The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is looking for an Intermittent Electronics Engineer/Operations Research Analyst.

RITA coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) research programs and is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.  This position is located within the Center of Innovation for Advanced Vehicles and Information Network Systems, at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA.

The Research Engineer/ORA will define, manage, conduct, and direct evaluation research efforts relating to safety critical performance issues in surface transportation systems, in the context of related technology policy considerations. Studies are related to vehicle and wayside navigation guidance and control system technologies relative to performance characteristics, potential vulnerabilities, and malfunction  modes  and mitigation methods, protection against electronic security threats and attacks, and preservation of personal; information and identification privacy.

This is a permanent, intermittent position; work will be performed on an as-needed basis, as projects arise; the number of hours will depend on the breadth and scope of assignments. The position may be filled as either an Electronics Engineer or an Operations Research Analyst.

If you know someone interested in this Cambridge, MA based position who has the experience and proven results, please encourage them to apply under the attached vacancy announcement.  We are looking for a diverse pool of qualified candidates.

The vacancy announcement can be found on:

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/JobTitle=ElectronicsEngineer+OperationsResearchAnalyst

(Source: Washington Post & Kidzworld)

On May 15, 2010, after 210 days at sea and more than 22,000 nautical miles, 16-year-old Jessica Watson sailed her 33-foot boat back to land.   The courageous teenager from Queensland, Australia is now entered the record books as the youngest person to sail solo, unassisted, and nonstop around the world.  Ever since her return she was busy dealing withe media frenzy and somehow managed to find time to write a book, True Spirit, sharing her experiences from this journey around the globe.   Recently, she was in New York to promote her book and sat down for an interview with CBS’ Early Show (shown below).  Listening to her not only makes you feel proud of her achievement but also appreciate the daring sense of exploration that many of us won’t even have at our 20s and 30s.   Here is her interview with  Early Show’s Harry Smith:

Read more: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

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(Source: AP via Yahoo News )

The number of people dying on the nation’s roads has fallen to its lowest level in six decades, helped by a combination of seat belts, safer cars and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

The Transportation Department said late Wednesday that traffic deaths fell 9.7 percent in 2009 to 33,808, the lowest number since 1950. In 2008, an estimated 37,423 people died on the highways.

Forty-one states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico saw reductions in highway fatalities, led by Florida with 422 fewer deaths and Texas, down 405.

The motor vehicle fatality rate — the number of deaths per 100 million miles traveled — is the lowest ever: 1.13 deaths in 2009, down from 1.26 in 2008, DOT says, even as Americans were driving 0.2% more than in 2008.

The annual highway safety report also reported the following stats:

• _ Motorcycle fatalities broke 11 years of annual increases, falling by 16 percent, from 5,312 in 2008 to 4,462 in 2009.
• _ The number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes fell for a 10th consecutive year.
• _ Alcohol-impaired driving deaths declined 7.4 percent in 2009 to 10,839 deaths, compared with 11,711 in 2008.

Note:  I commend the efforts of the USDOT’s leadership (Secretary, the Administrators, staff, etc) in ensuring that our nation’s roads are safe for the citizens.   The multi-pronged approach taken by various administrations within the Department, including targeted campaigns towards drunk driving, texting while driving, etc., are paying big dividends, as evidenced by these dramatic reduction in fatalities.  Also, we have to recognize the efforts of the vehicle manufacturers for making their vehicles a lot safer than what they were in the decades before. Many vehicles in today’s market sport great active and passive systems compared to the cars of yesteryears, which help greatly in reducing the risk of fatal injuries to the occupants during an accident.  The role of local enforcement agencies should also be appreciated in this remarkable effort.  Apart from the obvious safety benefits, there are many other associated benefits at the societal and personal level – reduction in associated costs such as repair costs, travel time savings, insurance costs, etc.  In all, as a society we are progressing well but we still have a long way to go.  Let’s not forget that we are still losing thousands of people on our roads and that only means one thing – we cannot slow down our efforts!

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Workshop Details

• August 25-26, 2010 – Detroit, MI, USA (9:00-4:30 local time)
• 
  
• September 1-2, 2010 – San Jose, CA, USA (9:00-4:30 local time)
• 
  
• September 29-30, 2010 – Washington, DC (9:00-4:30 local time, Location TBD)

Attend one of three FREE IntelliDrive workshops and inventors meetings at the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS-JPO), part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) will be hosting on IntelliDrive(SM) Systems Engineering User Needs to obtain stakeholder input for the definition of the core IntelliDrive System.

