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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1997
ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY |
8:30am-10:00am |
Advancing Technology PanelChuck Niessner, Moderator
Bob Betsold, Charlie Nemmers, George Ostensen |
10:30am12:00n |
Concurrent Sessions (with multiple speakers)
Research InnovationsTim Rogers
Training InnovationsKen Eschmeyer
Rural ITS InnovationsFred Rogers
Lead States Program & LTPPRick Dunn |
12:00n1:30pm |
LunchSpeaker, David Zach, Futurist
Discussion PrimerJoe Toole |
1:30pm2:30pm |
Concurrent Discussions
Future Program ImplementationMary Stringfellow Washington/Region/Division
"Teamwork"Evan Wisniewski
Partnering with OthersRoger Port
Technology ResourcesJohn Dewar |
3:00pm4:00pm |
Concurrent Discussions (same as early afternoon)
Future Program ImplementationMary Stringfellow Washington/Region/Division
"Teamwork"Evan Wisniewski
Partnering with OthersRoger Port
Technology ResourcesJohn Dewar |
4:00pm4:20pm |
Deployment of High Performance MaterialsJohn
Hooks |
4:20pm4:40pm |
FHWA Outreach Strategies: "Events Made Easier"Deborah
Vocke |
|
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
|
RESEARCH INNOVATIONS
Session Moderator: Tim Rogers |
10:30am |
Find It and Fix It - Charlie Nemmers |
11:00am |
Interactive Highway Safety Design Model - Justin True |
11:30am |
Robotics and Automated Systems for Highways - Steve Velinsky |
|
TRAINING INNOVATIONS
Session Moderator: Ken Eschmeyer |
10:30am |
NHI Innovations for Training - Harry Hersey & Mike Moravec |
11:00am |
ITS Professional Capacity Building Program - Harry Hersey |
11:30am |
Internet Opportunities Explored - Lloyd Rue |
|
RURAL ITS INNOVATIONS
Session Moderator: Fred Rogers |
10:30am |
Rural ITS Policy Statement and the ARTS Program - Paul Pisano |
11:00am |
Yellowstone Rural ITS Priority Corridor Program - Steve Albert |
11:30am |
Lessons Learned from the 1996 Olympics - Shelley Lynch |
|
LEAD STATES PROGRAM & LTPP
Session Moderator: Rick Dunn |
10:30am |
Overview of LTPP Implementation - Evan Wisniewski
Q & A about LTPP Products - Everyone |
11:00am |
The Lead States ProgramA New Paradigm in Technology Transfer - Margie
Sheriff
Discussion on Communicating Lead State Activities with the Field - Everyone |
11:30am |
Field Activities with Lead States - Rick Dunn
Discussion on Ideas to Support the Lead States - Everyone |
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Session Title: Advancing
Technology Panel (I)
|
Session Moderator |
Charles Niessner, FHWA Office of Research and Development |
Opening Remarks |
Mr. Niessner welcomed participants and introduced the panel. The morning
session, he said, would focus on research aspects. He directed participants
to the State Planning and Research Program's required peer exchanges, for
which Region and Division offices must complete their efforts by the end
of 1997. He also directed participants to the Pooled Fund Studies web site
on the Internet. |
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Session Title: Advancing Technology Panel (II)
|
Session Leader |
Robert Betsold, Associate Administrator, FHWA Office of Research and
Development |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Mr. Betsold said that, contrary to Mr. Niessner's remarks, the issues
at hand were not about research, but about technology. Two themes should
be explored: FHWA's vision for implementation of its technology mission;
and feedback on what is needed to complete the mission. |
Issues Discussed |
- Laying the groundwork for the Administration's position in Reauthorization
- Innovation in Technologythe start of strategic planning for the post-ISTEA
era, representing a fundamental change in FHWA and the transportation community,
a great shift of resources and energy away from traditional oversight to
technology and innovation, and a greater return on investment
- History of FHWA's shift away from road building and compliance to research
and then to leadership in technology innovation
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
The Federal role was designed so that Turner-Fairbank Highway Research
Center was not its focal point, but rather the field offices. The field
offices are FHWA's eyes and ears in the States to know what the States'
needs are. He especially urged participants to find good work and praise
it, and to highlight and share State successes wherever they occur. |
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Session Title: Advancing Technology Panel (III)
|
Session Leader |
Charles Nemmers, Director, FHWA Office of Engineering R&D |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Mr. Nemmers said that his theme would be "Making Roads Better."
|
Issues Discussed |
- "Better compliance with today's standards and practices will not
produce significantly better roads tomorrow."
