This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-04-083

FY 2003 Performance Report

The following charts outline the services provided by RD&T over the past year in the area of technical and program support for FHWA R&T nationwide.

Office of Infrastructure R&D

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Structures
Testing new and innovative materials and projects.	Bob Kogler HRDI-06 202–493–3080	Testing and evaluation focuses on high value-added, innovative materials that promise significant benefits over the current materials commonly used for highway applications. Materials such as HPS, UHPC, FRP, and high-durability corrosion protection materials are investigated.
Forensic evaluations of catastrophic failures or risk analysis in the areas of bridges and bridge components.	Bill Wright HRDI-06 202–493–3053	Expertise obtained through lab and field research is applied to explain the cause of catastrophic structural failures and develop recommendations for remedial action.
Studies to resolve unique or very complex design situations in bridge foundations, abutments, and retaining walls.	Mike Adams HRDI-06 202–493–3025	Provide technical input to FHWA field staff and State DOT engineers about the use of innovative geotechnical applications, including Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) abutments and walls, micropiles, and data from the Geotech Research Database.
Forensic evaluations of catastrophic failures or risk analysis in the areas of hydraulic erosion and bridge and culvert stability.	J. Sterling Jones HRDI-07 202–493–3043	Provided user support to engineers in North Carolina and Idaho in applications of the HYRISK model to small bridges with unknown foundations.
Studies to resolve unique or very complex design situations in hydraulic capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness.	J. Sterling Jones HRDI-07 202–493–3043	Flume studies were conducted for: 1) The Woodrow Wilson Bridge to determine scour impact from leaving the existing foundations after the new bridge is complete; 2) the Blennerhassett Bridge to investigate potential pier scour problems; and 3) bottomless culverts to determine outlet scour and to evaluate various countermeasures.
Forensic evaluations of catastrophic failures or risk analysis in the areas of aerodynamic-induced failures of bridges and bridge components.	Hal Bosch HRDI-07 202–493–3031	Continued to monitor the post-retrofit wind response and behavior of the Deer Isle- Sedgwick Suspension Bridge. Evaluated possible cable vibrations on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal cable-stayed bridge.
Studies to resolve unique or very complex design situations in aerodynamic stability of bridge and bridge components.	Hal Bosch HRDI-07 202–493–3031	Participated in several meetings about the preliminary design of the Blennerhassett Bridge. Completed field measurements of a new stay-cable system's dynamic properties on the Charles River Bridge.
Technical assistance to State highway agencies on pushover analysis approach.	Hamid Ghasemi HRDI-07 202–493–3042	Provided training to South Carolina DOT engineers about the push-over analysis technique to determine the bridge capacity.
Technical assistance to Turkish Highway Agency (KGM).	Hamid Ghasemi HRDI-07 202–493–3042	Providing technical assistance to KGM on the selection of appropriate earthquake protective systems. Technical information on near-source ground motions also being discussed.
Application of bridge management information systems to better understand bridge performance and develop improved performance measures for bridges.	John Hooks HRDI-10 202–493–3023	Studies involve NBI data mining to develop bridge condition prediction models, isolate causes of bridge deficiencies, develop performance measures, and develop innovative approaches to bridge management.
Application, evaluation, and development of specialized instrumentation for nondestructive evaluation, measurement, and long-term monitoring of highway structures.	Glenn Washer HRDI-10 202–493–3082	Assist States with technology for the detection of broken wires in cable stayed bridges. Imaging of post-tensioning strands in concrete beams, and detecting voids in the grouted post-tensioned ducts.
Technical expertise and consultation in bridge coatings and corrosion materials and techniques to other government agencies, States, and industry groups.	Shuang-Ling Chong HRDI-10 202–493–3081	Providing advice to States on the reliability and reproducibility of three of the most popular commercial test kits for determining chloride concentration on steel surfaces prior to bridge coating application.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Pavements
Lab testing of new, innovative, and recycled materials used in pavement construction.	Tom Harman HRDI-11 202–493–3072	Evaluated crumb-rubber material and recycled polyester fiber polymers in the lab and in full-scale testing.
