Call for Papers – 1st International Road Federation (IRF) Asia Regional Congress – Oct. 27-29, 2014 @ Bali, Indonesia

February 26, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Image Courtesy: IRFnew.org

On behalf of the International Road Federation (IRF) and the Indonesia Ministry of Public Works, the Technical and Scientific Committee of the 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition invites surface transportation experts and researchers from around the world to submit paper abstracts for evaluation.

Under the theme “Building the Trans-Asian Highway,” this one-of-a-kind event will provide a unique setting for sharing proven and innovative solutions for the region’s mobility demands, latest industry technologies and global best practices and how they can be replicated and/or modified to meet the region’s specific needs.

The event will feature a Ministerial Session, as well as Plenary, Executive, Technical and Applied Knowledge Sessions.

Why Participate?

  • High level Ministerial Session
  • 1,000 local & International delegates
  • Innovation forum & live technical demonstrations
  • Networks with key decision makers from the region
  • Exhibition featuring the latest products & technologies

Abstract Guidelines (no cost to submit)

The abstract should be written in English, readily understandable to most readers and may contain a maximum of 200 words. Abstracts should be submitted in the following thematic areas:

  • Asset Management
  • Disaster Mitigation & Recovery
  • Pavements & Materials
  • Road Financing / PPPs
  • Road Safety
  • Sustainable Transport
  • Technology & Innovation
The deadline for submissions is May 2, 2014
To submit an abstract, click here 

For more information, please contact:

Magid Elabyad
Vice President, International Programs & Member Services
Tel: +1 703 535 1001
Email: melabyad@IRFnews.org

For information about the congress, visit the event website.  Scroll below to view the Preliminary Program .
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Are you listening, Transportation Planners? Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk says we are only few years from autonomous driving

February 19, 2014 at 7:54 pm

via Bloomberg TV

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk discusses autonomous driving and how it will be available in cars in only a few years. He is confident that Tesla has the best collection of experts and would be the first company to launch a vehicle with significant ‘auto pilot” capabilities. As far as proliferation goes, Mr. Musk says we may be about 10 years away from widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technology. Do you agree? Listen to his interview with Bloomberg Television.

Video: How Many Americans Want to Live in a Driverless-City? Intel’s Futurist Discusses Future of Driverless Cars and Cities

February 12, 2014 at 5:50 pm

(Source: Bloomberg)

Intel Futurist Steve Brown discusses the future of driverless cars and cities on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” Transportation and City planners better start thinking already because we know your long-range plans drafted a decade or so ago is rendered useless by the fast paced evolution of computing and automobile technology (agree with Steve that the technology is coming but it may be more than a decade away). It is time to think different and act fast!

Tampa, Florida Gets Federal Approval For Autonomous Vehicle Test Bed

February 10, 2014 at 8:30 am

via WTSP.com

The city of Tampa (Florida) gains a Federally-approved test bed for autonomous vehicles.. Local TV station News 10 offers the following scoop:

The Selmon Expressway just got a big approval from the federal government. It’s now one of only ten roads in America set up to test “connected cars,” leading to totally driverless cars. The Selmon’s elevated express lanes to Brandon are a car designer’s dream. During traffic downtimes, engineers can block off all of the entrances and have the whole highway as a ten-mile-long laboratory. The expressway authority that runs the Selmon will team up with a USF group, the Center for Urban Transportation Research, to find companies that want to come here to test their technology. Click here to learn more

 

Job Alert: (Upcoming Position) Research Transportation Specialist – USDOT Federal Highway Administration – Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center @ McLean, VA

February 7, 2014 at 12:08 pm

Federal Highway Administration – Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

Upcoming Position: Research Transportation Specialist

Image courtesy. www.DOT.gov

Image courtesy. www.dot.gov

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is looking for a Research Transportation Specialist (GS-12/13) to lead state-of the-art transportation operations research projects at the nationally recognized Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia.  This position is for a junior or mid-level professional in the Transportation Operations Applications Team in the Office of Operations Research and Development (R&D).  The incumbent is experienced in research related to one or more of the following areas:

(a) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS),
(b) traffic adaptive control systems,
(c) freeway management systems,
(d) wireless communications systems, and/or
(e) cooperative vehicle-highway systems to help achieve the FHWA’s system performance strategic goal.

