1997 National Research & Technology Conference

	TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1997 NEW PARTNERSHIPS
8:00am-8:30am	Partnerships - Charlie Nemmers, Session Moderator Welcome and Update - Joe Toole
8:30am-9:30am	Partnering Showcase - Bill Zaccagnino Opportunities with the Federal Labs - Bill Baker and Roger Port
9:30am-9:45am	HBCU & MIHE Partnerships - Hattie Brown
10:15am-10:45am	Superpave, a Model for Partnering - Gary Henderson
10:45am-12:00n	PTP Panel Discussion - Dick McComb, Moderator Bob Callan, Overview 4 PTP projects, ~ 15 minutes each by sponsoring office
	Session Title: Partnerships
Session Moderator	Charles Nemmers, Director, FHWA Office of Engineering R&D
Opening Remarks	Mr. Nemmers recommended that participants read the Conference notebook insert, "An Owner's Guide to the Future," by Wednesday's luncheon speaker, David Zach, futurist. Mr. Zach writes there that the skills for the future that help ensure employability and productivity include the ability to: 1) continually learn; 2) solve problems; 3) adapt to change; 4) identify implications; 5) feel comfortable with ambiguity; 6) communicate; and 7) understand and use technology. Mr. Nemmers then paraphrased W. Edwards Deming that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, each time hoping for different results.
	Session Title: Welcome and Update
Session Leader	Joe Toole, Director, FHWA Office of Technology Applications
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Mr. Toole passed along regrets from Dennis Judycki, Associate Administrator, FHWA Office of Safety and Systems Applications, who was unable to appear. Mr. Toole read a letter from Mr. Judycki stating that participants should take time to take a fresh look at how FHWA works with partners to deliver technology with a functional approach rather than an organization one. FHWA, said Mr. Judycki, is working to become more accomplished in delivering to customers and partners, and struggling to come up with actions it can emphasize. Thinking must be focused on professional capacity and skills building. All must be accountable; the technological mission is the responsibility of all, not just specific individuals. A real cultural change in the organization is needed.
Issues Discussed	FHWA's mission is to: Provide technological leadership, first of all Provide superior technical service Close the gap between state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art Deploy tools known to work Keep pressing the envelope by bringing new ideas Increase involvement with partnerships and within the organization Share knowledge Focus resources and people Improve management FHWA involvement should include: PTP Lead States concept Partnerships The technology process Promoting involvement with the field through awareness, involvement, participation, and ownership Expanded knowledge base through growth in the use of the Intranet/Internet; the Technical Resource Center; and product evaluations Focus on the Tool Box, a delivery system that reduces 130 products down to a more manageable size; and the National Technology Deployment Initiative Better management through funding flexibility; contract services; and travel
Summary/ Conclusions	Looking ahead: Technology is FHWA's future
	Session Title: Partnering Showcase
Session Leader	Bill Zaccagnino, Technology Operations Team Leader, FHWA Office of Technology Applications
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Partnership is not just a buzzword, but a way of doing business. FHWA should ask others to help with resources, and not just dollars, but also expertise, equipment, materials, and labor. Partnership is about being smart, which means leveraging resources.
Issues Discussed	OTA Report to Congress Improved technology means action Partnering with many sectors PTP projects built on partnering and leveraging of costs: Skid resistant overlay applied to concrete pavements, with technology from NASA Georgia traffic surveillance, using drones as alternatives to manned helicopters Use of composite materials in bridge decks Red Light Running campaign High strength composites for use against the effects of earthquakes Testing of protocols for reuse of industrial wastes in highway construction Superpave Regional Centers
Summary/ Conclusions	Through partnering, everyone wins. The result is synergy, in which the sum is greater than the parts.
	Session Title: Opportunities with Federal Labs - Innovative Solutions in Traffic Monitoring
Session Leader	Bill Baker, FHWA Office of Technology Applications
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	A new project has been established to make Iowa a model State in public safety. Mr. Baker described one aspect of that effort, the reduction of accidents at railroad grade crossings through work with the Federal Laboratory Consortium. In 1996, 700 Federal laboratories, with an overall budget of $25 billion, employed 100,000 scientists and engineers; additionally, $103 billion was spent on private sector R&D.