User needs identified during these workshops will be critical to the development of the new IntelliDrive Concept of Operations (ConOps).  The ConOps will describe the vision for how the IntelliDrive system will work, from the perspective of the user.

Each workshop, which is open to all interested transportation parties, will engage participants to identify their current vision for the IntelliDrive system.  These workshops will provide an overview of the IntelliDrive concept definition process and include break out groups to explore specific operational needs in detail as well as concluding sessions that summarizes the findings from the workshops.

The agenda features:

• Wednesday
• 9:00-4:30 local time
• Overview of the IntelliDrive concept definition process
• Thursday
• 9:00-4:30 local time
• Breakout Sessions to explore specific operation needs in detail & a summary of workshop findings

The sessions and your participation are essential in assisting the ITS-JPO to advance transportation safety. Persons who cannot attend can pass this along to an interested colleague.

To see the full agenda for the meetings please click here:  <http://www.its.dot.gov/press/2010/intellidrive_engineering.htm>

Registration and Venue:

This workshop is free of charge. Registration and venue information for:

• Detroit, MI <http://www.itsa.org/itsa/files/Detroit_Registration.doc>
• San Jose, CA <http://www.itsa.org/itsa/files/SanJose_Registration.doc>

Additional information will be available at: http://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm.

Please contact Brei Whitty at bwhitty@itsa.org or 202-721-4236 for any questions.

FREE Meeting for IntelliDrive Inventors

Inventors who have developed a software component, hardware device or other technology that can be used to help bring about safe, efficient, greener transportation should attend these first-ever IntelliDrive inventors meetings where innovators can meet others who might be looking for new technologies.

The meetings will be held at the end of the first day of the ITS-JPO Systems Engineering User Workshops in Detroit (August 25), San Jose (September 1) and Washington, DC (September 29).

Innovators can make a very brief presentation about their work and meet with potential users of their products.  Interested innovators who want to attend and/or make a presentation at the meeting should register in advance.

Please send an e-mail with the inventor’s name, company, product and contact information to Delores Colbert at Delores.colbert@DOT.gov in order to obtain a five minute presentation slot.  Presentations should be no more than three PowerPoint slides. Please use  “Inventors Meeting” and which location (Detroit, San Jose or Washington, DC) in the subject line.

The IntelliDrive Inventors meetings are being held To learn more about the meeting e-mail Mike Pina at Mike.pina@dot.gov

To learn more about ITS-JPO and the IntelliDrive program log on to www.its.dot.gov.

Make your hotel reservations:

Be sure to reserve your room under the room block “Intellidrive” in order to receive government rate!

Detroit

Doubletree Hotel Detroit/Dearborn

5801 Southfield Expressway

Detroit, MI 48228

313-336-3340

http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/DTTDBDT-Doubletree-Hotel-Dearborn-Michigan/index.do

San Jose

Doubletree Hotel San Jose

2050 Gateway Place

San Jose, CA 95110

408-453-4000

http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/JOSE-DT-Doubletree-Hotel-San-Jose-California/index.do

Washington DC – Hotel TBD

Please contact Brei Whitty at ITS America at bwhitty@itsa.org or 202-721-4236 for any questions related to registration for the user needs workshops or hotel accommodations.

* –  IntelliDrive is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Image via TRB - Beckman Center -- Click here to register and for additional event details.

This year’s ITS Committee mid-year workshop will focus on IntelliDrive(SM) and is planned for September 21-22 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, California. Visit the link above to register and reserve your hotel room. The deadline for reduced hotel rates is August 13.

The goal of the mid-year workshop is to consider the potential impact of IntelliDrive, and the data it will generate, on the various components of the transportation enterprise, including agency organization, finances, and staffing, in addition to planning, operations, safety, and maintenance.  The workshop will bring together public and private sector transportation thought leaders and practitioners to develop research statements that explore how IntelliDrive will affect the work of infrastructure owners and operators.

In addition to the ITS Committee workshop, the ITS Joint Program Office will convene a one-day workshop on Monday September 20, (preceding the TRB meeting) to explore the impact of emerging trends and innovations, shifting priorities and changing requirements on the evaluation of ITS.  The release in early 2010 of the U.S. DOT ITS Strategic Research Plan lays out new goals and initiatives in the ITS Program that impact national and local ITS projects.