This position provides an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative environment at the Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory and with nationally recognized experts on meaningful cutting edge research projects such as the connected vehicle initiative and vehicle automation, as well as nearer-term applied problems in transportation operations.  The incumbent will be expected to guide in-house research, manage extramural contracts, and encourage partnerships for on-site research at our Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Testbed, as well as offsite field research on public or private roads and/or test tracks. The ideal candidate will preferably have an advanced degree in an engineering or scientific field, with course work related to one or more aspects of ITS, traffic engineering, or telecommunications.  He/she should have 5 or more years of relevant work experience.  Strong leadership, organization and people skills are a must.

FHWA expects to announce the position soon.  The office will not be accepting resumes, please refer to the USA Jobs web site periodically for the specific vacancy announcement:  https://www.usajobs.gov/

Also see: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/labs/operations/

Contact:  Ben McKeever, 202-493-3270 or ben.mckeever@dot.gov

 

Job Alert: Transportation Engineering Administrator – Connecticut, Department of Transportation @ Newington, CT

February 3, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Transportation Engineering Administrator

Bureau of Engineering and Construction

PLEASE FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC APPLICATION FILING INSTRUCTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!

Open To:                     The Public (see Eligibility Requirement section below)

Location:                           Newington

Job Posting No:              77536

Hours:                                40 hours per week

Salary:                                Pay Grade MP 73  ($115,352 – $157,284 annually)

Closing Date:                   Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 4:00 p.m.

There is a position opportunity for a Transportation Engineering Administrator in the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Engineering, in the Newington Administration Building.

Position Description:

This position is responsible for administering the programs and duties of all transportation related engineering operations on a statewide basis.  Duties include administering a staff of 450 and the operations of the office; coordinating, planning, and managing office activities; formulating program goals and objectives; developing or assisting in development of related policy; interpreting and administering pertinent laws; evaluating staff; preparing or assisting in preparation of office budget; maintaining contact with individuals both within and outside of the office who might impact on program activities; directing and coordinating design activities including design work accomplished under contract by outside sources; hydraulics and drainage analysis, geometric and special studies, design of bridges, transportation buildings and other structures and related facilities and specialized engineering activities including roadside development, utility relocation and property map preparation; directing bridge safety program; reviewing and recommending new or revised legislation; directing preparation of engineering reports; acting as engineering consultant to Transportation Chief Engineer and other departmental officials; performing related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY:

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of principles and practices of civil engineering including bridge design, construction and maintenance; considerable knowledge of design concepts and practices; considerable knowledge of bridge safety and inspection programs; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: 

General Experience: 

Eleven (11) years of professional experience in the planning and execution of complex transportation engineering projects.

Special Experience: 

Two (2) years of General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity in the field of transportation engineering with responsibility for policy formulation and complex project management for major bridge or highway design or highway construction projects.

NOTES:  1. Managerial capacity is defined as full time managerial responsibility for major programs. Position will have supervisory responsibilities but the emphasis should be managerial activities: planning, organizing, directing and controlling resources of a major subdivision of an agency or organization.  2. For State employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at or above the level of Transportation Assistant District Engineer.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:  Incumbents must possess Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S.§20-302. 

Eligibility Requirement:  Candidates must meet the requirements listed above.

Application Instructions:  Submit a cover letter which details your interest and suitability for the position, resume, application (State of Connecticut Application for Examination or Employment Form CT-HR-12) and copies of last two performance evaluations (State employees only) to:

 

Ms. Cynthia Young
Department of Transportation
Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Room 3137
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT  06131-7546

Applications forms are available at: http://das.ct.gov/HR/Forms/CT-HR-12_Application.pdf.

