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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

 
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This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
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Publication Number:  FHWA-HRT-15-058    Date:  February 2017
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-058
Date: February 2017

 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center R&D Communication Reference Guide

APPENDIX J. LIST OF PREFERRED ACRONYMS/Abbreviations

Please use the following organization names, abbreviations, and acronyms. Note that terms such as AADT (annual average daily traffic), PCC (portland cement concrete), dpi (dots per inch), and many more are common nouns, and are thus lowercase when spelled. Keep common nouns in mind when deciding whether to use uppercase or lowercase.

AAAAmerican Automobile Association 
AAAEAmerican Association of Airport Executives 
AAAMAmerican Association of Automotive Medicine 
AADTannual average daily traffic 
AAMVAAmerican Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators 
AAPAAmerican Association of Port Authorities 
AARAmerican Association of Railroads 
AASHTOAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 
ABAAmerican Bus Association 
ACasphalt concrete 
ACIAmerican Concrete Institute 
ACIRAdvisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 
ACPAAmerican Concrete Pavement Association 
ACTSAutomotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc. (formerly American Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.) 
ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act 
AGCAAssociated General Contractors of America  
AHUAAssociation of Heads of University Administration  
AISCAmerican Institute of Steel Construction 
AISIAmerican Iron and Steel Institute 
ALFAccelerated Loading Facility 
AMPOAssociation of Metropolitan Planning Organizations 
AMTRAKNational Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak is not a governmental agency; it is a private company called the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) 
ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute 
AOPAAircraft Owners and Pilots Association 
APAAmerican Planning Association 
APIAmerican Petroleum Institute 
APTAAmerican Public Transportation Association 
APWAAmerican Public Works Association 
ARTBAAmerican Road and Transportation Builders Association 
ASBIAmerican Sequential Bridge Institute 
ASCEAmerican Society of Civil Engineers 
ASQAmerican Society for Quality 
ASTM(formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) 
ATAAmerican Trucking Association OR Air Transport Association 
ATPAAmerican Technology Preeminence Act 
AVCAutomatic Vehicle Classification 
AWSautomated weather station 
BACblood alcohol concentration 
BESTEABuilding Efficient Surface Transportation and Equity Act of 1997 
BMSBridge Management Systems 
BPRBureau of Public Roads 
BRRBridge Rehabilitation and Replacement 
BTSBureau of Transportation Statistics 
C SHRPCanadian Strategic Highway Research Program 
CAAAClean Air Act Amendments 
CAFECorporate Average Fuel Economy 
CBOCongressional Budget Office 
CBSSECommission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (NRC) 
CDcompact disk 
CERFCivil Engineering Research Foundation 
CETSCommission on Engineering and Technical Systems (NRC) 
CFLHDCentral Federal Lands Highway Division 
CFRCode of Federal Regulations 
CIMAConstruction Industries Manufacturers Association 
CMAQCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality 
CMSCorporate Management Strategy 
COMTOConference of Minority Transportation Officials 
CoPcommunity of practice 
COSTCooperation on Science and Technology (program) 
COTACongressional Office of Technology Assessment 
CORContracting Officer’s Representative  
CPIContinuous Process Improvement 
CRGTurner-Fairbank Highway Research Center R&D Communication Reference Guide 
CRPCooperative Research Program (TRB) 
CRSCongressional Research Service 
CSDcontext sensitive design 
CUTCCouncil of University Transportation Centers 
CVISNCommercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks 
CVOcommercial vehicle operations 
DARPADefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DoD) 
DoDDepartment of Defense (U.S. Department of Defense) 
dpidots per inch 
DVDdigital versatile disk 
EAPEmployee Assistance Program 
ECMTEuropean Conference of Ministers of Transportation 
EDLElectronic Document Library 
EEOCEqual Employment Opportunity Commission 
EFLHDEastern Federal Lands Highway Division  
EISEnvironmental Impact Statement 
EITelectronic and information technology 
EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) 
EPSEncapsulated PostScript file 
ESALequivalent single axle load 
ETTMElectronic Toll and Traffic Management 
EUEuropean Union  
EUREKAEuropean Research Coordination Agency 
FAAFederal Aviation Administration 
