Technology Transfer
Recent Conferences
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Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Summer Meeting
June 30 – July 2, 2009
Amherst, MANEXTRANS Center Director Srinivas Peeta delivered a presentation on UTC Best Practices at the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Summer Meeting, which was held June 30 – July 2, 2009 in Amherst, MA. Dr. Peeta’s presentation illustrated how the NEXTRANS Center aims to develop integrated solutions while responding to shifting USDOT priorities.
The Center strives to achieve this goal through strategic internal planning; innovative partnerships; and an integrated, dynamic approach to project selection. Dr. Peeta also discussed the importance of the UTC Grant, results achieved during the first two years of operations, and risks the Center has taken. These include integrating university partners financially and programmatically, developing innovative partnerships driven by common goals, and continuously adapting to changing contexts.
The NEXTRANS Center was one of eight centers invited to present on UTC Best Practices at this year’s meeting, which was hosted by the University of Massachusetts Transportation Center. CUTC's membership represents over 60 of the nation's leading university-based transportation research and education programs. -
Eighth International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways, and Airfields (BCR2A)
June 29 - July 2, 2009.
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe Eighth International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways, and Airfields (BCR2A) convened at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) from June 29 - July 2, 2009. NEXTRANS faculty members from UIUC presented numerous papers and workshops throughout the 4-day event. The conference was chaired by NEXTRANS Investigator Erol Tutumluer, and Co-Chaired by Executive Committee Member Imad Al-Qadi. Investigator Christopher Barkan served as Railroad Area Coordinator. William Buttlar (Investigator) and Jeffrey Roesler (Faculty Affiliate) chaired conference sessions, and Riley Edwards (Investigator) served on the organizing committee (with Buttlar and Roesler).
Attracting 250 academics, researchers, and practitioners from 32 countries, this conference aimed to address the bearing capacity problems of roads, railways, and airfields. Bearing capacity issues are changing because of ever-increasing traffic volumes and weights, which require stronger and more durable pavements, railroad track structures, and superstructures. BCR2A provided international experts in this field with an opportunity to exchange experiences and views, as well as identify the needs for further research and development. This conference is the eighth in the series that began in Trondheim, Norway in 1982 and occurs at four-year intervals . -
Midwest Traffic Monitoring Workshop
March 24-25, 2009
Columbus, OhioNEXTRANS researchers at The Ohio State University recently participated in the Midwest Traffic Monitoring Workshop on March 24-25, 2009. Executive Committee Member Mark McCord served as a member of the workshop planning team, and participated in a panel titled “Improving Availability and Use of Traffic Data in the Midwest.” Dr. McCord is currently conducting a NEXTRANS-sponsored project that aims to improve the accuracy of Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) data by leveraging existing air photos.
Organized by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and hosted by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Midwest Traffic Monitoring Workshop provided a forum for Midwestern state and local agencies to share successful strategies for collecting, analyzing, disseminating, and using traffic data. Participants also emphasized the importance of maximizing productivity and results through regional collaboration. -
95th Annual Purdue Road School
March 10-12, 2009
Purdue UniversityThe NEXTRANS Center was pleased to participate in the non-profit exhibition at the 95th Annual Purdue Road School. Held at Purdue since 1914, the Road School consistently attracts well over 1,000 Indiana local and state officials, consultants, and suppliers each year. Important updates on pertinent transportation issues, as well as sessions on topics of general interest, are provided in the two-day conference. Road School also hosts regional meetings of several affiliated professional groups, such as the County Surveyors Association and the Indiana Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
This year’s conference provided numerous opportunities to network with local and state officials during exhibits, sessions, and luncheons. Hundreds of participants visited the NEXTRANS Center’s booth, where they were updated on the Center’s current research, education, and technology transfer activities. Staff members publicized upcoming educational projects such as the NEXTRANS Undergraduate Summer Internship and Indiana High School Essay Contest, and worked to forge partnerships in support of the Center’s regional goals. The Purdue Road School is coordinated by the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP), and chaired by former NEXTRANS Executive Committee Member and JTRP Director Kumares Sinha. -
57th Annual Illinois Traffic Engineering and Safety Conference
February 24-25, 2009
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignEach year, hundreds of transportation engineers, officials, technicians, faculty and students gather at the Transportation and Highway Engineering (T.H.E) Conference to discuss issues critical to the safe and economical movement of people and goods across Illinois, the U.S.A., and beyond. This year marked the 96th Anniversary of the T.H.E. Conference, which was held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on February 24-25, 2009, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees.