The ITS Evaluation Program managers are keenly interested in the input from the transportation community on advancing the practice and increasing the value of ITS evaluation, and identifying the evaluation needs of the transportation community.  The workshop will give participants the opportunity to provide feedback on the Evaluation Program, share innovative evaluation practices, and identify evaluation needs.This intense and engaging two-part event promises workshop participants a great opportunity to learn and to contribute to the continuing evolution of the ITS program.

Click here to access the TRB ITS Committee website.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation‘s (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS-JPO), part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), will hold a three-day workshop to present and discuss IntelliDrive ^SM* Safety program research roadmaps, including applications, technical and policy activities from July 20-22, 2010 in Chicago, IL.

Safety is critical to the mission of the transportation industry. This workshop is intended as an opportunity for stakeholders to review and provide feedback for refinement on the safety program roadmaps, including technical and policy issues.

There will also be a Professional Capacity Building Workshop (PCB) to engage stakeholders on setting a new strategic direction for the ITS PCB program considering the goals of the new ITS Strategic Research Plan, gather stakeholder input on learning needs, and discuss the future goals for the program.

The sessions and your participation are essential in assisting the ITS-JPO to advance transportation safety.

USDOT has adjusted the agenda based on stakeholder feedback from recent workshops. The new modified agenda features:

Tuesday, July 20 – 9:00-5:00 CDT (webinar available – See webinar info. below)
IntelliDrive Safety Program Roadmaps and Discussion (V2V, Safety Pilot, DSRC Device Certification, V2I Safety)

Wednesday, July 21 – 9:00-noon CDT

• Professional Capacity
• Building Workshop

Wednesday, July 21 – 9:00-noon CDT
DSRC Device Bidder’s Conference

Wednesday, July 21 – 1:00-5:00 CDT IntelliDrive Safety Policy Roadmaps Discussion focused on V2V and V2I

Thursday, July 22 – 8:30-2:30 CDT (webinar available – See webinar info. below)
Breakout Sessions on IntelliDrive Policy Topics and V2I Roadmap – A series of discussion sessions will be held on Thursday morning (July 22nd) to answer questions and elicit feedback on the Safety Program Policy Roadmap (presented on Wednesday afternoon).   The discussion sessions will provide workshop participants with an opportunity to explore details and provide input on expected requirements.  The workshop designers have identified two areas of interest for discussion that are described below.  However, time will be set aside on Wednesday afternoon to identify additional discussion sessions based on the interest of participants.

Breakout 1.  Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Roadmap Discussion – The focus of this discussion session is to carry forward questions from the Tuesday afternoon presentation on Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and provide the time for an in-depth Q&A.  The objective of this session discussion is to validate the technical roadmap and identify policy issues associated with moving the technical research forward.

Breakout 2. Cost-Benefit Analysis – Cost-benefit-analysis (CBA) is an essential step in deriving the societal benefits of IntelliDrive for the Nation. However, CBA is comprised of different types of analysis that, overall, provide stakeholders with an understanding how IntelliDrive benefits their organizations.  The purpose of this breakout session is to present on the different approaches proposed for IntelliDrive CBA and to stimulate discussion with stakeholders on their perspective on the opportunities and direct financial impacts of IntelliDrive.  The session will explore specific cases; for example, the case wherein IntelliDrive could enhance or substitute for older technologies such as loop detectors.  The objective of this session discussion is to validate the CBA and seek input as to the most efficient methods of seeking data from stakeholders.

Policy Breakout Session Descriptions – DOC

Who Should Attend

• Transportation Industry Professionals
• Transportation System Operators
• Government Transportation Specialists
• Academia Transportation Specialists
• Roadway Safety Activists
• Wireless Communication Device Manufacturers
• Auto Manufacturers
• Anyone interested in learning about IntelliDrive safety practices and their practical implementation in improving transportation sector safety.

Registration Cost
All attendees FREE

On-site registration will be available but pre-registration is encouraged.

To Pre-Register contact:

ITS America Staff: Brei Whitty
E-mail: bwhitty@itsa.org
Fax: 202-484-3483
Website: www.intellidriveusa.org

Hotel Information/ Meeting Location

Participants are responsible for their own hotel reservations. Please mention the room block “IntelliDrive” when booking by June 28, 2010.