- "The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the level
of thinking that created them."Einstein
- "If you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always
got."Yogi Berra
- Technology ranges from mature to best practices to state-of-the-art.
Current FHWA technologies are largely mature, and therefore, outdated.
- The life cycle of an organization may be represented by a sigmoid curve
that rises with early energy and innovation, and then flattens and drops
off with maturity and the urge to preserve and maintain. FHWA, in Mr. Nemmers
opinion, has reached the drop-off and must look to generate a new curve
through commitment to new technology.
|
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Session Title: Advancing Technology Panel (IV)
|
Session Leader |
George Ostensen, Director, FHWA Office of Safety and Traffic Operations
R&D |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Delivering technology will be FHWA's challenge for the 21st century,
or as Ms. Cirillo put it earlier, 3D: development, delivery, and deployment.
The critical choice FHWA will face will be to act or to wait. Waiting is
a source of comfort, but it will be necessary to act, think differently,
and carry a technology mission back to one's own office. |
Issues Discussed |
- "Big T" technology is about:
- Finance
- Environment
- Right of way
- All program areas
- Why technology?
- It's about the future
- It's about making roads better
- It adds significantly more value
- It has a link to the Quality Journey
- A survey of participants showed that most of their offices spend more
than 4050 percent of their resources on delivering technology; Mr. Ostensen
challenged those whose offices spend less to achieve a higher percentage,
perhaps even the earlier challenge of 7080 percent
- The choice is about making roads better or worse; making them better
plays well with the public, the customer, and adds value
- Comparisons should be made with the best in the business
- In delivery, never be satisfied with random acts of technology
- Measuring success should involve more than obligation of funds; FHWA,
which does not measure what it does very well, should seek quantitative
measures for what it does in order to persuade others of its successes
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
Current practice should be compared to best practice. Find opportunities
that have not been taken advantage of. All FHWA people should be delivering
technologies. FHWA should be the technology partner of choice. Technology
will go on, regardless. |
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Session Title: Audience Feedback
|
Session Leaders |
Advancing Technology Panel |
Opening Remarks |
Participants were requested to offer feedback on ways that FHWA could
help them better do their work. Participant comments are listed belo :
- Convince top management to look forward, not backwards
- Trainingto build to the futureall staff, not just one or two people
per year
- Travelto benchmark, learn, etc., for the people in the trenches, too!
- Invitational travel for States, but how about for "us" [FHWA]?
- Motivate State DOTs to long term life cycle costs, etc.
- Some Region's teams help to identify best practicesa lot of self-help
- Focus message to cross cutting meetings
- Find THING that people want and get this out as an example; show howTool
Kit
- Break paradigm on traditional reviews, etc.
- Make 3D (technology) same level as strategic planning
- Move conferences to cheaper venues
- Better is "quicker" time to product
- Technology is part of everything
- Get technology out quickly and broadly
- Make the process quicker
- Get Federal Lands Highways into the business of technology Federal
Lands is a partner and an opportunity for FHWA
- Won't improve until we eliminate stovepipes
- Learn from States where they want/need help and work for them to growwin-win
- The process for handling money in special programs is hard to fit into
the big programfind a way to fix this
- Assist States with common technology needs to physically get together,
i.e., composite with California and Georgia, etc.
- Get better cooperation/help/leadership from HQ at working levels
- Need geometric design leadership in FHWAespecially important with
reconstruction
- Walking the talk in technology means change in the field
- Have TFHRC get a Top 10 that are ready (Tool Kit)
- Publish the state-of-the-art with components under it in such a way
as to build a field program
|
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Session Title: Deployment
of High Performance Materials
|
Session Leader |
John Hooks, Structures Team Leader, FHWA Office of Technology Applications |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
The bridge engineering community has started to deploy high-performance
materials. What do high performance materials mean to bridges? |
Issues Discussed |
- High performance characteristics:
- Increased durability (longer service life)
- Higher strength
- Lighter weight
- Lower life cycle cost
- Other
- High performance bridge materials:
- High Performance Concrete (HPC)standard
- High Performance Steel (HPS)standard
- Aluminumnewer
- Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP)newer
- Opportunities for deployment of HPC and HPS
- Deployment projects and T2 activitiesHPC:
- HPC Technology Deployment Team
- HPC International Symposium, October 2023, 1997
- Deployment projectsHPS
- Opportunities for deployment of aluminum and/or composites
- Applications for aluminum
- Deployment projectsaluminum
- Applications for FRP composites
- Deployment projects and T2 activitiesFRP composites
- AASHTO Technical Committee on Composites
- Region 7 Focus Team
- High performance materialsdivide and conquer?
