Great opportunities for learning at the 2011 TRB annual meting - T2 Committee meeting and sessions

Committee Meeting

The committee will meet Jan 25 2011 from 8:00AM- 12:00PM at the Hilton, Northwest.

Committee sponsored sessions

Implementing Noise-Reducing Pavement Research, an International Perspective: Making Pavement Research Results Work in Practice

Jan 23 2011 9:00AM- 12:00PM,   Hilton, Lincoln West

Sponsored By:   International Activities, Technology Transfer, Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration, Full-Scale Accelerated Pavement Testing,  Rigid Pavement Design, Flexible Pavement Design, Surface Properties - Vehicle Interaction (AFD90)

Road noise is considered an environmental nuisance to surrounding communities. Recent cutting-edge research offers new noise reduction solutions that are practical and cost-effective. This workshop provides an overview of new noise-reducing pavements now available in the United States and Europe. Noise-reducing pavement construction techniques, procurement, and implementation strategies as well as lessons learned will be presented by researchers from the U.S., Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Presentations:

•  Welcome and introductions - Orcutt, Lawrence H. - California Department of Transportation
•  Introduction and Perspective -  Ahé, Gert - Danish Road Directorate
•  Pavement Solutions: United States (California) - Harvey, John - University of California, Davis
•  Pavement Solutions: Thin Layers in Europe -  Krogh, Jorgen - Danish Road Institute
•  Pavement Solutions: Porous Asphalt in the Netherlands - Hofman, Robert - Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute, Netherlands
•  Pavement Solutions: U.S. Concrete Industry’s Road to Quiet Sustainable Pavement--Next Generation of Concrete Surfaces,  Roberts, John H. - International Grooving & Grinding Association
•  Pavement Solutions: Noise Intensity Testing in Europe Studies I and II: Definitive Comparisons of Quiet Pavements in Europe and the United States - Donavan, Paul - Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc.
•  Noise Prediction and Noise Labeling of Pavements: Denmark Experience - Kragh, Jorgen - Danish Road Institute
•  Noise Prediction and Noise Labeling of Pavements: Truck Noise Mapping Using Danish Equipment to “Photograph” Sound Waves - Donavan, Paul - Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc.
•  Noise Prediction and Noise Labeling of Pavements: Netherlands Experience  - Hofman, Robert - Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute, Netherlands
•  Noise Prediction and Noise Labeling of Pavements: Pavement Effects in FHWA Traffic Noise Model  -  Rochat, Judith L. - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
•  Policies and Strategies for Use of Noise-Reducing Pavements in California - Rufino Feldman, Dulce - California Department of Transportation
•  Policy Aspects of Noise Reductions: United States - Ferroni, Mark Anthony - Federal Highway Administration
•  Policies and Strategies for Use of Noise-Reducing Pavements: Netherlands - Hofman, Robert - Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute, Netherlands
•  Policies and Strategies for Use of Noise-Reducing Pavements: Denmark - Bendtsen, Hans - Danish Road Institute
•  Technical Issues: In Search of the -10-dB Pavement - Kragh, Jorgen - Danish Road Institute
•   Lessons Learned  -  Harvey, John - University of California, Davis

International Collaboration: The Why and How to Achieve Results

Jan 23 2011 1:30PM- 4:30PM, Hilton, Lincoln West

Sponsored By:   International Activities, Conduct of Research, Technology Transfer

This “how-to” workshop focuses on best practices for working together more effectively among international partners. Roles of state departments of transportation in the U.S., federal agencies, professional associations, European transport authorities, and TRB will be examined. The workshop presents lessons learned and tools (e.g., collaborative agreements, program management structures, and joint funding mechanisms) for collaboration on projects from inception to implementation.

•  Welcome and Objective of the Workshop - Orcutt, Lawrence H. - California Department of Transportation
•  Why Use International Collaboration as Part of a Research Program: Benefits and Value - Elston, Debra S. - Federal Highway Administration
•  Need and Perspectives of International Research Cooperation -  Jacobsen, Per - Danish Road Directorate
•   International Collaboration Benefits and Value - Al, Joris - Dutch National Road Administration
•  Agreements and Contracts for International Collaboration Projects from Conceptual Idea to Completion -  Ahé, Gert - Danish Road Directorate
•  Tools for Defining Who, When, and What for International Collaboration: Research Roadmaps and Strategies - Bruun, Mikkel - Danish Road Directorate
•  Examples of Successful Collaborations: Noise Research in Denmark and California -  Bendtsen, Hans - Danish Road Institute
•  Examples of Successful Collaborations: MIRIAM Project on Rolling Resistance, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and California  - Harvey, John - University of California, Davis
• Examples of Successful Collaborations: Climate Change, Netherlands and California -  Al, Joris - Dutch National Road Administration
• Examples of Successful Collaborations: Cell Phones as Traffic Data Probes, France and California - Orcutt, Lawrence H. - California Department of Transportation
•  Examples of Successful Collaborations: Pavement Material Technology, Sweden and - Lund, Steven - Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Wrapup and Open Discussion - Elston, Debra S. - Federal Highway Administration