Technical expertise, assistance, and lab testing support for field trials of new pavement materials and procedures.	Tom Harman HRDI-11 202–493–3072	Evaluated polymer-modified materials in the laboratory and in full-scale testing at the FHWA pavement testing facility and in partnership with the National Center for Asphalt Technology.
Technical assistance and information on the application, testing, specifications, cost, and performance of recycled pavement materials.	Tom Harman HRDI-11 202–493–3072	Asphalt team continues to provide technical assistance on a national basis to our State partners, industry, and FHWA Federal Lands.
Forensic evaluations of performance problems in concrete pavements; technical assistance in various materials and testing areas.	Marcia Simon HRDI-12 202–493–3071	Activities include conducting petrographic examinations of pavement and bridge concrete for several States, and providing technical assistance to States and FHWA Division Offices.
Technical assistance in the application, testing, evaluation, and problem solving for construction quality control, quality assurance, performance-related specifications, and warranties.	Peter Kopac HRDI-12 202–493–3151	Provided advice to States interested in adopting new specifications or in validating the effectiveness of current specifications.
Access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive pavement performance database. Technical assistance and consultation in pavement data use.	Aramis Lopez HRDI-13 202–493–3145	During the first and second quarters of 2003, the LTPP customer office received 318 requests for LTPP data and/or information. There have been 103 data requests, 109 questions, and 106 requests for materials and other LTPP information.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Traffic Analysis and Modeling
Traffic Research Laboratory (TReL) model simulation and problem solving studies.	Randy VanGorder HRDO-03 202–493–3266	The TReL provides a support environment to the Advanced Transportation Management Systems Team and ITS programs. The following is a list of current support efforts: Simulation of emergency evacuations; air pollution simulation; WESTA (Weigh Station) Model Evaluation (exclusive bus lane simulation); Model Evaluation (Paramics, VISSIM, AIMSUN); Dynamic Traffic Assignment; ACS Lite support; railroad grade crossing preemption; and demonstration and outreach activities.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Communication and Frequency Spectrum Support
Dedicated short-range communications program support for standards and ITS applications.	Jim Arnold HRDO-04 202–493–3265	Providing technical analysis and general guidance for the development of a dedicated short-range communications standard at 5.9 gigahertz.
Ultrawide-band radar technology coordination.	Jim Arnold HRDO-04 202–493–3265	Provide technical support for other FHWA offices on spectrum planning and allocation through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and support OST in its efforts to better understand the implications of ultrawide-band radar technology on existing users of the radio spectrum.
Frequency spectrum coordination for FHWA.	Jim Arnold HRDO-04 202–493–3265	Support various organizations in FHWA to find appropriate spectrum for specific applications and work with the field and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to ensure the availability of spectrum for various applications.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Research Program Support
IVI Infrastructure Consortium coordination and leadership.	Bob Ferlis HRDO-02 202–493–3268	Provide technical leadership in the development of intersection collision avoidance services.
United States-Japan ITS Joint Research Program.	Bob Ferlis HRDO-02 202–493–3268	Identify promising opportunities for collaboration and assemble technical materials to share with Japan.
High-Speed Rail IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) program support.	Dave Gibson HRDO-04 202–493–3271	Review technical proposals on high-speed rail. Receive approximately 20 proposals per year.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program support.	Dave Gibson HRDO-04 202–493–3271	Coordinate submission of project statements to SBIR program.
University Research Program coordination and support.	Dave Gibson HRDO-04 202–493–3271	Coordinate projects with Texas A&M and University of Central Florida. Provide feedback to Office of Operations.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Human Centered Systems
Review potential safety effects of electronic billboards on driver attention and distraction.	Tom Granda HRDS-07 202–493–3365	Report delivered to FHWA Office of Real Estate Services. Customer was pleased and placed the report on their Web site.

