New and Noteworthy
New RITA Administrator visits the Volpe Center
Mr. Peter H. Appel, the new Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, visited the Volpe Center on May 7, 2009. While here, he attended presentations on the Center’s technical portfolio and administrative operations. He also met with leaders of the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), Local R1-195.
Peter Appel, new Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, and Dr. Richard John, Volpe Center Director Emeritus and Acting Director.
(Added 05/07/09)
Volpe Center Hosts International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Task Force
The Volpe Center hosted a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) Modeling and Databases Task Force. On April 28-30, 2009, participants convened in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from ICAO, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Transport Canada, European Aviation Safety Agency, Civil Aviation Authority (UK), Service de la Formation Aeronautique (France), Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (Germany), Luchtvaart Autoriteit (Netherlands), Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, Boeing, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Dassault, and Delta Airlines. Gregg Fleming, Director of the Volpe Center's Center of Innovation for Environmental and Energy Systems, served as co-rapporteur and hosted the task force. The Volpe Center supports the Federal Aviation Administration by designing and developing computer models for assessing local and global aviation-generated noise and emissions, specifically the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) computer program. The FAA seeks international acceptance of AEDT for assessing the impact and interdependencies of policy, technology, and operations on global aviation-generated noise and emissions.
(Added 05/01/09)
Volpe Center Featured on 15th Season Premier of PBS Visionaries Series
The Volpe Center's work on Global Maritime Domain Awareness and the Maritime Safety and Security Information System (MSSIS) is featured in the 15th Season Premier of the Public Broadcasting System's (PBS) Visionaries Series. The segment is named: Seascape, How the Oceans of the World Suddenly Became Safer. It begins airing on PBS on May 3. Since 1995, Visionaries, Inc. has been producing Visionaries documentary series for public television. Hosted by Sam Waterston of Law & Order, the documentary series highlights the rarely told stories of nonprofit organizations all around the world that are working to make a positive difference in their community and beyond. Visionaries airs on over 120 public television stations and in 15 of the top 20 U.S. markets, and is accessible to over 64 million households.
(Added 05/01/09)
Volpe Center Staff Member Named to TRB Committee on Management and Productivity
Rachel Winkeller, Ph.D, Chief of the Volpe Center's Transportation Policy, Planning and Organizational Excellence Division has recently been appointed to the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board's Committee on Management and Productivity. The committee is concerned with short-range operational processes that enable transportation organizations to improve performance. This committee explores, analyzes, synthesizes, and disseminates information about leading management concepts and practices related to performance enhancement. It has identified four key areas that will define the ability of transportation organizations to meet future challenges: management techniques and practices; human resource issues; performance assessment and analysis tools; and customer focus. The Committee is committed to improving the state of the practice in these focus areas.
(Added 04/27/09)
Building Partnerships to Educate and Empower
On Thursday, April 23, Volpe Center Director Emeritus and Acting Director Dr. Richard John welcomed 36 children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of Volpe Center staff, tenants, and contractors to the 2009 Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® program.
Under the theme of "Building Partnerships to Educate and Empower," Center staff partnered with Volpe's EEO Manager to give the children an exciting day designed to go beyond the average shadowing of an adult. In the morning, the children saw two presentations—one on the Enhanced Traffic Management System called "Watch the Traffic in the Sky" and one on the Libby Asbestos Project. During the afternoon, the children took part in an interactive presentation on the environment entitled "What Did Earth Day Mean To Me?" and participated in several simulator exercises— "I'll fly a plane," I'll operate a locomotive," and "I'll drive a car on a runway!" The children were also able to spend some time shadowing their parent at their job. The children had a wonderful time and all want to return next year!!
Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives does during the work day is important, particularly when they can be shown the value of their education in relation to their parents' workplace. This experience provides them with an opportunity to envision their future and possibly begin to experience what it might be like to become a professional in an area of transportation by participating on a variety of hands-on and interactive programs. By bringing girls and boys together, we also continue to create a more equitable world—at home, at school, in the workplace, and in the community. This year we celebrate the opportunities that girls and boys will discover and the opportunity for parents, mentors, and the community to continue their involvement in this unique educational experience.
Children of Volpe Center employees pause for a picture with Volpe Center Director Emeritus and Acting Director Dr. Richard John during "Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day."
