Volpe Broadens International Collaboration
The Volpe Center continues to increase its collaborations with other nations in areas such as air traffic control; communications, navigation and surveillance; high-speed rail; and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). In September alone, the Volpe Center in support of our sponsors, engaged with several key international stakeholders on a number of critical transportation and logistics issues:
Civil Aviation Administration of China and U.S.-China Transport Forum: The Center hosted a delegation from the Civil Aviation Administration of the China Air Traffic Management Bureau Meteorology Department to discuss Integrated Terminal Weather System and Runway Visual Range programs. Later in the month, the Center also hosted the U.S.-China Transport Forum on rail transportation and safety assurance where topics for discussion included high-speed vehicle track interaction, crashworthiness and environmentally sensitive and energy efficient locomotives.
Japanese Transportation Researchers: Volpe Center rail experts attended a meeting with the Federal Railroad Administration and Japanese railroad representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MLIT), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, and the Mitsubishi Research Institute and to review standards for railcar crashworthiness. Means of avoiding and mitigating potential accident scenarios in high-speed passenger rail service and potential modifications to Shinkansen-based equipment for application in the U.S. were discussed. As a result, MLIT, Kawasaki, and Nippon Sharyo will participate in the Engineering Task Force (ETF) and help develop engineering requirements for high-speed passenger equipment operated in the U.S. at speeds above 150 mph. The ETF is associated with the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee and is led by the FRA with technical support from the Volpe Center.
UK Ministry of Defence: Officials from the U.K. Ministry of Defence visited the Center for a technical review of the Remote Access Management Portal (RAMP) aviation logistics project the Center is implementing for the Royal Air Force in the U.K.
Korean Rail Research Institute (KRRI): The Center hosted officials from the KRRI and the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs to discuss current rail research topics at both Centers and explore possible collaborations on rail research.
The Royal Netherlands Embassy and Dutch Ministry of Transport: The Center hosted a visit from the Transport Attaché at the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Dutch Ministry of Transport's Center for Transport and Navigation (DVS). The Volpe Center and DVS have an Agreement for Collaboration that includes numerous topics of mutual interest, including Climate Change and Energy, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Human Factors and Safety.
SEMAR (Mexican Navy): Volpe Center staff, in support of the U.S. Navy NorthCom and in collaboration with SEMAR, recently installed ten Automatic Identification System sites along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The newly available data enhances Mexican maritime domain awareness and has expanded the scope of the Volpe-developed Maritime Safety and Security Information System.
U.S. Naval Forces Africa: Volpe Center staff participated planning conferences in Tanzania and Gabon to assist Command U.S. Naval Forces Africa in implementing their African Partnership Station (APS) initiative. APS seeks to build the skills, expertise, and professionalism of African military organizations, Coast Guards and mariners.