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Safety Analysis and Management
Research methods support and provide HSIS data to requesting parties.	Carol Tan Esse HRDS-06 202–493–3315	Ongoing.
Photometric and radiometric measurements of light sources, including traffic signals, vehicle headlamps, and roadway lighting.	Ray Krammes HRDS-05 202–493–3312	Spectro-radiometric measurement of LED traffic signal lights for the Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE): support for colorimetric requirements in ITE specification. Spectro-radiometric measurement of high-intensity discharge headlights on hold pending NHTSA approval of selection of items to be measured.
Photometric and colorimetric measurements (including coefficient of retroreflectivity and fluorescence) of signing and marking materials.	Ray Krammes HRDS-05 202–493–3312	Round-robin measurement of weathered sheeting for National Transportation Product Evaluation Program. Round-robin measurement of samples used by Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC) for evaluation of handheld retroreflectometers. Series of bispectral measurements of fluorescent sheeting in support of proposed rulemaking, Office of Transportation Operations.
Implement the FHWA Corporate Master Plan for Research and Deployment of Technology & Innovation.	Pete Markle HRT-01 202–493–3181 or Joe Conway HRTS-03 202–493–3186	FHWA CMP, which includes 26 Agency Commitments, completed. CMP included formal recognition and organization of the FHWA R&T Leadership Team, with primary responsibility for implementing the CMP. CMP provided throughout FHWA and to external stakeholders, and briefed to several key stakeholders; it was well received both internally and externally. CMP posted on FHWA public Web site. List of FHWA Priority, Market-Ready T&Is, which incorporates the nine AASHTO TIG items, completed; this is one of the CMP Agency Commitments. Workshop on deploying/implementing the list held jointly by FHWA and AASHTO TIG.

Office of Program Development and Evaluation

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Legislative monitoring and analysis.	Tom Krylowski HRPD-01 202–493–3470 Norm Paulhus HRPD-01 202–493–3491	Developed actual legislative language dealing with research, technology, and education included in the Administration’s proposal for SAFETEA. Proposals were developed in conjunction with an internal RD&T working group and the FHWA-wide Legislative Affairs Working Group. Monitored and tracked the evolving positions of stakeholder groups on reauthorization and research to identify and understand stakeholder positions, not to promote any organization, group, or locality. The information was critical in the development of agency input for the Administration’s reauthorization proposal, as well as in tracking reactions of groups to other versions of the proposed legislation.
SBIR review and support.	Norm Paulhus HRPD-01 202–493–3491	HRPD enhanced communication with the Volpe Center and with the financial management staff on SBIR program issues.
TPF Program.	Lisa Williams HRPD-01 202–493–3376	HRPD provided administrative assistance to States and sponsoring organizations interested in establishing pooled fund projects by reviewing and processing requests; circulating proposals for technical review; and updating information on the FHWA’s TPF Web site. FHWA-led projects (139)—valued at approximately $58.5 million; $27.4 million remaining available to the projects with an average of 9.8 partners and the average study valued at $460,000. State-led projects (151)—valued at approximately $71.5 million; $37.8 million remaining available to the projects with an average of 7 State partners per study with the average study valued at $475,000.
TRB.	Bill Zaccagnino HRPD-01 202–493–3183	Contract managed by HRPD to provide technical expertise access to TRB. HRPD support provided for the TRB annual meeting. Coordination of NCHRP support, balloting, and solicitation of problem statements.

Office of Resource Management

Service	Technical Contact	Comments
Accountable property inventory.	Denise Seward HRRM-01 202–493–3471	RD&T recently conducted a complete physical inventory of accountable property. The accountable property inventory maintained by the group is valued at $14.5 million.
Employee training and professional development.	Freddie Forster HRRM-01 202–493–3298	Coordinated and provided computer training courses in Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, HTML programming, Microsoft FrontPage® 2000, and Microsoft PowerPoint®. Provided professional development opportunities for employees through college courses on various engineering research subjects, including “Evaluation and Mitigation of Seismic Hazards,” “Mathematical Statistics,” and “Modeling and Simulation for Intelligent Transportation Systems.” Courses were funded for RD&T employees, and FHWA courses were offered to employees at no cost.
Contracts and procurements.	Sue Stanton HRRM-01 202–493–3480	Coordinated mandatory Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) refresher training for RD&T employees. Ensured that COTRs took the basic COTR training and the mandatory 4-hour annual refresher training. Coordinated mandatory ethics training for RD&T COTR employees.
Procurement management and administration of Activity 10 budget.	Georgia Curtis HRRM-01 202–493–3180	Monitored and controlled expenditures to ensure limits were maintained. Developed and submitted call for annual budget. Prepared monthly reports for management. Reconciled budget reports with the Agency accounting system. Reviewed all procurement requests and review compliance with procedures and policies.