- What's the difference?
- Closing the gapaluminum
- Closing the gapFRP composites
- High performance materialswhat's working?
- High performance materialswhat's next?
- High performance materialswhat's NEXTEA?
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Session Title: FHWA Outreach
Strategies: "Events Made Easier"
|
Session Leader |
Deborah Vocke, FHWA Office of Technology Applications |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Ms. Vocke addressed exhibiting, marketing principles, and events. Because
of a change of exhibition contractors, new tools should be available that
were not previously, including a display of FHWA's entire inventory of
exhibits on the Internet. Anyone wishing access to exhibits should call
Headquarters and specify the number and title of the desired exhibit, which
may be obtained from the web site. |
Issues Discussed |
- Exhibit installations come with a kit containing complete directions,
photo of what the completed exhibit should look like, and a phone number
for help
- Borrowing an exhibit is one fourth of the job; staffing it is three
fourths; the booth staff makes an important impression
- People stop at one in four exhibits; one dominant image is best to
attract their attentionuse photos instead of illustrations
- Booth recallmore likely due to interest in product and live demonstrations
- Rules for publications
- Booth staff reflects agency/staff and is most frequent cause of dissatisfaction
- Rules for booth staffers: No talking to each other; no eating; no talking
on cellular phones; no sitting around; and be a professional
- Salespeople do not sit unless the customer is across from them
- Marketing is an attempt to form mutually beneficial exchange relationships
- Marketing activities include research, packaging, pricing, delivery,
service, and selling
- Marketing requires study, just as engineering does, yet engineers are
often expected to perform marketing
- Marketing techniques include interviews, publications, press releases,
and displaying of exhibits
- Marketing events include press conferences, round table discussions,
conferences/symposia, and media events/public appearancesmoving information
to the customer
- Marketers must identify and reach their audiences within budgetthe
key word is partnering
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
Ms. Vocke offered to answer questions from participants. Marketing
personnel are the communications middlemen with the responsibility of getting
the cooperation of others and getting a message across to the benefit of
all players involved. |
|
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Concurrent Session Title: Research
Innovations
|
Moderator:
Presenters: |
Tim Rogers, FHWA, Washington State Division
Justin True, FHWA"Interactive Highway Safety Design Model"
Stephen Velinsky, UC, Davis"Robotics and Automated Systems for Highways"
Roy Trent, FHWA"Find It and Fix It" |
Topics/ Issues Discussed |
"Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM)":
- A major research effort in the Safety Design Division of the Office
of Safety and Traffic Operations R&D
- Goal: To develop tools to assess potential effects of specific geometric
design as an integral part of the design process
- Prototype for 2-lane rural highways within 5 years: Interactive; modular
format; compatible with CAD and civil design software; usable by highway
designers
- Consists of five modules:
- Traffic analysis
- Policy review
- Driver vehicle
- Design consistency
- Accident analysis
"Robotics and Automated Systems for Highways":
- Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research
Center, UC, DavisGoal: To develop prototype machines for highway maintenance
to reduce/eliminate maintenance worker injuries/death
- Types of prototypes being developed:
- Automated crack sealing machine
- Bridge inspection utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle
- Removal of graffiti using laser
- Robotic lane sign stenciling
- Litter bag and debris pickup
- Smart herbicide applicator