(Added 04/27/09)
National Architecture to Provide More Effective and Efficient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
Karen Van Dyke, the Volpe Center's National Expert on Global Positioning Systems and Acting Director of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration's (RITA) PNT Program, will brief the Joint Program Development Office's (JPDO) Board on the National PNT Architecture in early May.
The National PNT Architecture Team is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Transportation's RITA and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration and is facilitated by the National Security Space Office. It includes representatives from stakeholder organizations from within the Departments of Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security, Commerce, Interior, State, NASA, and the National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT, as well as JPDO staff. The purpose of the National PNT Architecture is to provide more effective and efficient PNT capabilities focused on the 2025 timeframe, overcome identified capability gaps, and achieve an evolutionary path for government-provided systems and services.
The National PNT Architecture Team currently is developing a plan to transition from the "As-Is" to the "Should Be" architecture by the 2025 timeframe. This plan will provide a structured approach for the implementation of the architecture recommendations and identify responsible agency participants. The presentation will highlight areas of the PNT architecture of particular interest to the NextGen program. The first version of the National PNT Architecture Transition and Implementation Plan is expected to be completed in June 2009.
(Added 04/27/09)
Volpe Center Serves as Technical Resource for International Environmental Control Efforts Related to Aviation Emissions
Dr. Roger Wayson of the Volpe Center's Environmental and Energy Systems Center of Innovation will participate in a late April meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organizations Local Air Quality Working Group, a subgroup to the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection. In support of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Environment and Energy, the Volpe Center will serve as a technical resource for the international efforts of environmental control of aviation emissions. Dr. Wayson will present original work for a chapter of a guidance manual for airports on atmospheric dispersion. The Volpe Center supports the FAA and various state and local agencies in measurement and modeling techniques pertaining to the mitigation of aviation-related emissions. The FAA seeks international acceptance of these techniques for determining potential impacts of policy, technology, and operations on global aviation-related emissions.
(Added 04/24/09)
EUROCONTROL and FAA to Convene at the Volpe Center on Aircraft Wake
Re-categorization Issues
The Volpe Center will host FAA, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), and Federally Funded Research and Development Center staff at the Volpe Center on April 23-24, 2009. The Aircraft Wake Re-Categorization team is investigating the possibility of replacing the current aircraft wake categorization scheme — which is generally based on aircraft weight and typically involves four to six categories (depending on the nation involved) — with a new, more complex but safer and more efficient system. The new scheme would likely involve several more categories, and these categories could be based on criteria in addition to weight, such as wingspan, roll control authority, and moment of inertia. Volpe Center staff members from the Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance Traffic Management Systems Center of Innovation are participating in this effort.
(Added 04/24/09)
National Collaborative Decision Efforts Aim to Reduce Congestion and Delays
The upcoming semi-annual National Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) meetings in San Diego, California, are part of a joint Federal Aviation Administration/industry activity focused on reducing congestion and delays in the National Aviation System. The meetings focus on efforts to reduce aviation delays during the spring/summer thunderstorm season and discuss automation modernization improvements planned for the fall. The late April meetings will provide time for sub teams to make progress on their specific projects as well as plenary sessions to preview upcoming air traffic flow management plans. Several Volpe Center staff members are active participants on many of the sub teams. The projects of the CDM teams include weather evaluation, ground delay program enhancements, departure flow management, traffic management advisor, flow evaluation, and surface systems. Volpe Center staff members George Curley, Rick Oiesen, Jason Glaneuski, Eugene Gilbo, Norm Rosenberg and Richard Bair from the Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance Traffic Management Systems Center of Innovation are active participants on many of the CDM sub teams.
(Added 04/23/09)
Improved Public Transportation Focus of Long Island East End Summit
Multimodal Systems Analysis Center of Innovation staff will present results from the Volpe Center's analysis of two concepts for improved public transportation on the East End of Long Island. The summit will be attended by representatives of the five East End towns, regional transportation agencies, local elected officials, transit advocates, and other stakeholders. Outcomes from the meeting will determine which of the two concepts will be pursued further in the study. The Volpe Center has been conducting this work for the region under an agreement with the Town of Southampton, which has the lead on this issue in conjunction with the Towns of Riverhead, East Hampton, Shelter Island, and Southold.