Office of Research and Technology Services

Service	Customer	Contact	Brief Summary of the Nature of Services Performed	Number/Frequency of Services per FY 2003 Estimates
Periodical publications: Public Roads (bimonthly) Transporter (monthly) Focus (monthly)	FHWA and Transportation Community	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Work with editorial board to develop issue themes and articles to support FHWA R&T programs. Develop article(s) content and guide writers for appropriate story angles and audience. Provide entire suite of publication services, including all writing/editing phases, style guidelines and design layout, other camera-ready preparation services, printing, Web site posting, distribution.	Bimonthly Monthly Monthly
Strategic marketing and communications plans.	FHWA	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Work with project managers to facilitate T2 deployment activities targeted to specific users. Includes action plan of outreach tools and activities such as events, publications, Web presence, public service announcements.	Periodic
RD&T research reports and marketing and informational publications.	FHWA and Transportation Community	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Provide entire suite of publication services, including all writing/editing phases, style guidelines and design layout, other camera-ready preparation services, printing, Web site posting, distribution.	65
Other publications, FHWA news, Technology Talks (TT) newsletter.	FHWA	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468 Marketing Team 202–493–3467	Develop input to internal newsletters. Compile TT newsletter and distribute electronically.	Quarterly 36
Full-service RD&T Web site content and HTML programming support.	FHWA	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Complete document preparation with HTML coding, and PDF preparation for thousands of pages of RD&T reports, directories, newsletters, brochures, etc.	Thousands of HTML coded text pages (508 compliant) PDF documents
TFHRC visitors program.	FHWA and Transportation Community	Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Schedule and coordinate tours with RD&T labs, speakers. Arrange for meeting room(s), audio/visual needs, refreshments (e.g., lunches, coffee breaks), informational kits, and technical meetings.	Approximately 1,200 individuals per year
FHWA exhibit, events, and program support services.	FHWA	Marketing Team 202–493–3467	Warehouse storage and shipping of FHWA program displays and conference handouts. Full-service support of FHWA program office exhibitions for all of FHWA and OST.	Exhibit shipping services for 115 events Full-service support for eight national FHWA crosscutting events
FHWA R&T Product Distribution Center.	FHWA and Transportation Community	Marketing Team 202–493–3467	Management of R&T Product Distribution Center, distributing hard copy publications and CD-ROMs to FHWA customers, nationally and abroad.	Approximately 8,000 mailings per year
FHWA meeting and conference support services.	FHWA	Marketing Team 202–493–3467	Full-service support for logistics planning and support of FHWA-sponsored meetings for program offices. Services include hotel meeting space rental, meeting invitations and announcements, invitational travel, speaker(s) support, etc.	24
Audio/visual/computer marketing productions; photography, VHS tape and digital filming; computer presentation services; and CD reproductions.	FHWA	Marketing Team 202–493–3467 Strategic Communications Team 202–493–3468	Multimedia services for RD&T program offices for still photography, VHS or digital filming services, computer presentations preparation, and CD production or duplication (i.e., photographs, promotional VHS tapes, short movies, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, CD productions for presentations).	Frequent; on-call service
T&I deployment—“Raise the Bar.”	FHWA and Transportation Community	Marketing Team 202–493–3467	Meetings and other logistical arrangements. Assist with final publication of Corporate Master Plan for Research and Deployment of Technology & Innovation, and other support activities.	Full support

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