Hilton Chicago Northbrook
2855 North Milwaukee Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062-6103
Phone: 847-480-7500
Fax: 847-480-0827
www.northbrook.hilton.com

WEBINAR Info:

Meeting Name: IntelliDriveSM Safety Workshop
When:  Tuesday – 07/20/2010 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Thursday – 7/22/2010 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Time Zone:  (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US and Canada)
Website:  http://itsa.na5.acrobat.com/intellidrivews/
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:
Test your connection: http://itsa.na5.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview

AUDIO Conference Details:
Conference Number(s): 1-866-502-8312
Participant Code: 175569

Click here for our one-page workshop flyer.

*IntelliDrive is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Yesterday (June 15, 2010), I had the chance to attend “Online Engagement for Sustainable Urban Mobility”, a panel discussion and roundtable organized by EMBARQ, the sustainable transportation arm of the World Resources Institute, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Part of a week-long citywide festival focused on technology and innovation, the event brought together citizen activists and representatives from government agencies and non-profits to discuss open data, online citizen engagement and collaboration – while looking at the nation’s capital as a case study.  The agenda, as seen on the invitation

How urban transportation can be made more sustainable through:

• Open Data
• Blogging and Citizen Journalism
• Government Transparency and Civic Engagement
• Citizen Collaboration

This was a great forum to share/listen best practices, lessons learned, failure stories and ideas of how to put theory into practice, as it relates to the following over-arching questions: What online tools exist in the D.C. area to make transportation more efficient, user-friendly and sustainable? What are some examples of Web-based innovation and collaboration in the D.C. transport sector? How can government, technology and civil society work together to improve the way we move around – by foot, by car, by bike, and by transit – in the nation’s capital?

The awesome panel consisted of the following individuals:

Moderator: Christian Madera (Columnist, Next American City)
Host: Erica Schlaikjer (Online Engagement Coordinator, EMBARQ)

Panelists:

• Bryan Sivak (Chief Technology Officer, District of Columbia)
• Lance Schine (Chief Information Officer, District Department of Transportation)
• David Alpert (Blogger, Greater Greater Washington)
• Justin Jouvenal (Web Editor, Postlocal.com)
• Nick Grossman (Director of Civic Works, OpenPlans)

Roundtable Discussion Leaders:

• Eric Gundersen (Development Seed)
• Harriet Tregoning (Office of Planning)
• Nat Bottigheimer (WMATA)
• Dan Silverman (Prince of Petworth)
• Zvi Band (FixMyCity DC)
• Philip Ashlock (OpenPlans)

Here are some  interesting observations worth sharing, courtesy of Moderator Christian Madera and fellow participant Kara Hadge, contributing author of New America Foundation’s Sustaining Democracy in a Digital Age blog,  who sat right next to me and offered great input to our discussion group.  For a detailed recap/summary, I seriously recommend you to check out Christian column on Next American City and Kara’s blog post titled Wired Cities .

• While the local city government has been at the forefront of releasing its municipal data for the public and developers to utilize, most of the region’s transportation falls under the jurisdiction of WMATA, the regional transit agency.
• DDOT is involved is now sharing an API for real-time location data for the city’s small fleet of circulator buses, and embarking on the use of QR codes on buses and shelters to assist both passengers and transit managers
• DC Circulator will shortly be launching an Open Data Challenge for developers, featuring three categories: Public Apps (Web and/or Mobile;), Visualization (currently there is no dashboard to monitor what’s happening on all lines), and an unknown internal app to be used by WMATA/DDOT.
• DC Capital Bikeshare #CaBi website  http://capital-bikeshare.appspot.com/ is expected to be launched soon
• DDOT is looking to add (someday) these MIT conceived futurisitic looking, networked, read again – networked, bus stops called Eyestop

In all, it was a great experience meeting and listing to some of the best minds in business about the use of social media tools and emerging opensource efforts in transportation.  Thanks to EMBARQ and the Digital Capital Week community for putting together this event.  I’ll certainly keep you informed of  other resources/products resulting from this event as they become available.