The Right Tool for the Job: Search, Discovery, and Current Awareness Tools, and Tips and Tricks for Busy Transportation Professionals

Jan 23 2011 1:30PM- 4:30PM, Hilton, Columbia Hall 3 & 4

Sponsored By:   Conduct of Research,  Technology Transfer, Library and Information Science for Transportation

This workshop shows how busy professionals can use TRB and Google tools to find high-quality information and data. Demonstrations include powerful but overlooked search, retrieval, and current awareness techniques for TRB tools (TRIS, RiP, and RNS) and for Google tools (Blog Search, Google Books, Alerts, and Custom Search). Learn shortcuts, ways tools complement each other, the limits of these resources, and how partnering with librarians can save time and improve results.

•  Using TRID: Newly Integrated and Freely Available Global Transportation Research Database - Loyo, Lisa - Transportation Research Board
•  Use and Misuse of Google Scholar and Google Books for Transportation Research - Sarmiento, Roberto A. - Northwestern University
•  Energize Yourself: Keeping Current with Google Alerts, Blog Search, and Custom Search -  Levine, Kendra - University of California, Berkeley

Critical Knowledge Management Needs and Issues for Transportation Agencies

Jan 24 2011 7:30PM- 9:30PM, Hilton, International West

Sponsored By:   Management and Productivity, Research and Education,  Conduct of Research, Transportation Education and Training, Technology Transfer,  Library and Information Science for Transportation,  Transportation History

In addition to a general overview of the relevance of knowledge management, this session presents current best practices for its use in transportation agencies. The presentations focus on efforts to encourage and support innovation, retain intellectual capital during workforce transitions, and improve overall organizational excellence and performance. The presenters will also share techniques and tools to help agencies adapt to changing environments and markets.

•  Promoting Collaboration: Implementing Knowledge Management in Leadership Training - Minotti, Jane - New York State Department of Transportation
•  Low-Cost Knowledge Management Techniques for Use in a Changing Workforce -  Wittwer, Ernie - University of Wisconsin, Madison,  Adams, Teresa - University of Wisconsin, Madison
•  Strategic and Tactical Approaches to Knowledge Management in the Federal Transit Administration - Stoltzfus, Jarrett William - Federal Transit Administration, Camarena, Susan - Federal Transit Administration
•  Implementing Knowledge Management: Tools and Resources Available -  Wilson, Amanda J. - Research and Innovative Technology Administration

Being Smart About Intellectual Property Rights: Use and Impact for Researchers and Practitioners

Jan 25 2011 3:45PM- 5:30PM, Hilton, Columbia Hall 5

Sponsored By:   Conduct of Research, Technology Transfer, Library and Information Science for Transportation

•  Fundamentals for Protection and Commercialization of Technology and Information – McComas, William A. - Shapiro, Sher, Guinot & Sandler
•  Copyrights and Transportation Professionals: What Users and Producers of Information Need to Know -Band, Jonathan - Jonathan Band PLLC
•  State DOT Research Activities and Intellectual Property - Huft, David L. - South Dakota Department of Transportation
•   Panel Discussion

Conduct of Research Committee has new website

The Conduct of Research Committee has a new website. The site will be used for Committee business, notices, agendas and minutes, and as a central repository for activities and documents related to the Goal Teams.

On a personal note

This is Lisa Pogue, co-chair of the committee. Just wanted to let folks know that I am now working as information specialist at the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute. I am still settling in but I'm already blogging on our intranet. --- lisa

Call for poster presentations

On behalf of the TRB Library and Information Science in Transportation Committee, I am sending you this "Call for Poster Proposals." We would like to request that you forward this call for proposals to the TRB Technology Transfer Committee membership. Thank you.
TRB 90th Annual Meeting, January 23-27, 2011 - Call for Poster Proposals

Call Title
Search, Discovery and Current Awareness: New and Innovative Uses of Online Research Tools in Transportation Research and Implementation

Sponsoring Committee
ABG40 Committee on Library and Information Science for Transportation (LIST)

Call Description
The Committee on Library and Information Science for Transportation invites you to submit proposals for a poster session focusing on new and innovative uses of practical online search, discovery and current awareness tools that can give modern transportation professionals a competitive edge. Posters will be displayed at the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, January 2011.