- Remote controlled front end loader for mud slides and avalanches
- How FHWA can facilitate T2 for the automated maintenance and construction
of highways:
- Develop fiscal incentives for State DOTs to use automated equipment
- Develop task specifications that can only be met by automated machines
- Develop specifications that require use of advanced, automated machines
- Provide incentives for private sector to develop and use advanced,
automated machines
- AHMCT web site: http://www.ahmct.engr.ucdavis.edu/ahmct/
"Find It and Fix It":
- Non-destructive Evaluation (NDE)active research by FHWA, which seeks
people to champion devices in the field
- FHWA seeks to expand the hard side idea of "find it and fix it"
to other areas of highway technology besides structures
- Examples of NDE include:
- Dual band infrared thermography
- Ground penetrating radar imaging
- Wireless data acquisition systems
- Fatigue crack detection
- Passive fatigue load indicator
- Passive overload sensor
- Differential GPS
- FHWA is establishing an NDE validation center for NDE development for
highway infrastructure
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Concurrent Session Title: Training
Innovations
|
Moderator: Presenters: |
Ken Eschmeyer, FHWA, South Dakota Division
Harry Hersey and Michael Moravec, FHWA"NHI Innovations"
Harry Hersey, FHWA"ITS Professional Capacity Building Program"
Terry Philbin and Lloyd Rue, FHWA"Internet Opportunities Explored"
|
Topics/ Issues Discussed |
"NHI Innovations":
- ITS Awareness Seminars37 sessions presented or scheduled, 37 to be
scheduled
- ITS Technical Seminars planned in urban planning; telecommunications;
innovative procurement; public-private partnerships; commercial vehicle
operations
- Four-day course, "Integrating ITS Using the National ITS Architecture"
first session in June 1997; 1015 sessions planned with ITS and ITE chapters
"ITS Professional Capacity Building Program":
- NHI needs to shorten classroom time by using distance learning technologies,
especially CD-ROM
- Availability of computer hardware
- Management attitude toward "playing" on computer
- Start using CD-ROM training with transportation software applications
such as CORSIM
- Put NHI course books on CD-ROM with search features
"Internet Opportunities Explored":
- Objective: To seek perspective on a proposal for FHWA direction regarding
information systems of the next 15 years, with a focus of policy guidance
and built around the Internet
- History of Internet
- A policy guidance information management system built around the Internet
would mean coding existing policy files into HTML format with links
- Goals: Accessibility; accuracy; added context; minimized information
overload; reduced redundancy; and elimination of information noise
- Field offices maintain hard copy policy guidance systems; benefits
accrue if a core system is maintained by few people with access to all
- Who would maintain the system? If not maintained, the system would
fall into disuse
- Success will require teamwork among FHWA offices; tasks would include
actual updating of data and continuing site improvement
- The support base for this effort must be assessed; this meeting demonstrated
support for such a system; and redundant efforts should be avoided
|
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Concurrent Session Title: Rural
ITS Innovations
|
Moderator: Presenters: |
Caleb Frobig, FHWA, Western Federal Lands
Paul Pisano, FHWA, "Rural ITS Policy Statement and the ARTS Program"
Frank Doland, FHWA, "Region 7 Showcase/Workshop on Rural ITS"
Stephen Albert, Western Transportation Institute, "Yellowstone Rural
ITS Priority Corridor Program"
Shelley Lynch, FHWA, "Lessons Learned from the 1996 Olympics" |
Topics/ Issues Discussed |
"Rural ITS Policy Statement and the ARTS Program":
- ITS reminds of urban issues, not rural
- Rural ITSsafety; stranded motorists; weather problems; emergency response
- Major issue: Rural transitparatransit, not mass transit
- What is being done?
- Efforts predominantly random up to nowhow to link them?