(Added 04/22/09)
Research Team Reviewing Alcohol-Impaired Driving Research in Effort to Advance Highway Safety
The University of Iowa is conducting a study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) using the most sophisticated driving simulator in the world. The goal of the study is to develop algorithms to detect alcohol-impaired driving using sensors of vehicle performance, driver control actions, eye movements, and posture.
Dr. Eric Nadler of the Volpe Center's Human Factors Research and Systems Application Center of Innovation recently participated in an observation of alcohol dosing and data collection procedures at the National Advanced Driving Simulator facility in Oakdale, Iowa. (To learn more about the National Advanced Driving Simulator, go to
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.ec22fb0a0adebfd24ec86e10dba046a0/?javax.portlet.tpst=4670b93a0b088a006bc1d6b760008a0c_ws_MX&
javax.portlet.prp_4670b93a0b088a006bc1d6b760008a0c_viewID=detail_view&
itemID=b6c2d89829a61110VgnVCM1000002c567798RCRD&overrideViewName=Article.)
On behalf of NHTSA, the Volpe Center is working to mitigate risk in two simulation studies. To accomplish risk reduction, the Volpe Center participates as an expert in experimental psychology in reviews of project procedures and deliverables and contributes to risk reduction through participation on the research team.
(Added 04/20/09)
Volpe Center Staff Honored as Finalists in the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board's Excellence in Government Awards
Several Volpe Center staff members will be recognized at the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board's Excellence in Government Awards ceremony on May 6, 2009, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. This is the premier celebration of excellence in the local Federal community. Congratulations to the following Volpe Center finalists:
Creativity and Innovation Team Award
Maritime Safety and Security Information System Team, Finalist
| Henry Wychorski | Rodney Cook |
| David Phinney | Kam Chin |
| Daniel Nim | Bryan Long |
| Mac Craven | Brendon Providence |
| Jessica Montana | |
| Freight Logistics and Transportation Systems Center of Innovation |
Professional Employee of the Year - Technical, Scientific or Specialty
Judith Burki-Cohen, Finalist
Human Factors Research and Systems Application Center of Innovation
Wei Gao, Finalist
Safety Management Systems Center of Innovation
Administrative Support and Excellence
Hadar Rosenhand
Human Factors Research and Systems Application Center of Innovation
(Added 04/16/09)
Mission of Air Mobility Command Supported by the Volpe Center
Brigadier General Kenneth D. Merchant, Air Mobility Command Director of Logistics, Colonel Grace M. Blevins-Holman, and senior staff will meet with Volpe Center staff members from the Freight Logistics and Transportation Systems Center of Innovation during a meeting at Scott Air Force Base in April 2009. The Volpe Center will brief on the use of aircraft on-board fault diagnostics and engine health data systems. The Volpe Center, on behalf of the Air Mobility Command, recently studied what commercial airlines and other air forces are doing to track, transmit, trend and use aircraft diagnostic data from engine, structural and fault sensors. Included in the report are the roadmap steps mapped to the recommendations to illustrate how implementation will assist AMC in incrementally migrating to an operation similar to that employed by air carriers. The Volpe Center continues to provide key support to the Air Mobility Command's mission.
(Added 04/16/09)
High Speed Rail Grade Crossing—First of its Kind to be Installed in the U.S.
The School Street four-quadrant gate grade crossing/vehicle presence detection system in Mystic, Connecticut, is the first with four gates to be installed on the National Railroad Passenger Corporation's (Amtrak) Northeast Corridor (NEC) high-speed rail (HSR) line in Connecticut, and the first of its kind to be installed in the United States. It uses inductive loop vehicle presence detection technology to sense when a vehicle is inside the grade crossing gates within the rail track infrastructure. When this occurs, the two exit gates are automatically raised, allowing the vehicle to safely depart the crossing. The system also alerts the oncoming train to the vehicle's presence and will invoke Automatic Train Stop if the operator fails to stop the train. This technology was specifically designed to provide enhanced safety at HSR grade crossings and is unique to the NEC.
The Volpe Center, in support of the Federal Railroad Administration, has been instrumental in establishing the viability of the four quadrant gate/vehicle presence detection grade crossing technology. Since the Volpe Center's experts proved the viability of its initial deployment at the School Street crossing, the technology has been installed at five other crossings on the Amtrak high HSR corridor between Stonington and New London, Connecticut.