Background
Extending a theme begun with LIST’s 2006 presentation session on wikis, blogs, RSS and podcasting, and continued in 2007, 2008, and 2009 with LIST sessions on the application of Web 2.0 social media technologies, the committee is issuing a call for posters related to new and innovative uses of online research tools as they relate to search, discovery and current awareness in transportation. This poster session is designed to complement this year’s LIST-sponsored workshop titled “The Right Tool for the Job: Search, Discovery and Current Awareness Tools, Tips and Tricks for Busy Transportation Professionals.” While the workshop will provide a high-level overview and will focus specifically on TRB and Google tools and ways they can be used to find high-quality transportation information, the poster session will allow presenters to explore specific tools and specific techniques in great depth. This poster session is not limited to TRB and Google tools.

Description
The poster session will focus on new and innovative uses of tools and techniques that can be used by transportation professionals to save time and improve the work effectiveness of professionals who must quickly search for, find and ultimately make decisions based on reliable information. Posters will showcase successful efforts, programs or initiatives by individuals or agencies. The poster session will highlight methods, tools, technologies and techniques that TRB attendees could put to work immediately to improve the ways they search for, find, organize and use transportation research, information and data. Examples could include but are not limited to automated current awareness tools and techniques, Web 2.0 tools or techniques for professional collaboration, information or data visualization tools, open-source applications, push/pull or other feed technologies, and technologies that automate or syndicate the information search and retrieval process. The audience for this session is broad, including all transportation stakeholders: state DOT practitioners and decision makers, universities, and practitioners or consultants interested in recent advances in the delivery of information to save time and improve the quality of transportation research and practice. Please review TRB's guidelines for poster presenters at http://www.trb.org/Guidelines/PosterPresenters.pdf.

(Note: A paper is not required for this session, an exception being extended for this call by TRB). Files and information from the poster session will be posted on the LIST committee Web site (http://sites.google.com/site/trblist) .

Definitions
Current Awareness Tools – Web-based applications designed to alert users to new/modified content from Web page changes, search engine results, or news or other sources. Such tools can typically be personalized or tailored to meet the interest profile of a specific individual or group. Examples could include: RSS, e-mail alerts, or table-of-contents delivery services.

Discovery Tools– Applications or embedded functionality that helps users refine searches or make additional search decisions related to content including, evaluating or browsing. Examples include: Corrective spelling, pattern matching, faceting, visualizing search results, or other techniques for effectively refining searches.
Search Tools – Web-based applications used to search for and aggregate relevant content. Includes search engines, Web portals, online databases, and online catalogs and indexes.

Web 2.0 Tools – Web-based applications that facilitate interactive information sharing among multiple users, interoperability, user-centered design and professional collaboration.

About LIST
The Library and Information Science for Transportation Committee (ABG40) serves as a forum for transportation librarians and the transportation research community on developments in information science and their applicability to transportation. The committee facilitates diffusion of national library and information science innovations throughout the transportation community by monitoring the use of new resources and tools in the transportation arena, defining critical research and training issues relating to their implementation, and promoting the benefits of these capabilities.

Call Organizer
Jennifer Boteler (Jennifer.Boteler.CTR@dot.gov), (202) 493-3071

We will accept poster proposal ideas submitted by or on behalf of government or education agencies. Please submit an abstract (500 word limit) with enough detail to review your proposal to review committee chair Jennifer Boteler (Jennifer.Boteler.CTR@dot.gov)

We will convene a working group of reviewers to judge submissions and notify those selected in late September. We require an abstract for each poster selected. Those selected must present in person at TRB, however, partnering with colleagues is encouraged.

Submissions
Submit your poster proposals no later than Friday, September 10, 2010 by sending them to: Jennifer Boteler (Jennifer.Boteler.CTR@dot.gov), (202) 493-3071

Notes from the January meeting

The notes from the January committee meeting have been posted on the committee's wiki. If you have comments or corrections, please comment to this blog or on the wiki.

Virtual worlds, universities and hype

Thinking of exploring virtual worlds like Second Life for training and meetings but are scared off by the hype? A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, After Frustrations in Second Life, Colleges Look to New Virtual Worlds, explored the joys and frustrations of college and university teaching on Second Life and virtual worlds. I found the article interesting, but even more so the comments.

TRB Annual Meeting 2010

The first TRB annual meeting of the decade started out with a bang (lots of construction noise at our committee meeting) and went out with a bang (two of our sponsored sessions were recorded as e-sessions). Co-chair Larry Orcutt and I are working to firm up the notes from the committee meeting (mainly due to the aforementioned construction noise) and will get those out soon. In the meantime, I have updated the calendar on the committee wiki. You'll notice that the deadlines related to program planning for the 2011 annual meeting are highlighted. Once, one annual meeting is over, it's time to start planning the next.