- JHK Study results:
- Safety is number one issue
- Needs-based approach
- Developing Strategic Plan and Program PlanGoals:
- Safety and security
- Mobility and convenience
- Efficiency
- Environmental conservation
- Productivity and economic vitality
- Critical program areas: To identify similar ideas and cluster them
- Simple solutions:
- Low cost, low tech
- Proven
- Expandable
- Advanced Rural Transportation System (ARTS)
"Region 7 Showcase/Workshop on Rural ITS
- Handout, "FHWA Region 7 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)"
Final Report
- Goals:
- To bring together the private and public sectors
- To identify activities that could be carried forward
- Workshop results: Group consensus
- Safety (Mayday)
- Road and weather information are important
- Rural public transit needs ITS
- Each State needs a champion
- Coordination is key
- Recognize ongoing role
- Workshops generate interest
- Future activities:
- Each Division should work with LTAP and State DOTs
- Survey all conference participants
- Establish Rural ITS
- NEXTEA implementations
- Examples of current involvement
"Yellowstone Rural ITS Priority Corridor Program":
- Tourism has a high magnitude of economic activity
- Study of three-State area (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho)
- Review of Yellowstone Corridoremergency response time exceeded national
average
- Nationally, 400,000 animal/vehicle collisions per year at $2,000 each
- Vision included:
- Improvement of rural travel
- Increased economic potential of area
- Safety Management System
- CVO System
- Tourist Information System
- Tourism Network
- Traveler Information Center
- Travel Demand Management Center
- Smart Card Usage Program
- Smart Card Settlement Center
- Regional Clearinghouse (IEN)
- 1997 Rural Advanced Technology and Transportation Conference, Montana
"Lessons Learned from the 1996 Olympics"
- Greatest number of tickets ever sold at an Olympics
- Olympic transportation systems:
- Athlete System
- Olympic Family System
- Media SystemACOG
- Spectator SystemMARTA
- Lessons learned:
- Traveler Demand Management (TDM) works
- MARTA ridership was utilized
- Incident management works
- Information sharing works
- System integration is needed
- Specialists
- Development takes much time and money
- Clear requirements save time and money
- Contracting relationships and accountability must be thought through
- Clear lines of communication are needed
- Manage expectations
- Manage communications
- FHWA plays an important role
- People make it happen
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Concurrent Session Title: The
Lead States Program and LTPP
|
Moderator: Presenters: |
Richard Dunn, FHWA, New York Division
Shahed Rowshan, FHWA, " LTPP Data Analysis and Product Development"
Evan Wisniewski, FHWA, "Overview of LTPP Implementation"
Margie Sheriff, FHWA, "The Lead States ProgramA New Paradigm in Technology
Transfer"
Richard Dunn, FHWA, "Field Activities with Lead States" |
Topics/ Issues Discussed |
"LTPP Data Analysis and Product Development":
- Six steps to implementation:
- 19972000 Data studies
- 19982004 Concepts of distress mechanisms
- 19982006 Component models and relationships
- 20052007 Model integration and calibration
- 20062008 Model validation
- 20082009 Simplified models for application to Implementation Team
- LTPP analysis is based on the Strategic Plan for Data Analysis
- Budget: 1520 percent of total LTPP
- Outputs: Knowledge; guidance; procedures; models for performance prediction;
and prototype software
- LTPP product development:
- Research roleNeeds identification; analysis; results/findings; product
identification
- Implementation rolePrototype; evaluation; refinement; product implementation;
marketing; distribution; and user support
"Overview of LTPP Implementation":
- LTPP program status:
- Research program is at halfway point (10 of 20 years)
- Products have been developed
- Field Implementation Team:
- Data Base Squad
- Pavement Squad
- Traffic Squad
- FWD/Resilient Modulus Squad
- LTPP Data Base Implementation Squad:
- Information management systemkeep it simple
- Squad will develop software to allow data retrieval and use
- Data parameters collected
- LTPP data base useObstacles:
- Difficult to use
- Not recognized as major source of pavement related information
- Data/Pave softwareBeta testing, summer 1997; good to distribute program
at 1998 TRB Annual Meeting
- WorkshopsDemonstrate software nationwide; delivery, March 1998
- LTPP FWD/Resilient Modulus Squad:
- FWD calibration
- Looking at Lead States concept for quality control and implementation
- Pavement Rehabilitation and Performance Squad:
- States want to know how rehabilitation treatments perform
- Primary focus on pavement performance
- Division involvement:
- Opportunity for personnel
- Conduit to States
- Involvement and knowledge critical
"The Lead States ProgramA New Paradigm in Technology Transfer":
- BackgroundInitiated by AASHTO Task Force for SHRP Implementation
- Goals:
- To expand/accelerate SHRP implementation
- To target high payoff technologies
- To achieve AASHTO regional representation
- To leverage experience of State/industry technology champions
- To create technology partnerships with FHWA
- High payoff technologies:
- Superpave
- High performance concrete for structures
- Anti-icing and roadway weather systems
- Innovative pavement materials
- Pavement preservation
- Protection and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete
- ASR
- Role of Lead States:
- Know products/optimize benefits
- Facilitate use of products by others
- Increase and accelerate adoption
- Team members and resources:
- Technology champions from Lead States
- FHWA technical support, assistance, guidance, resources, training,
etc.