An Amtrak train passes the School Street crossing on the Northeast Corridor High Speed Rail Line in Mystic, CT. (
Volpe Center photo)
(Added 04/16/09)
Volpe Center Staff Recognized at the Federal Railroad Administration's 35th Annual Awards Ceremony
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recognized the Volpe Center's contributions to several FRA teams at the organization's 35th Annual Awards Ceremony held recently at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie Markos and John K. Pollard of the Volpe Center's Human Factors Research and System Applications Center of Innovation (COI) and David Tyrell of the Volpe Center's Physical Infrastructure Systems COI were recognized for their efforts on the FRA Passenger Equipment Emergency Systems Rulemaking Team. The team performed exemplary legal and technical work leading to the agency's February 2008 final rule on passenger emergency response. The Volpe Center staff members provided extensive technical support in developing a final rule which enhanced regulations for passenger rail car emergency communication, emergency exits and rescue access locations, and marking and instructions.
Robert Adduci of the Volpe Center's Physical Infrastructure Systems COI was recognized for his exceptional contributions to efforts of the Utah FrontRunner Commuter Rail Start-Up Team.
Fred Mottley of the Volpe Center's Physical Infrastructure COI was recognized for his key contributions to the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee's Door Safety Task Force Team.
Drs. Jordan Multer and Joyce Ranney of the Volpe Center's Human Factors Research and System Applications COI and Rachel Barolsky of the Volpe Center's Multimodal Systems Research and Analysis COI were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the FRA Risk Reduction Program Team.
Michael Coltman and Jeffrey Gordon of the Physical Infrastructure Systems COI received awards for their contributions to the FRA Research and Project Development Team. The team was recognized for its exemplary effort in the development and implementation of the Office Research and Development Project selection process.
(Added 04/10/09)
Volpe Presents Paper at Annual Geospatial Information Systems for Transportation Symposium
A paper on "Business Models for Implementing Geospatial Technologies in Transportation Decision-Making: Case Study Inventory of State Departments of Transportation" was presented by Carson Poe of the Volpe Center's Multimodal Systems Research and Analysis Center of Innovation in April 2009 at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Geospatial Information Systems for Transportation Symposium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The paper, prepared on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Interstate and Border Planning, focuses on the various business models state departments of transportation have employed to organize and implement their agencies' geospatial information systems activities. The paper is available at http://www.gis.fhwa.dot.gov/bus_model_rpt_3-08/bus_model_rpt.htm.
(Added 04/10/09)
Safety and Human Factors Focus of Workshop with Dutch Transport Centre
The Volpe Center's Human Factors Research and System Applications Center of Innovation hosted a workshop with the Centre for Transport and Navigation (DVS), Rijkswaterstaat Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in late March 2009. Livable communities, adaptive systems and driver behavior, design and evaluation issues, data management, and the repercussion of silent vehicles on visually-impaired pedestrians were the major topics of the workshop.
Left to right: Dr. Eric Nadler and Dr. Mary Stearns of the Volpe Center's Behavioral Safety Research and Demonstration Division; Dr. Roberto Montanari, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy; Dr. Fabio Tango, University of Torino, Italy; Bill Lyons of the Volpe Center's Transportation Policy, Planning and Organizational Excellence Division; Dr. Rob Methorst, Senior Safety Consultant, DVS Centre for Transport and Navigation, Delft, the Netherlands; Dr. Marc Mandler, Director of the Volpe Center's Safety Management Systems Center of Innovation; Hans van Saan, DVS Centre for Transport and Navigation, the Netherlands, detailed to the Transportation Research Board for 2008-2009; David Madsen of the Volpe Center's System Measurement and Analysis Division; Dr. Stephen Popkin, Director of the Volpe Center's Human Factors Research and System Applications Center of Innovation; Dr. Lisandra Garay-Vega of the Volpe Center's Behavioral Safety Research and Demonstration Division.
(Added 04/06/09)
President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Research and Innovative Technology Administrator
On April 2, 2009, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Peter H. Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation.
