FHWA R&T Now -September 2008-

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A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Federal Highway Administration 

ADMINISTRATION/GENERAL 

-Madison Confirmed as Highway AdministratorThomas J. Madison Jr. was confirmed to head the Federal Highway Administration. Madison was sworn in 

as Administrator on August 18, 2008. Madison has an extensive transportation background which includes 

his recent role as President of the Spectra Subsurface Imaging Group, LLC. Prior to this he worked as 

Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, and earlier in his career as Deputy 

Secretary for Transportation to the Governor of New York. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/admin.htm

-NHTSA Data Shows Drop in 2007 Highway FatalitiesThe U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced the release of National Highway Transportation Safety 

Administration (NHTSA) data on highway fatalities in 2007. Total highway deaths in the U.S. for 2007 

were 41,059 a drop of 1,649 from the 2006 total. 

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot11308.htm

-2009 TRB 88TH Annual Meeting: Dennis C. Judycki, 2008 Roy W. Crum Award RecipientThe 2008 Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Dennis C. Judycki, former 

Associate Administrator for Research, Development and Technology at the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), in recognition of his outstanding leadership in research management. Serving in 

that position from 1999 until his retirement in 2008, he was also Director of the agency's Turner-Fairbank 

Highway Research Center. As the FHWA's chief manager, overseer, and champion of research, Judycki 

worked tirelessly to enhance national programs and develop partnerships in highway research and 

technology, reaching out systematically to stakeholders and promoting the implementation of innovative 

research results. 

http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9421

-Dennis C. Judycki Nominated for Frank Turner AwardDennis C. Judycki, former Associate Administrator for Research, Development and Technology at FHWA, 

has been nominated for the Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation. The award 

recognizes lifetime achievement in transportation, as demonstrated by a distinguished career in the field, 

professional prominence, and a distinctive, widely recognized contribution to transportation policy, 

administration, or research. 

ADVANCED RESEARCH 

-Exploratory Advanced Research Opportunities: Advanced Research on the Empirical Mode 

Decomposition Algorithm- 
FHWA signed a contract with Princeton University to create the advanced mathematical base of the 

Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) method and explore its potential applications in highway safety, 

infrastructure including bridges, and energy and the environment. The researchers will develop precise 

mathematical methods that will have potential applications in sensor technology and analysis. This is the 

first award to be made as a result of the national Broad Agency Announcement for Exploratory Advanced 

Research (EAR) proposals that FHWA issued in May 2008. Awarded through a cooperative effort of 

FHWA’s Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management; Office of Safety R&D; 

and Office of Acquisition Management, the project will be managed by the Office of Safety R&D. 

For more information about the project, contact: 

kunik.lee@dot.gov 202-493-3491 

For more information about the Broad Agency Announcement for EAR projects, contact: 

terry.halkyard@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3467 

-Development of Methodologies to Evaluate the Nighttime Safety Implications of the Roadway Visual 

Scene Under Varying Cognitive Task LoadsFHWA entered into a cooperative agreement with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that aims to 

integrate new technology and identify a dynamic driver visual model to improve nighttime driving safety. 

The research is designed to develop a model framework of human visual perception in the driving 

environment that is comprehensive yet simple enough to derive probabilistic forecasts of driver 

performance under given visual conditions. An important aspect of the research is development of a 

combined driver/roadway monitoring system, which combines two existing systems, an infrared eye tracker 

and a dynamic photometer, into a unified system which also links to in-vehicle instrumentation. This award 

is a result of the national Broad Agency Announcement for Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) 

Proposals issued in May 2008. Awarded through a cooperative effort of FHWA’s Office of Corporate 

Research, Technology, and Innovation Management; Office of Safety R&D; and Office of Acquisition 

Management, the project will be managed by the Office of Safety R&D. 

For more information about the project, contact: 

carl.andersen@dot.gov 202-493-3366 

For more information about the Broad Agency Announcement for EAR projects, contact: 

terry.halkyard@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3467 

-Human Factors for Limited-Ability Autonomous Driving SystemsFHWA signed a contract with General Motors Corporation that proposes to study the human factors aspects 

of limited automated driving systems. The research will address a number of concerns pertaining to these 

systems including drivers becoming over-reliant upon the systems, drivers evoking such systems outside of 

design parameters and drivers not being aware when the systems are not operating as intended. Expected 

outcomes are the impact of human factors on performance of automated systems and better definition of 

roles of drivers using such systems in a variety of scenarios. This award is a result of the national Broad 

Agency Announcement for Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Proposals. Awarded through a 

cooperative effort of FHWA’s Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management; 

Office of Safety R&D; and Office of Acquisition Management, the project will be managed by the Office 

of Safety R&D. 