FAQsfrequently asked questions 
FARSFatality Analysis Reporting System 
FEHBFederal Employee Health Benefits 
FHWAFederal Highway Administration 
FIFOfirst in, first out 
FIMSFiscal Management Information System 
FMCSAFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
FRAFederal Railroad Administration 
FRCFederal Records Center 
FRPfiber reinforced polymer 
FTAFederal Transit Administration 
FWDfalling weight deflectometer 
FYfiscal year 
GAOGeneral Accountability Office 
GIFGraphic Interchange Format 
GISgeographic information system 
GOEgeneral operating expenses 
GPOGovernment Printing Office 
GPRground penetrating radar 
GPRAGovernment Performance and Results Act 
GPSGlobal Positioning System  
GSAU.S. General Services Administration 
HBRRPHighway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program 
HIPERPAVTMHigh Performance Pavement 
HITECHighway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center 
HMAhot mix asphalt 
HP&RHighway Planning and Research 
HP&RHighway Planning and Research 
HPMSHighway Performance Monitoring System (FHWA) 
HRhuman resources 
HRTMOffice of Corporate Research, Technology and Innovation Management 
HSGThigh-speed ground transportation 
HSIPHighway Safety Improvement Program 
HTFHighway Trust Fund 
HTMLHyperText Markup Language 
HUFSAMHighway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, now called American Highway Users Alliance 
IACPInternational Association of Chiefs of Police  
IAHRInternational Association for Hydraulic Research  
IANAIntermodal Association of North America 
IATAInternational Air Transport Association 
IBTTAInternational Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (no serial comma according to IBTTA’s usage) 
ICAOInternational Civil Aviation Organization 
IDEAInnovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis 
IDPIndividual Development Program 
IEEEInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 
IHSDMInteractive Highway Safety Design Module  
IIHSInsurance Institute for Highway Safety 
INAInternational Navigation Association (formerly called PIANC, Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses) 
IOMInstitute of Medicine 
IPPindividual performance plan 
IRFInternational Road Federation 
IRIInternational Roughness Index 
ISOInternational Organization for Standardization (correct even though it looks incorrect) 
ISTEAIntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 
ITEInstitute for Transportation Engineers 
ITSintelligent transportation system 
ITSAmerica Intelligent Transportation Society of America 
ITS/JPOIntelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office 
IUPTInternational Union of Public Transport 
IVHSintelligent vehicle highway systems 
IVIIntelligent Vehicle Initiative 
JPEGJoint Photographic Experts Group 
KMknowledge management 
KSAsknowledge, skills, and abilities 
L&Dlearning and development 
LADSLearning and Development System 
LANlocal area network 
LCCAlifecycle cost analysis 
LRFDload and resistance factor design 
LTAPLocal Technical Assistance Program 
LTPLeave Transfer Program 
LTBPLong-Term Bridge Performance (Program) 
LTPPLong-Term Pavement Performance (Program) 
MARADMaritime Administration (USDOT) 
MBMarine Board (TRB) 
MBNQAMalcolm Baldrige National Quality Award 
MMSMinerals Management Service 
MPOmetropolitan planning organization 
MSPBMerit Systems Protection Board 
MTMCMilitary Traffic Management Command 
MUTCDManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 
MYAEPMulti Year Affirmative Employment Program 
NACENational Association of County Engineers 
NACONational Association of Counties 
NAENational Academy of Engineering 
NAGHSRNational Association of Governors’ Highway Safety Representatives 
NAPANational Asphalt Pavement Association 
NARANational Archives and Records Administration 
NARCNational Association of Regional Councils  
NASNational Academy of Sciences 
NASAONational Association of State Aviation Officials 
NASSNational Automotive Sampling System (NHTSA) 
NBISNational Bridge Inventory System 
NCATNational Center for Asphalt Technology 
NCHRPNational Cooperative Highway Research Program 
NCPNational Coordinated Program (of Highway Research, Development, and Technology) 
NCSLNational Conference of State Legislatures 
NCSRONational Conference of State Railway Officials 
NDEnondestructive evaluation 
NDRNational Driver Register 
NEPANational Environmental Policy Act 
NEXTEANational Economic Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997  
NGANational Governors’ Association 
NHINational Highway Institute 
NHSNational Highway System 
NHTSANational Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
NISTNational Institute of Standards and Technology 
NIT LeagueNational Industrial Transportation League 
NPRNational Performance Review 
NPTSNationwide Personal Transportation Survey 
NQINational Quality Initiative 
NRCNational Research Council 