- FHWA not clear on field roleShould encourage State commitment and
network; should clarify field role in Lead States, as well
"Field Activities with Lead States"
- Operating philosophy:
- Customer service
- Based on identified needs
- Activities that add value
- Building a technical network:
- Implementation channel
- Technical assistance
- Tool to bridge the gap
- Each of seven Technical Areas Teams has developed a mission statement
and goals; they should focus on implementation and assistance
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Concurrent Discussion Title: Future
Program Implementation
|
Session Leader |
Mary Stringfellow, FHWA, Region 5 |
Opening Remarks |
Region 5 efforts/plan for the future consists of going ahead with closing
the gaps without waiting for direction from Headquarters. "Closing
the Gap" is a Region 5 Strategic Plan activity. Actions thus far have
been presentations by Ms. Stringfellow in all 6 Division offices to explain
philosophy and define terms. Now Region 5 is putting together examples
of closing the gap with current practices, best practices, and state-of-the-art
in key areas. These examples will be sent out to Divisions as a starting
point to spark interest in closing the gap NOT directives, demands, or
must-do. This will be a dynamic process that will continually be updated.
Region 5 is not waiting for NEXTEA and direction from Headquarters. When
that comes, Region 5 actions will be adapted to fit under NEXTEA. Why wait?
There are needs to be addressed right now! |
Issues
Discussed |
AM Session:
- Motivation for risksStates
- Dollars/resources are necessary:
- Shifted
- New partners with money
- What are we waiting for?
- Just do it
- Change any Federal/State rules, regulations, or maybe just perceptions
that inhibit 3D
- Enhanced support to field is neededTeams
- Do a better job of showing the link between "Technology 3D"
and "Making Roads (transportation) Better"
- Brag!
PM Session:
- Customer driven with leadershipCustomize
- Maintain contactKnow what is going on
- Keys to success, lessons learned, success stories
- Take advantage of opportunities
- Customer needs anticipatedThey call us back!Respectable performance
- Learning environmentKeep in it!
- FHWA re-Toole-ingskills needed
- Flexible/adaptive program
- Sensible/rational
- Customize
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Concurrent Discussion Title: Washington/Region/Division
"Teamwork"
|
Session Leader |
Evan Wisniewski, FHWA, Georgia Division |
Opening Remarks |
How can we more effectively deal with teamwork challenges facing FHWA
personnel between the geographically separated areas of Washington, Region,
and Division offices? How can we more effectively communicate? We see a
flattening of the organization. If it is everyone's job, whose job is it?
Julie Cirillo spoke of vertical teams with Washington, Regions, and Divisions.
Joe Toole talked about awareness, involvement, participation, and ownership,
all aimed at involving the field. Shelley Lynch told us one of the most
difficult things any agency does is communicate. |
Issues
Discussed |
[Session time period not indicated]
- A lot of information is not well structured; maintenance is difficult
- Decentralized policy by Intranet (Region 8 customer service survey)
- Business is knowledge, not just technology; should access to knowledge
go directly to States (via Internet) or does the field organization have
a role?
- In pursuit of "the answer," stay within the chain of command
in order to answer the question and expand the knowledge base
- Information becomes knowledge when it is needed
- Answers to customers with backtracking information to organizational
hierarchy
- Anticipate customers' needsbe proactive
- How can we shift emphasis on T2 in FHWA offices? Eliminate
terminology
- What constitutes technology? We need to find ways to maximize technology
in program delivery
- How can we convey that review and oversight are not our primary job?
- Jane Garveycultural change is needed; the old is standardization;
the new is flexibility to help States do the best job possible
- Walk the talkmanagement speaks the words, but doesn't back with actions
or support; top-down and bottom-up squeeze
- Applies across the board to all disciplines
- Technology is an umbrella; safety is an umbrella
- Need across the board commitment not to technology, but to quality
service
- Headquarters/field teamwork issues:
- Fear of establishing new relationships and new commitments
- Don't understand how
- Headquarters sets up programs and budgets
- Headquarters doesn't understand Regions' and Divisions' priorities
or how and why field isn't responsive to products
- The field doesn't understand funding tools
- Why have T2 coordinators in Regions and Divisions?