The filling of this position will be in accordance with reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.  Interviews may be limited to candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the requirements of this position.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Source: via YPTransportation.org

USDOT Free Online Resource for Transportation Professionals and Students to Learn More about Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

January 29, 2014 at 5:01 pm

Your colleagues are already taking advantage of the USDOT’s web-based textbook on intelligent transportation systems, the ITS ePrimer. It’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon. Visit the USDOT website and explore the electronic resource’s in-depth modules describing key ITS topics.

The ITS ePrimer helps transportation professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into the planning, design, deployment, and operations of surface transportation systems. It’s both a stand-alone reference document for practitioners as well as a text for education and training programs.

Image Courtesy: ITS JPO @ USDOT

Each module includes interactive content via video and web links. Learn more about:

  • Systems Engineering
  • Transportation Management Systems
  • Traffic Operations
  • Personal Transportation
  • Freight, Intermodal, and Commercial Vehicle Operations
  • Public Transportation
  • Electronic Toll Collection and Pricing
  • Supporting ITS Technologies
  • Rural and Regional ITS Applications
  • Sustainable Transportation
  • Institutional Issues
  • Connected Vehicles
  • Emerging Issues.

The ePrimer is a free resource offered via the USDOT website. All materials can be downloaded for later use.

What are you waiting for? Click here and expand your knowledge now!

GTFS in the World – Workshop on OpenTransit Data (Jan 15 @ Washington, DC)

January 10, 2014 at 6:18 pm

Event Date & Time: January 15, 2:30PM-5:30PM

Venue:
Organization of American States
Padilha Vidal Meeting Room (Terrace Level)
1889 F Street NW
Washington DC 20006

Hosted By: TransitCenter / REEEP
Twitter Hashtag#GTFSintheWorld

GTFS in the World, a follow-up to the GTFS for the Rest of Us event in November 2013, kicks off on January 15th during the Transportation Research Board annual meeting week, and you’re invited to take part. Everyone is welcome and this is a free event.

Program includes:
  • Ignite Talks: The Rise of Open Transit Data – how did we get here, where will we go? with Neil Taylor and Christopher Titze
  • GTFS in the World – how open transit data works in world cities, and what the U.S. can learn, moderated by Chris Zegras with Holly Krambeck,  Sarah Williams, Jackie Klopp and Emily Eros.
  • Building an Open Transit Community – what do practitioners and policymakers need to continue the work? What should a resource center provide? moderated by Shin-pei Tsay with Janae FutrellKevin Webb, and Kevin Chambers
  • Open Table Roundtable – Technologists roll up their sleeves and show off open-source collaboration facilitated by Neil Taylor and Aaron Antrim

To facilitate entry into the building, please RSVP, arrive a little early, and bring ID.

At the event’s end, we will continue conversations at an establishment close by TBA.

Click here to RSVP

Vehicle of the Future? Best of CES Offerings for Transportation Sector is Toyota i-Road Concept

January 6, 2014 at 5:00 pm

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has already been abuzz with so many cool innovations targeting the transportation market.. here is one of the coolest gadget and it comes with three wheels from the famed stables of a Japanese OEM.. Say hello to the Toyota i-Road concept.   Check out the Verge doing a test drive of this cool two-seater around a parking lot and offer his 2 cents worth. As Josh noted, this would make for a perfect commuter vehicle, especially for those congested urban areas.   

Originally debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013, this battery operated beauty is a hybrid between a car and a motorcycle and rolls on three wheels.. Gizmag notes that the i-Road is an electric personal mobility vehicle with two in-line seats, that leans into the corners like a motorcycle. With only five horsepower, a top speed of 45 km/h (30 mph), and a range of 50 km (30 mi), the i-Road is aimed squarely at an urban transport market.

Planning for a driverless car future – Univ. of Michigan @ Ann Arbor ramps up infrastructure for testing driverless cars

December 30, 2013 at 5:07 pm

University of Michigan is building/billing itself as the “go-to” place for testing autonomous vehicles (i.e., driverless cars). .. Check it out.