Message from the Managing Director
By Patrick Son

I wanted to take a moment and make a last effort call to the NOCoE community to help spread the word about the Program Coordinator position that is currently open for NOCoE. We are constantly improving and adding services that were identified in this year’s Business Plan which means we need to grow the NOCoE team. If you know of anyone that is in the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area and would be a great addition to the NOCoE team, please forward them and introduce them to the NOCoE. Also, the candidate does not need to have a background in transportation for this particular position as I am looking for someone who can help with coordinating all of the programs, services, communications and outreach that we are constantly improving.
 
In the coming weeks, NOCoE will be sharing key takeaways from our recent peer exchanges, an exciting video of a CV application demo, increased presence on the digital media front and information on what we will be doing at TRB. So stay tuned and keep spreading the word about NOCoE and TSM&O!!!

SHRP2 Education Connection Recipient Presents at Engineering Education Conference

In 2015, the SHRP2 Education Connection initiative was launched, and the Federal Highway Administration awarded cooperative agreements to 10 universities (Bradley University, Colorado State University, Methodist University, Rowan University, University of Idaho, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of North Carolina - Charlotte, University of Wisconsin). This initiative was designed to introduce the academic community to SHRP2 Solutions – and to equip the next generation of transportation professionals with SHRP2 Solutions while they are still in school.Each university met this challenge, integrating one or more SHRP2 Solutions from the Renewal, Reliability, and Capacity focus areas into existing curriculum. One recipient – Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey – had the opportunity to share its experience and curriculum this summer, in a presentation at the annual conference and exposition of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). Their paper was entitled "Integration of Strategic Highway Research Program 2 Products within the Entire Civil Engineering Curriculum." Please click here for the full story. 

Reminder! November 3rd Webinar: 2017 Solar Eclipse-Preparing for August 2017 

Date: November 3, 2016

Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT

Please register here.

This webinar, which will include a presentation from Madhulika Guhathakurta, PhD, Program Scientist with the Heliophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, is intended to help attendees understand what is known about the upcoming solar eclipse and how state and local agencies have begun to address a truly rare planned special event.

A great deal of planning must go into managing traffic leading up to and during a National Special Security Event such as this. This webinar will focus on best practices for preparing for the solar eclipse which will be viewable from multiple sites in North America on August 21st, 2017. This eclipse will impact Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. 

Learn how to take these best practices to share with those states who will witness the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. Please click here for more information, including additional presenters. 

UDOT SPM Source Code Transition to Open Source this Fall
By Mark Taylor

On or about November 15th, UDOT will be providing the UDOT ATSPM source code (and comprehensive documentation provided by GDOT) for free distribution on the Open Source Application Development Portal (OSADP) at http://www.itsforge.net/. The source code will most likely follow the Apache 2.0 basic license agreement that basically allows you to do what you like with the software. OSADP will also allow you (if desired) to contribute any improvements back to the UDOT ATSPM source code trunk and will help facilitate collaboration and acceptance of the proposed changes/improvements with UDOT.

The Utah Department of Transportation and several of our colleagues around the country are glad to see the industry (both public and private sectors) embracing and supporting the Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) that first started with Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Transportation.  ATSPMs have completely revolutionized for the better our day-to-day management of traffic signal operations and maintenance. Please click here to read more. 

Accessing Information about Transportation Systems Management and Operations Performance Measurement 

This NCHRP Document proposes a consistent and easily accessible framework for organizing information about research and practices for TSM&O performance measurement. The proposed framework is further enhanced with a comprehensive set of performance measurements and strategies from the most relevant and most recent literature. In addition, the proposed framework includes the certain TSM&O strategies and parameters that are less developed and/or difficult to measure. In addition, this final draft of the report describes the problems and opportunities for practitioner(s) who adopt the specific performance measurements according to federal rulemaking under MAP-21 legislation.

Position Openings: MSU Director, National Center for Pavement Preservation/Manager, Crisis Mgmt. Center

1.) The Michigan State University Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering invites applications for the position of Director of the National Center for Pavement Preservation at MSU. Please click here to view position qualifications and additional information. 

2.)  Manager, Crisis Management Center, GS-301-15  (Open to All U.S. Citizens)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/454415300

Manager, Crisis Management Center, GS-301-15 (Open to Status Candidates)
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/454414300