NSCNational Safety Council 
NSFNational Science Foundation 
NSPENational Society of Professional Engineers 
NSTCNational Science and Technology Council  
NTINational Transit Institute 
NTISNational Technical Information Service 
NTLNational Transportation Library 
NTSBNational Transportation Safety Board 
OECDOrganisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 
OIGOffice of the Inspector General 
OMBOffice of Management and Budget 
ONROffice of Naval Research 
OPMOffice of Personnel Management 
ORIOffice of Road Inquiry 
OSHAOccupational Safety and Health Administration 
OSTOffice of the Secretary of Transportation 
OSTPOffice of Science and Technology Policy (White House) 
PBCATPedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool 
PCAPortland Cement Association 
PCCportland cement concrete (“portland” is lowercase when used in text) 
PCIPrecast/Prestressed Concrete Institute 
PDFPortable Document Format 
PDPprofessional development program 
PIPrincipal Investigator 
PIANCPermanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (now called International Navigation Association) 
PIARCPermanent International Association of Road Congresses 
PICRIPavement Industry Cooperative Research Initiative 
PIHPan American Institute of Highways 
PQAPresident’s Quality Award 
PROMETHEUSProgram for European Traffic with Highest Efficiency and Unprecedented Safety 
PTRCPlanning and Transport Research and Computation 
QC/QAquality control/quality assurance 
R&Dresearch and development 
R&Tresearch and technology 
RABARevenue Aligned Budget Authority 
RACResearch Advisory Committee 
RCCCRegular Common Carrier Conference (ATA)  
RD&Tresearch, development, and technology 
RFPRequest for Proposals 
RIDERResearch and Information Databases and Electronic Resources 
ROSANRoadway Surface Analyzer 
RSFRoadway Safety Foundation (AHUA) 
RSPAResearch and Special Programs Administration (USDOT) 
RTAPRural Transportation Assistance Program (FHWA)  
RTCCResearch and Technology Coordinating Committee 
SAESociety of Automotive Engineers 
SAFETEASafe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 
SCOHStanding Committee on Highways (AASHTO) 
SCOQStanding Committee on Quality 
SCORStanding Committee on Research (AASHTO) 
SFLHDSouthern Federal Lands Highway Division 
SHRPStrategic Highway Research Program 
SHRP 2Second Strategic Highway Research Program 
SIPState implementation plan 
SMARTSSite Management and Retroreflective Tracking System 
SMSsafety management system 
SMSAstandard metropolitan statistical area 
SNOSubcommittee for NRC Oversight (TRB) 
SOWstatement of work 
SPCstatistical process control 
SPPRSubcommittee on Planning and Policy Review (TRB) 
SPRState planning and research 
SPSSpecific Pavement Studies 
STBSurface Transportation Board 
STIPDGSummer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups 
STPSurface Transportation Program 
STPPSurface Transportation Policy Project 
STRAHNETStrategic Highway Network 
SUPPSShared United Performance Plan System 
SWESociety of Women Engineers 
T&Itechnology and innovation 
T2technology transfer 
TASCTransportation Administrative Service Center 
TCRPTransit Cooperative Research Program (TRB) 
TCSPTransportation and Community and Systems Preservation  
TCTTechnical Career Track 
TDCTransit Development Corporation (APTA) 
TDIPTechnology Deployment Initiatives and Preservation  
TEA-21Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century  
TFHRCTurner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 
TIFFTagged Image File Format 
TIFIATransportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act 
TINTechnology Innovation Network 
TIPTransportation Improvement Program 
TMATransportation Management Association 
TMCTransportation Management Center 
TNMtraffic noise model 
TQMTotal Quality Management 
TRBTransportation Research Board 
TRFTransportation Research Forum 
TRITrucking Research Institute (ATA) 
TRIPThe Road Information Program 
TRISTransportation Research Information Services (TRB)  
TRLTransportation Research Laboratory 
TReLTraffic Research Laboratory 
TRRLTransportation and Road Research Laboratory (United Kingdom)  
TSMTransportation System Management 
UPACSUser Profile and Access Control System  
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
USCGU.S. Coast Guard (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)  
USDOTU.S. Department of Transportation  
UTCUniversity Transportation Center 
UTCPUniversity Transportation Centers Program (USDOT)  
VMTvehicle miles traveled 
VNTSCVolpe National Transportation Systems Center (USDOT)  
VTIRoad and Traffic Research Institute of Sweden 
VWSvirtual weather station 
WFLHDWestern Federal Lands Highway Division  
WIMweigh in motion 
WRAWorld Road Association (formerly PIARC, Permanent International Association of Road Congresses) 
WSCGWestern States Concrete Group 

 

 

 

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101