Issues Discussed	Federal labs create technologies that must be packaged for use by the private sector; how can FHWA tap Federal lab resources directly? Sometimes, the problems investigated by FHWA and the Federal labs are similar, but result in different technological solutions; how can FHWA identify technologies that result from parallel environments? The solution base moves from problem to concept to technology; how can FHWA access lab technologies at the problem level rather than at the concept level? The mission: To establish a process whereby federally sponsored R&D for nontransportation agencies can be applied to the solution of transportation problems; past efforts have included the Stephenson-Weidler Act of 1980 and the Technology Transfer Act of 1986. Seven Federal labs were consulted on the problem of railroad grade crossings; four concepts were reached toward solutions: Stop vehicle - barriers Stop vehicle - override control Remove vehicle Advanced communications
Summary/ Conclusions	One small study showed that a solution base increases with searches through existing concepts; and that the solution base can be increased significantly if it is possible to access problem solvers in a nontransportation environment who can identify parallel problems. Technologies have to be evaluated before going to industry, which poses a problem, but access must be gained to solutions. Who will perform those evaluations? An efficient process for accessing technologies in Federal laboratories must be identified.
	Session Title: Working with Federal Laboratories
Session Leader	Roger Port, Research and Technology Transfer Engineer, FHWA, Region 7
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Now that the Cold War is over, military technology is more available. Federal labs have been requested to commercialize their technologies. Mr. Port described his experience with one of these labs, the Kansas City Plant, which belongs to the Department of Energy and is operated by Allied Signal Corp.
Issues Discussed	Mr. Port described meetings between State DOTs and the Kansas City Plant; the strategy behind these meetings was to: Match up highway needs with national defense technology knowledge Develop working relationships between DOTs and the Kansas City Plant State DOT interests and Kansas City Plant capabilities were matched as follows: Kansas - Metrology; NDT; polymers; painting; adhesives; hydrogen getters; ITS Iowa - Handheld pavement retroreflectivity measurements; pavement vibrator readouts Missouri - Fog detection; linear traverse; liquid CO² and radiography for asphalt extraction; aggregate gradation Minnesota - Remotely driven shadow vehicle for SHRP A private corporation, Structural Integrity Systems, also approached the lab about monitoring bridge response; adhesives; and environmental packaging FHWA Divisions and Regions can help by meeting lab people; determining what services are needed; and getting people together FHWA can help States by acquainting them with lab capabilities; identifying technological issues; facilitating meetings; determining technological match-ups; referring highway product developers to labs for technical improvements; and not promising too much FHWA and States can also help private industry The Federal Laboratories Consortium web page address: www.dtin.doe.gov Advantages lie in linkage to technological knowledge; partners in highway technology; and some available free help Disadvantages lie in the time the process takes; differing scale of operations; possible unproductivity and costliness; and the restriction that the lab cannot compete with private industry
Summary/ Conclusions	Check labs to determine their functions. Talk to States about their interests. If there seems to be a match, arrange a get-acquainted meeting.
	Session Title: HBCU and MIHE Meetings
Session Leader	Hattie Brown, FHWA Office of Civil Rights
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Thanks to discussions of partnering with stakeholders, the stage was already set for Ms. Brown to talk about FHWA's involvement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHEs).
Issues Discussed	Partnerships were mandated by Executive Orders to expand HBCU and MIHE capacity to provide education A 1992 task force sought innovative ways for FHWA to involve HBCUs in highway activities, resulting in partnership agreements with HBCUs As of 1992, partnership agreements with 8 HBCUs; 30 HBCUs and other institutions involved in some type of working experience with FHWA Activities/areas of involvement: University Transportation Centers Educational outreach programs Training Studies LTAP Joint Venture Centers All partners are responsible for partnership agreements at the highest levels Benefits to FHWA: Establishment of lines of communication among FHWA, State DOTs, industry, and minority partners Strong relationship between FHWA and minority community Increased numbers of transportation professionals Increased resources for FHWA in developing and carrying out R&T mission
Summary/ Conclusions	FHWA has made tremendous strides in creating links, but a lot remains to be done. A task force now meeting to determine how to strengthen those links will recommend expanding partnerships and further strengthening present links. Ms. Brown asked participants to think about ways to increase involvement with minority institutions and to provide her with feedback and recommendations.
