2012 FRA Research & Development Research Review Conference
The 2012 Research and Development review showcased FRA’s critical research activities underway or recently completed. The annual event is intended as an opportunity to inform the R&D program’s many stakeholders and to seek stakeholder feedback on research directions and priorities, results for implementation, and suggestions for future research.
A wide range of projects was presented over the two-day period, and broken into five sessions:
- Track and Infrastructure Research
- Human Factors
- Train Control and Communications
- Rolling Stock
- High-Speed Rail Research & Development
Each session allowed for discussion and input from attendees. On both days, there were poster sessions exhibiting many of the projects presented in the sessions and program managers that were available for one-on-one discussion.
If you would like more information on the 2012 Federal Railroad Administration Research Review, please contact Lauren Trimble at (202) 493- 6160 or lauren.trimble.ctr@dot.gov
Agenda and Presentations
Day One: May 22nd, 2012
Registration begins promptly at 8:00 am
Opening Session- Keck 100
9:35 am - 10:00 am: AAR’s Strategic Research Review- Representative from TTCI
Track and Infrastructure Research Session- Keck 100
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Track and Infrastructure Research Overview- Gary Carr, Division Chief, FRA
11:00 am - 11:30 am: BREAK
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Rail Neutral Temperature Measurement- Dr. Francesco Lanza di Scalea, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Rail Tomography- Dr. Francesco Lanza di Scalea, Avanti Tech
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: Wheel/Rail Contact Simulation Rig- Ali Tajaddini, FRA
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: LUNCH
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Concrete Ties, Fasteners and Critical Failure Modes- Dr. Dave Jeong, Volpe Vehicle Track Interaction Plans and Procedures for Modeling Workshop- Brian Marquis, Volpe
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Next Generation Foundation for Special Trackwork- Dave Davis, TTCI
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm: BREAK/POSTER SESSION
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Rail Temperature Measurement- Leith Al-Nazer, FRA
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Rail Seat Abrasion- Hugh Thompson, FRA
Human Factors Session- Keck 201
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Human Factors Overview – Dr. Tom Raslear, Division Chief, FRA
10:30 am - 11:00 am: BREAK
11:00 am - 11:50 am: Safety Culture Panel Discussion
- Introduction & Overview: Mike Coplen, FRA
- Research Results- Dr. Joyce Ranney, Volpe
- Labor Perspective- John Risch, United Transportation Union (UTU)
- Management Perspective- Pete Hall, Amtrak
- Discussion- Roby Brown, Union Pacific (UP)
11:50 am - 12: 45 pm: Grade Crossing and Trespasser Suicides Panel Discussion
- Introduction & Overview- Mike Coplen, FRA
- Research Results- Mike Martino, Railroad Research Foundation
- Future Directions- Dr. Scott Gabree, Volpe
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: LUNCH
1:45 pm - 2:35 pm: Human Systems Integration and CTIL Panel Discussion- Mike Jones, FRA
2:35 pm - 3:30 pm: Fatigue Panel Discussion
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: BREAK/POSTER SESSION
Closing Session- Keck 100
4:30 pm – 4:40 pm: Wrap up of Day One’s Review- Dr. John Tunna, Director of FRA’s Office of R&D
Day Two: May 23rd, 2012
Registration begins promptly at 8:00 am
Opening Session – Keck 100
9:35 am - 10:00 am: AAR’s Strategic Research Review- Representative from TTCI
Rolling Stock Session – Keck 100
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Rolling Stock Division Overview - Kevin Kesler, Division Chief, FRA
10:50 am - 11:20 am: BREAK
11:20 am - 11:50 am: Engineering Task Force- Jeff Gordon, FRA & Mike Carolan, Volpe
11:50 am - 12:20 pm: Next Generation Equipment Committee- Jeff Gordon, FRA
12:40 pm - 1:00 pm: Crashworthiness of Locomotives- John Punwani, FRA
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: LUNCH
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Tank Car Research & Development - Francisco Gonzalez, FRA
2:30 pm - 2:50 pm: Improved Locomotive Cab:
- Fuel Vapor Reclamation – John Punwani, FRA & Dr. Basant Parida, QinetiQ NA
- Whole Body Vibration- John Punwani, FRA & Bud Zaouk, QinetiQ NA
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm: Wayside Inspection Systems- Monique Stewart, FRA
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm: BREAK/POSTER SESSION
3:50 pm - 4:10 pm: Bio Diesel Emissions and Engine Wear– Melissa Shurland, FRA
4:10 pm - 4:30 pm: Wheel/Casting Research & Development- Monique Stewart, FRA
4:30 pm - 4:50 pm: Tank Car Non-Destructive Testing- Francisco Gonzalez, FRA
Train Control and Communications (TC&C) Session- Keck 101
10:30 am - 11:00 am: Train Control & Communications- Jared Withers, FRA
11:00 am - 11:30 am: BREAK
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Grade Crossing Research & Development - Sam Alibrahim, FRA & Tarek Omar, FRA
High-Speed Rail Research & Development Session- Keck 101
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: LUNCH
3:20 pm - 3:50 pm: BREAK/POSTER SESSION
Closing Session- Keck 100
4:50 pm – 5:00 pm: Closing Summary and Overview of R&D Review- Dr. John Tunna, Director of the FRA’s Office of R&D