June 22-23, 2010

Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, Dulles, Virginia

Dates: Tuesday-Wednesday, June 22-23, 2010
Times: Tuesday:  1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. & Wednesday:  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Purpose: The U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, ITS Joint Program Office will hold a two-day workshop to present and discuss its four draft IntelliDrive^SM deployment scenarios that have been recently developed in response to key stakeholder input. The purpose of the meeting is to provide input to the U.S. DOT as it refines IntelliDrive research plans about potential futures paths for IntelliDrive deployment.  Discussion will be framed around four scenarios developed through stakeholder inputs. The workshop will engage participants to identify advantages and disadvantages of each of the draft scenarios and critical policy and institutional research needs.  The Tuesday session will provide an overview of the four draft scenarios. The Wednesday session will consist of break out groups to explore each of the four scenarios in detail as well as a concluding session that summarizes the findings from the workshop.

Draft Agenda: http://www.itsa.org/itsa/files/pdf/Scenario%20Agenda-Rev1.pdf

Intended audience: This workshop is for all interested parties.

Registration: This workshop is free of charge using the ITS America registration process. The registration page can be found athttp://www.itsa.org/itsa/files/pdf/Registrtion%20Form%20Deployment%205-13-10.pdf Please email your completed registration form to Brei Whitty at bwhitty@itsa.org or fax it to 202-484-3483.

Webinar: The Tuesday session will be broadcast live as a webinar for those who are not able to attend in person.  Webinar information TBA.

Hotel Information:
Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles, VA, 20166-7506
Reservations: 1-800-228-9290 or (703) 471-9500

Event Name: Intellidrive
Rate: $139/night + taxes (less than the government rate!)
Please use the code Intellidrive when reserving your room so that you can get the room block rate.  Thank you for reserving your room within the official room block. It helps us meet the hotel contract minimum. The cut-off date to reserve a room is June 1,2010. Please contact Brei Whitty if the room block becomes full.

Contact: Brei Whitty, ITS America, 202-721-4236, bwhitty@itsa.org

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is looking for a Community Planner.  RITA coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) research programs and is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.  This position is located within the Transportation Policy, Planning, and Organizational Excellence Division at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA.

The Professional Capacity Building Program Manager will manage Professional Capacity Building (PCB) programs in three key areas which include Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Innovative Program Delivery, and Transportation Planning.   They will provide technical leadership for these programs as well as oversight and program management of projects and staffing needs in all phases of the capacity building program cycle.

The position will plan and conduct outreach events and other efforts, such as implementing websites, webinars, workshops, peer exchanges, databases, brochures, scans and other capacity building tools and techniques.   The incumbent will design curricula and plan innovative methods of delivery; monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of PCB activities; scope out new projects and design new program activities.

If you know someone interested in this Cambridge, MA based position that has the experience and proven results, please encourage them to apply under the attached vacancy announcement.  USDOT is looking for a diverse pool of qualified candidates.

The vacancy announcement can be found on http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=87796834&JobTitle=CommunityPlanner

Please direct any questions to Susan Faldasz, Volpe Human Resources, at 617-494-2339.

(Sources: Transportation for America)

Image Courtesy: T4America

Today, I came across a tweet from someone that talked about T4America’s latest national poll results that said majority Americans support  increased access to public transportation and safe walking and biking.  As a curious mind would do it, I went on to explore the survey results and the press release issued by T4America and here is the summary of what I saw: American voters overwhelmingly support broader access to public transportation and safe walking and biking, according to this new national poll conducted for Transportation for America.  This must be a ton of good news for pro-transit & bike-ped folks, especially given all the activities that are happening on the next transportation re-authorization bill.  My favorite finding of this survey:  79% of rural folks support improved public transportation.  Now, who would have expected that from our American voters!

Here are some interesting findings:

• More than four-in-five voters (82 percent) say that “the United States would benefit from an expanded and improved transportation system, such as rail and buses” and a solid majority (56 percent) “strongly agree” with that statement.
• On a personal level, two-thirds (66%) say that they “would like more transportation options so they have the freedom to choose how to get where they need to go.” Along these same lines, 73% currently feel they “have no choice but to drive as much as” they do, and 57% would like to spend less time in the car.
• A majority (58 percent) say that more should be allocated to public transportation, while 35% feel that this is about the right amount. Only 5% say that less should be allocated to other transportation options.

Image Courtesy: T4America

As I said earlier, it will be interesting to see how these findings play into the next reauthorization bill.  While we wait to find that out, let’s take a moment to check out some more survey findings. You can download by clicking here.