	Session Title: Superpave, a Model for Partnering
Session Leader	Gary Henderson, FHWA Office of Engineering Opening
Remarks/ Background Information	Superpave, developed under SHRP Asphalt, comprises three elements: determining why some pavements perform better than others; developing specifications; and working with industry to implement specifications uniformly. System components are the Asphalt Binder Specification; Volumetric Mix Design and Analysis; and Mix Analysis Test and Performance Prediction Systems (models).
Issues Discussed	Updating Models Contract - because the models have shortcomings and technical inconsistencies, the contract was modified so that the University of Maryland (U of MD) will not develop models, but relook at and redevelop material characterizations and develop a completion framework. Uof MD will develop a strength test, as will a SHRP researcher FHWA will award contracts for: Aging and environmental models Completion/calibration of new and rehabbed pavement performance models A substitute for SPS-9b (current SPS-9b suspended) Technical Models Management Team Superpave has not failed despite flawed models Models problems have no impact on Binder or Mix Design Specifications Implementation Program status: Innovative procurements Training Testing and evaluation Technical support Partnerships - The lifeblood of Superpave Partnerships in place: AASHTO/TRB/SHRPCTRB/SHRP Coordinating Group and AASHTO Task Force on SHRP Implementation (Lead States Program) Industry organizations - NAPA, AI, CSA, NSA Asphalt Technical Working Group (TWG)CMixture Expert Task Group (ETG) and Binder ETG Superpave Regional Centers (5) Regional User-Producer Groups NHI Models Contract Team, Models ETG Proposed Technical Models Team Superpave Technology Delivery Team FHWA Region and Division Offices
Summary/ Conclusions	All field participants have to be involved with Superpave. The reasons for Superpave successes or failures should be pinned down. Technological change drives Superpave. FHWA must choose to lead on Superpave technology; that change will also lead to change in the industry, which will be good for industry, government, and the public.
	Session Title: PTP Panel Discussion
Session Moderator	Dick McComb, FHWA
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	PTP is vital to closing the gap between state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art. Central to that task is extending current partnerships and creating new ones.
Issues Discussed	ISTEA funded programs: ISTEA Section 6005 ART Program PTP concept - Field developed and administered with focus on Field Initiated Partnerships PTP Team Field involvement Focus on: Commercialized, but under-utilized products Needs of customers and partners Implementation of other technological initiatives Technologies must be understandable and visible to the public Leading edge technologies with short term, visible results Measures of success - Leveraging has increased yearly to 78% by 1997 Internet Down the road - Expanded PTP program concepts and Reauthorization
	Session Title: PTP - Micropile Manual
Session Leader	Ron Chassie, FHWA Region 10
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Mr. Chassie discussed the FHWA Micropile Design and Construction Guidelines Implementation Manual produced by the Micropile Manual PTP Project.
Issues Discussed	Objective - To facilitate implementation and use of micropiles on USDOT projects The manual emphasizes QA/QC and provides example contract documents Micropile defined as a small diameter (less than 300mm) drilled and grouted pile reinforced with reinforcing bar and/or thick wall structural casing Installed with small, high powered drill rigs causing minimal disturbance Can be installed in any type of ground Impetus from FLH for NPS, Forest Highway, and Scenic Byway projects Developed in Italy in the 1950s for war damaged historic structures Can achieve high design loads Main transportation applications - Structural support, in situ reinforcements Costs more than conventional piles, but cost-effective situational advantages Funding breakdown: $145,000 total ($120,000 for manual and $25,000 for CD-ROM) One third of cost funded by industry partners
Summary/ Conclusions	The Micropile Manual offers another tool for the tool box. PTP is a good program that helps the doers do. Keep the money coming.
	Session Title: PTP - Advanced Composites
Session Leader	Roland Nimis, FHWA Region 9
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	Mr. Nimis suggested regular New Technology Conferences be held, with new technologies to be presented for all. The subject PTP project was titled, "Evaluation of Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Seismic Retrofit and Rehabilitation of Structures," sponsored by FHWA, CALTRANS, The Society for Materials and Process Engineering, the University of California, Irvine, and six industry partners.