Check out Transportation Research Collaboration

What Is It?

Transportation Research Collaboration (TRC) is a Microsoft Sharepoint site which allows the transportation research community (researchers and research managers) to share information and to connect and collaborate on shared issues. Over time, we envision this as a repository of documents and work products that will become a collective set of best practices for planning, conducting, managing, and implementing transportation research projects.

Site Overview

This site is organized around the following concepts:

• Setting the Research Agenda – Share information about your research needs, priorities, selection processes and timelines, and learn about those of other organizations.
• Collaborating in Research Activities – Share and learn about tools for collaborative partnership, and ways to connect with others who share your research goals.
• Carrying Out Research – How you can manage your projects and programs to maximize your research investment.
• Delivering Results/Communicating Value – Ways you can ensure research lives beyond the project, and makes a difference in transportation practice.
• Team Collaboration -- The vision for this section is to create a space for research committees and teams to have a place to collaborate and share products for the broader research community to use.

The Audience

The target audience of this site includes transportation researchers, research mangers, and transportation committee members.

Site Functions

This site’s functionality is similar to a regular website but with the added capability to collaborate and share information with professionals within the transportation research community.

• Add a link or announcement, participate in a group discussion, download a document- Any site visitors are given this permission.
• Post a document – A user account is required in order to add documents in existing lists and libraries in the areas of interest.
• Create a collaboration area - A unique sub-site for collaboration can be created by us for team collaboration.

If you would like to get a user account so that you can contribute content, please contact Frank Law (Frank.law@dot.ca.gov) at Caltrans.

Related Sites

• Professional Networking for Transportation Research Collaboration: www.transportationresearch.ning.com
• Transportation Collaboration, USDOT NTL and RITA: www.transportationresearch.gov
• Transportation Research Collaboration” Group on LinkedIn
  

If you or your organization would like to become involved and help set the direction of this effort, please contact Linda Preisen (lpreisen@umn.edu), Co-Chair, AASHTO RAC-TRB Conduct of Research Web Collaboration and Coordination Subcommittee.

The buzz from TRB

Having experienced several committee meetings for the Research and Education Section, I keep hearing the same words over again, like:

• Cooperation
• International
• Collaboration
• Interactivity
• New technologies
• Limited resources
• Unable to travel.

We had as productive a committee meeting as we possibly could have with loud construction going on. Thanks to the committee members and friends who soldiered on with all the distractions. Co-chair Larry Orcutt and I will be following through with notes from the meetings and an update of our strategic plan.

Our last session is tomorrow. Check out New Media Communications in Transportation from 8 to 9:45 a.m. in the Hilton, Lincoln East.

Missed Everything You Need to Know about Web 2.0?

This will be available as a TRB “e-Session” for the 2010 Annual Meeting. The e-Session recording will include a video of the presenter at the podium, and audio synchronized with the visual aid (i.e. .ppt, .pdf, etc). The recordings will be available to rent as on-demand video (view-only) starting on Monday, January 25, 2010.

Sunday at TRB off to a great start

Sunday at TRB was chock full of great T2 events. My day started off at the Everything You Need to Know about Web 2.0: Using Communication and Collaboration to Improve Transportation” workshop. I caught Andrew Krzmarzick from GovLoop.com. GovLoop is a social network for government (all kinds). Check out the Transportation 2.0 group. They’ve got discussions as well as information from TRB.

Georgene Geary from GeorgiaDOT related some very practical information about implementing Web 2.0 in a state DOT. Kendra Levine shared her www.MashTrans.org site with us. Check it out for some really fascinating uses of Web 2.0 technology.

Then it was off to the Shoreham for Communicating the Value of Research and Accelerating Innovation for Transportation Professionals. T2 Committee Larry Orcutt organized this session and brought together the experts in communications and innovation. The workshop was centered around two new efforts – NCHRP Project 20-78 “Communicating the Value of Research Training” and the National Highway Institute course, “Leap not Creep: Accelerating Innovation Implementation.” Speakers included committee members Ann Overton and Rukhsana Kahn Lindsey.

Unfortunately I had to leave right when the discussion was getting lively to attend the new and young attendees welcome session. If you want to get energized about transportation and TRB, just spend a few minutes with these folks. The crowd was mostly young and international and they were eager to learn about TRB. As you go about your day at TRB, be sure to say hi to attendees with a while new attendee badge and welcome them yourself.

My day ended with an overview of what’s happening in the exhibit hall. It seems like every year there are more and more exhibits. After hitting the highlights and seeing old friends, I’ll have to get back.

I hope to see all the T2 fans at the committee meeting on Tuesday. --- lisa