney, Stephen Goldsmith, Director of the Innovations in American Government Awards; Henry Wychorski, Brendon Providence, and Rodney Cook. The award ceremony was held in Washington on September 9, 2008. (Photo provided courtesy of and with permission from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.)
On September 9, 2008, the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School announced the Global Maritime Domain Awareness Program as a winner of the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards for its efforts in enhancing levels of safety and economic stability on the global seas. Developed by the Volpe Center of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, the program provides an unprecedented level of visibility into transit and port activity. The movements of more than 10,000 vessels from over 50 nations are tracked and updated in real-time. The program was honored at the Innovations in American Government Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on the evening of September 9th, and will receive $100,000 towards dissemination and replication across the country.
For more information on this year’s recipients of the Ash Institute’s 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards, go to http://ashinsttest.org.ezdeal.no/innovations#631, and http://ashinstitute.harvard.edu/corporat...award_winners_announced.
(Added 09/10/08)
Volpe Center Hosts Workshop on the Safety of Next-Generation Plastic and Composite Intensive Vehicles (PCIV)
On August 4, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) hosted a workshop entitled "The Safety Characterization of Future Plastic and Composites Intensive Vehicles (PCIV)". The purpose of this workshop for subject matter experts was to obtain and integrate inputs on priority research needs for the characterization and quantification of safety benefits of advanced plastics and composite materials for the next generation of lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles. The workshop prospectus, agenda, and presenters and background information are posted at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/safety/pciv/index.html. About 20 speakers presented and moderated focused discussions on key issues. Acting Volpe Center Director Dr. Ned Keeler and Mr. Stephen Summers, Chief of the NHTSA Safety and Restraints Research Division welcomed the participants and Volpe Center project staff, (Dr. Aviva Brecher of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division and Dr. John Brewer of the Advanced Safety Technology Division) presented the PCIV Safety Roadmap and described continuing research.
For the past three years (FY 2006-2008) the Volpe Center has supported the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) by performing research in this area. This research project responds to Congressional guidance for NHTSA research and to global and national pressures to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles and preserve the environment, with equal or better safety and affordability. Federal and industry initiatives have proposed and adopted multiple strategies and innovative technologies towards more sustainable energy. One of these strategies is to explore the potential safety benefits of using plastics and composites in the emerging lighter weight, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.
The Center is now refining a 2020 PCIV Safety Roadmap. Approximately 50 leading experts on automotive safety and advanced materials representing government, industry, academia, and standards developing organizations attended the workshop, which was sponsored by the NHTSA. The attendees contributed to refining a near-term vehicle safety research roadmap that will facilitate safety-centered PCIV design and deployment by 2020.
In earlier research, the Volpe Center has evaluated and summarized the knowledge base on automotive light-weighting materials crash safety, and identified related national and international research as high-leverage partnership opportunities. In 2007 the Center published an initial report "A Safety Roadmap for Future Plastics and Composites Intensive Vehicles (PCIV)" posted at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/Multimedia/Crashworthiness/4680PCIV_SafetyRoadmap-Nov2007.pdf. The report described the approach, activities, and results of an evaluation of potential safety benefits of PCIVs, to enable their deployment by 2020, and identified PCIV crash safety research priorities. The report built on and extended earlier technology integration roadmaps developed by the American Plastics Council (APC), now the American Chemistry Council- Plastics Division (ACC-PD).
(Added 09/03/08)
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