Issues Discussed	Bridge failures due to the Northridge Earthquake The culprit - A splice between columns using a nonductile design (pre-1971) The most common solution - A steel jacket: Advantages - Earthquake tested; long term durability; high ductility demand applications Disadvantages - Prefabrication required; shipment to project; heavy equipment required; extensive welding/slow installation; high cost Proposed solution - Composite column jacket: Advantages - Effectiveness lab tested; no prefabrication; light equipment used; faster installation; less cost likely Disadvantages - Long term durability questionable; less vandalism resistant Project objectives: To evaluate structural and durability performance of advanced composite materials and systems To identify acceptable materials and systems To develop specifications, guidelines for quality control of materials, and construction applications Project components: Structural testing of columns; durability testing of materials; and demonstration column installations Durability testing: Moisture effects Salt attack Alkali attack Ozone effects Ultraviolet degradation High/low temperatures Funding: $181,600 PTP; total $600,000-800,000; $500,000 from industry End products: Structural performance data Environmental effects and strength degradation Identification of acceptable materials and systems Guidelines and specifications for materials and quality control testing Tutorials for composites use Targeted completion - fall 1997
	Session Title: PTP - GPS Accident Sites
Session Leader	Robert Kleinburd, FHWA, Delaware Division
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	GPS Accident Sites was a PTP project carried out in Delaware involving improvement of accident data transmission from police officers at accident sites to the Delaware State Police and then to DelDOT. Previously, officers had to write down accident data, so that transmission was uncertain. When the State Police upgraded their reporting system, this project piggybacked on that effort.
Issues Discussed	New system installation entailed installation of computers in cars, along with GPS receivers and linkage Once data are entered into computer, the push of a button transmits data to State Police and DelDOT GPS provides exact location of accident site without human intervention In Delaware, nearly every public road is fixed in exact location on the globe through State GIS Delaware GIS uses four categories of roads: municipal; subdivision; all other roads; and ramps
Summary/ Conclusions	The new system was demonstrated with success in regard to location, but the software and frequent glitches have been troublesome and time consuming. Policemen were not altogether cooperative because both hard copy and electronic formats were required during testing. PTP projects should distribute their findings more widely.
	Session Title: PTP - Snowplow Shields
Session Leader	Roger Port, FHWA, Region 7
Opening Remarks/ Background Information	On a 1994 European Scanning Tour, a snowplow shield was found in Austria and Germany that protected the truck's windshield from snow blowing up over a bulldozer type blade. No such shield was built in the United States, so Iowa DOT made twelve copies of a prototype, and later, 240 copies.
Issues Discussed	The project was simple, with short turnaround The shield was constructed of canvas and tubing The original blade is being replaced by a curved blade that conducts snow to the side without it blowing onto the windshield, making shields unnecessary European and US technologies are different Marketing: No fast turnaround was achieved Product not universally supported - vendor sued for patent infringement Only positive responses were reported Already marketed in the United States in at least three LTAP newsletters Featured in Road and Bridges Approximately 100 plans sent out
Summary/ Conclusions	Lessons learned include: Tasks are not always simple; talk to the user; a technology can be negated by newer technologies; US standards are often different from European ones; FHWA credibility is on the line in PTP projects; evaluation strategies can be challenging; and marketing strategies should be determined in advance.
	Session Title: PTP Remarks
Session Leader	Robert Callan, Assistant Division Administration, FHWA, Florida Division
Remarks	Mr. Callan discussed the value of partnering in relation to HITEC. Cooperative agreements benefit the implementers of new technologies and can draw fees from the private sector. The role of PTP is to get innovative programs into the mainstream so that the learning will remain after PTP ends. He expressed hope for field generated products from PTP. Allocated moneys are $8 million, and leveraging is crucial to the program because insufficient funding is anticipated. He emphasized follow-through, paperwork, and evaluations. Technologies cannot be deployed and shared until evaluations have been completed.
Summary/ Conclusions	FHWA is good at initiating projects, but not good at communicating about them. Mr. Callan requested participants to provide product ideas, particularly ones with national significance.