Mr. Appel is a Principal with the global management consulting firm of A.T. Kearney, Inc. He has led business improvement initiatives for clients in the private and public sectors, with a focus on Transportation and Infrastructure. Appel has over 20 years of experience in Transportation, and has supported organizations in the railroad, trucking, airline, and ocean shipping industries with growth strategy, supply chain improvement, post-merger integration, public-private partnerships, and other key business and policy issues. Previously, Appel served as the Special Assistant to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and as Assistant Director for Pricing and Yield Management at Amtrak. Appel earned his bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in Economics and Computer Science with Highest Honors, and received his Master of Science in Transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
RITA brings together important data, research and technology transfer assets of the Department of Transportation, including: the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Transportation Safety Institute, Research, Development and Technology, University Transportation Centers, and the National Transportation Library. RITA also provides strategic direction and oversight of U.S. DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems Program.
(Added 04/06/09)
Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory Air Transport Safety Institute Leader Visits Volpe to Discuss Aviation Simulation Research
Michel Piers, Director of the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) Air Transport Safety Institute and Doctor of Engineering, met on March 23, 2009, with Dr. Richard John, Director Emeritus and Acting Director of the Volpe Center, Mr. Philip Mattson, Acting Director of the Volpe Center's Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) and Traffic Management Systems Center of Innovation, and Dr. Seamus McGovern of the Volpe Center's Operations Risk Assessment and Terminal Systems Division to review the Volpe Center's development of the National Airspace System simulation and analysis capability, as well as to explore how the two organizations can best cooperate in aviation modeling and simulation. The overall goal of the Volpe Center's simulation project is to provide a documented, lifecycle managed, multi-processor capable, Government-owned stochastic simulation capability enabling a rigorous analysis and certification of procedures, equipment, and airspace in the National Airspace System. The National Aerospace Laboratory is a non-profit organization that generates market-oriented and socially-relevant studies. Clients commission three quarters of the research it performs. The National Aerospace Laboratory conducts other research via demand-driven programs financed by the national government.
Left to right: Volpe Center Director Emeritus and Acting Director Dr. Richard John; Doctor of Engineering Michel Piers, Director of the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) Air Transport Safety Institute; and Dr. Seamus McGovern of the Volpe Center's Operations Risk Assessment and Terminal Systems Division.
(Added 03/31/09)
Volpe Center Joins Earth Hour's Call to Action on Climate Change
In response to an invitation from City of Boston Mayor Thomas J. Menino, the Volpe Center stepped up to help raise awareness about climate change by asking its employees to extinguish all non-essential lighting and be sure to power down their offices before they left work on the eve of Earth Hour 2009.
Earth Hour 2009 is an international climate-change awareness campaign organized by the World Wildlife Fund that asked people, businesses, governments, and communities to turn off their lights between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. on March 28, to demonstrate their concern about global warming.
Earth Hour's global wave of participation included 2838 cities and towns in 83 countries across all seven continents including 829 icons and landmarks including New York's Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Beijing, China's Bird Nest and Water Cube, Sydney, Australia's Opera House, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, and Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
The Volpe Center was proud to join small island nations of the South Pacific to the densely populated cities of the Americas, in a moment of global solidarity aimed at creating a compelling statement on the future of the planet.
(Added 03/31/09)
2009 International Conference on Worker Fatigue Management in Transportation Operations
National and international leaders in research, transportation management and labor, regulators, and program evaluators from all modes of transportation are convening in Boston this week to participate in a conference on fatigue management in transportation operations. The March 24-26, 2009 conference is sponsored by the U.S. DOT Human Factors Coordinating Committee (HFCC). Michael Coplen, HFCC Chair and Director of Culture and Safety Performance Studies at the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Railroad Development and Dr. Stephen Popkin, Volpe Center Director of Human Factors Research and System Applications and Executive Agent to the HFCC led efforts to attract experts from around the world to address this critical topic.
The 2009 International Conference on worker Fatigue Management in Transportation Operations focuses on disseminating information on the latest fatigue-related research, technology, and countermeasures, and facilitating the use of this information, and evaluation methods needed, for achieving better fatigue management in transportation. For more information on this conference, go to:
http://www.fatiguemanagement09.org.
View Agenda (PDF, 75 KB)
(Added 03/23/09)
Career Day Open House at Volpe Center, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
View flyer (PPT, 98 KB)
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 01/28/08)
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