- PTP is a connection between the field and Headquarters
- We need to add value to what we do
- Learn the organizationwe need detailed organization charts
- The organization has created the stigma that we don't work for the
same organizationgates and boundaries
- We are a technology organization; we need to inculcate thattechnology
is everything we do
- We are about communicationInternet reliance does not recognize the
diversity of our people
- Technology council networkneed feedback mechanisms
- Field based teamsfield participation on teams (time concern)
- Teams can bridge loss of personnel
- Institutional problem with sharing personnel with other States; not
total buy-in by managers
- Take smaller steps to turning organization around; try voluntary field
involvement on national teams and initiatives
- Find ways to reallocate workload to free up time for participation
on teams
- Provide serviceunresponsive links will be bypassed
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Concurrent Discussion Title: Partnering
with Others
|
Session Leader |
Roger Port, FHWA, Region 7 |
Opening Remarks |
How can we improve our performance in partnering with others in the
future? |
Issues
Discussed |
[PM session provided]
- Partnering: Collaborating to accomplish a common mission
- Existing partners:
- State
- MPO
- Local governments and counties
- Private industry
- Universities
- Contractors and consultants
- Other Federal agencies
- Other State agencies
- Other DOTs
- International
- Mexico
- FHWA Regions and Division
- Public
- Barriers:
- Travelfunds; time; inability to travel outside boundaries
- Partnering expectation
- Professional jealousy
- Lack of a clear mission; perceived benefit is low
- Fear of risk
- Management conflicts between potential partners
- Organizational conflicts
- Lack of trust
- Legal issues, items by law your organization can't do
- Small, medium companies may not be able to afford staff and resources
- Challenges addressed:
- Strong strategy to demonstrate and communicate the new mission
- T2 partnering agreements
- Define in agreement the roles and responsibilities
- Showcase the benefits of a partnership as we benefit the technology
- FHWA must be the thread that holds partners together; FHWA must be
agile and adaptive by taking agency strategies and adapting them for a
specific Region, Division, or situation
- Provide Federal perspective as a value added and as helpful to mission
- Better contracting techniques to suit new partner
- Contracting rules need to be changed (like ITS)
- Encourage pooling of technical expertise and resources
- Technology changes quickly; we must change quickly, too!
- Action recommendations:
- Enhanced contracting techniques tool kit; enable cash flow to/from
different partners
- Partnering tool kit
- Showcase the benefits of partnerships
- Training and skill building to help in partnering and facilitating
- Everybody's CJE requires everyone to demonstrate they help close the
gap through partnering
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Concurrent Discussion Title: Technology
Resources
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Session Leader |
John Dewar, FHWA, Region 1 |
Opening Remarks |
What technology resources are currently available to us, or are soon
to be, that could help us do our jobs better, but are undiscovered or under-utilized
by FHWA |
Issues
Discussed |
- Technology resources currently available:
- Experimental projects
- HITEC
- TFHRC personnel assigned as Division contacts
- FHWA Report Center
- Electronic dipping service
- Internet/Intranet
- LTAP
- T2 E-mail group
- PTP
- Research libraries at DOTs
- TRIS
- Professional journals
- University transportation centers
- TRB/AASHTO
- Private sector vendors
- WIN/World Road Congress
- Others not specifically mentioned
- Technology resources being developed:
- OTA requesting contractor proposals for one-stop shopping technology
resource
- Highway Innovation National Clearinghouse by HITEC
- "Technology Transfer Resources" pamphlet by OTA
- Challenge addressed: Technology resources available can be overwhelming
and need to be better organized and more accessible. Numerous and varied
technology resources are currently available in printed and electronic
media. Awareness of these resource varies among research and technology
coordinators and technical specialists in specific transportation fields.
Research and technology practitioners develop their own methods for locating
information they consider necessary to do their jobs based on their preferences,
job demands, and works styles. The publications, reports, journals, fliers,
data bases, organizations, Internet web pages, and other technology resources
available can be overwhelming, however, and can discourage searching for
the best available information.
- Action recommendations:
- Expand FHWA Report Center to include all FHWA reports
- Create a complete listing of the FHWA reports on line
- Develop T2 training in effectively using technology resources
- Capture decision making processes into knowledge based systems when
new concepts/technologies are initially deployed (how-to manuals)
- Endorse the one-stop shopping contract by OTA Endorse the Highway
- Innovation National Clearinghouse by HITEC
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