For more information about the project, contact: 

kunik.lee@dot.gov 202-493-3491 

For more information about the Broad Agency Announcement for EAR projects, contact: 

terry.halkyard@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3467 
ENVIRONMENT 

-“It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” Initiative Launches New Web SiteThe It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air transportation and air quality initiative will launch a new and improved 

Web site during the first week of September. The site will be easier to use and has plenty of free, 

professional tools to help states and MPOs create affordable, commercial-quality public education 

campaigns to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in their communities. 

www.italladdsup.gov

PAVEMENTS 

-LTPP Newsletter, Summer 2008- 

This issue includes: Texas Uses Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Data to Calibrate the M-E 

PDG Permanent Deformation Models; LTPP Database Server Relocation; and, In Brief: LTPP Forensic 

Studies Update. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/ltpp/news.cfm

SAFETY 

-2008 Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) Public ReleaseThe 2008 public release (Version 5.0.0) of IHSDM is available for free downloading. IHSDM is a suite of 

software analysis tools for evaluating safety and operational effects of geometric design decisions on twolane rural highways. This 2008 release includes the addition of a fully-functioning beta version of a 

Driver/Vehicle Module (DVM), along with significant enhancements to output/reporting capabilities and 

other functionalities. An updated IHSDM training course (#380071) can also be arranged via the National 

Highway Institute. 

For more information, visit: 

http://www.ihsdm.org/wiki/Current_events

TRANSPORTATION POOLED FUND PROGRAM 

-New Transportation Pooled Fund Program ManagerLisa Williams, who previously served as the Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Program Coordinator, has 

returned to FHWA as our new TPF Program Manager. She reported on September 2nd. Lisa brings a rich 

variety of experience to the position and we look forward to Lisa sharing her talents and skills in furthering 

the transition to the new financial procedures, improving our ability to communicate with the users, as well 

as, other program improvements. 

lisa.a.williams@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3375 

-FHWA Officially Closes Over 10 Pooled Fund ProjectsIn November 2007, new financial procedures for the Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) program were 

issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to create a process that will result in simplified 

steps and improved financial accountability. More specifically, the new procedures are intended to improve 
financial records for pooled fund projects within FHWA and assist with the successful close out of all 

completed projects. Under these new procedures, more than 10 projects are now officially closed and any 

remaining funds in the project have been returned to the participating States. Within fiscal year 2009, it is 

anticipated that over 100 completed projects will be officially closed. For more information on the TPF 

program and/or the status of any pooled fund project, please visit the TPF website: 

http://www.pooledfund.org/

lisa.a.williams@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3375 

EVENTS/MEETINGS/ WORKSHOPS 

-Technical Presentations at TFHRC by the Applied Research Laboratory at The Penn State 

UniversityOn October 7 in McLean, Virginia, the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) is hosting 

three technical presentations by staff of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at The Penn State 

University. 

▪ Dr. James F. Tarter, Department Head, Advanced Computational Analysis and Design at ARL, will 

present “Advanced Finite Element Analysis for Highway Applications.” 

▪ Dr. Moustafa El-Gindy, Director of the Vehicle Dynamics and Simulation Research Center at ARL, will 

present an“Overview of ARL Vehicle Dynamics and Highway Safety Research.” 

▪ Dr. Kevin Koudela, Head of the Composite Materials Division and Assistant Director of ARL, will 

present an “Overview of Composite Materials Research for Transportation Systems.” 

For more information about the technical presentations, contact: 

eric.weaver@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3153 

-Upcoming Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) Web ConferencesTo support the 2008 public release of IHSDM, a web conference will be offered from 11:00-12:30 pm EST 

on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. 

For registration information, contact: 

clayton.chen@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3054 

RECENT PERIODICALS 

-FOCUS Newsletter - August 2008- 

This issue includes the place to go for system preservation technical assistance, all construction, all the 

time, FHWA sponsors asset management webinars, seminar offers one-stop information source for building 

more corrosion-resistant bridges, highway technology calendar, and highways for LIFE now accepting 

applications for 2009 projects. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/aug08/index.htm

lgpope@woodwardcom.com
-Public Roads - July/August 2008- 

This issue includes: 1. Accessing America’s Treasures: The FLHP celebrates its 25th anniversary with a 

retrospective of past accomplishments and a preview of its next 25 years. 2. Did You Help Lead the Safety 

Initiative Today: Effective leadership is the intangible ingredient in reducing fatalities and injuries on the 

Nation’s highways. 3. CSD Avoids Delays on New Tolling Project: Pennsylvania shares recent experience 

with involving the community in the context sensitive design for the Mon/Fayette Expressway. 4. Applying 

“Fuzzy Concept” to Bridge Management: This approach could help account for uncertainties in condition 

assessments and improve maintenance decisions. 5. Gaining Traction in Roadway Safety: High-friction 

surfacing systems show promise in helping transportation agencies improve skid resistance on wet 

pavement and hazardous curves and grades. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/08july/index.htm

dawn.vanlandingham@fhwa.dot.gov

Links: 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: www.tfhrc.gov 

Resource Center: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/ 

National Highway Institute: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx

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