A number of NEXTRANS students and faculty members from UIUC were involved in this year’s conference. NEXTRANS Investigator William Buttlar served as Chairperson of the event, in addition to presiding over Wednesday’s Luncheon Program. Executive Committee Member and ICT Director Imad Al-Qadi updated attendees on current Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) research during Wednesday’s General Session. Tuesday afternoon’s technical breakout sessions featured NEXTRANS affiliated faculty member Jeff Roesler, who delivered a presentation titled “Concrete Pavement Solutions for Low Volume Roads.”
Local, state, and federal officials provided perspectives at this year’s conference. Presenters included representatives from State DOT’s (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan) and Toll Highway Authorities; engineers and planners from local districts; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Asphalt Pavement Association; as well as private sector construction and engineering corporations. During the 2009 T.H.E. Exhibit and Mixer, participants were given the opportunity to network with colleagues and visit exhibits in order to keep up with the latest industry trends. They also mingled with ASCE, ITE, and ACI student members as well as NEXTRANS students.
The T.H.E. Conference was started in 1914 as a training school for County Superintendents of Highways, and has since evolved with state and national needs. NEXTRANS investigator and UIUC professor William Buttlar has served as T.H.E. Conference Director since 2002. UIUC, the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT), and NEXTRANS look forward to continuing their involvement next year as T.H.E. begins preparations for its 100th anniversary.
Click here for more information about T.H.E. -
Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Winter Meeting
January 11, 2009
Washington, D.C. -
Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting & Purdue University Civil Engineering Reception
January 2009
Washington, D.C.On January 11, 2009, the NEXTRANS Center co-hosted a successful reception at the 88th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by NEXTRANS, Purdue, and the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP), this year’s Purdue University Civil Engineering Reception enjoyed record attendance, offering participants the opportunity to interact with transportation professionals, as well as NEXTRANS partners, faculty, and students.
The Center’s lively reception was just one of the many highlights from this year’s meeting. A number of NEXTRANS faculty members and students were honored for co-authoring award-winning papers. Erol Tutumluer won the TRB Geology and Properties of Earth Materials Section Best Paper Award; Jeffery Roesler, and Glaucio Paulino received the 2009 Bryant Mather Best Paper Award; NEXTRANS student Hao Wang and Executive Committee Member Imad Al-Qadi co-authored a paper that was the runner-up for the 2008 K. B. Woods Award for Best Paper in Design and Construction; and Anuj Sharma received the Milton Pikarsky Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation during the CUTC Awards Banquet, for a project chaired by Director Srinivas Peeta and Executive Committee Member Darcy Bullock.
In addition to winning these awards, NEXTRANS investigators presented cutting-edge research on dozens of topics, and participated in meetings for a number of TRB committees. Each year, the TRB Annual Meeting attracts more than 10,000 transportation professionals from around the world. With more than 3,000 presentations in nearly 600 sessions, the program addresses topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions. This year’s spotlight theme was “Transportation, Energy, and Climate Change.”
Click here to view photos from the 2009 Purdue Civil Engineering Reception
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Indiana Logistics Summit
November 12, 2008
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Indianapolis, INPresented by the Ports of Indiana and Purdue University, the summit brought together leaders from the worlds of industry, academia, public policy and government to discuss how to make Indiana's transportation, distribution and logistics businesses more competitive and what it will take to make this state a leader in the world of logistics.
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62nd Annual Ohio Transportation and Engineering Conference (OTEC)
October 28-29, 2008
Columbus, OhioSponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation and The Ohio State Uni-versity (OSU), the conference focused on the 2008 Theme: “The Power of Multi-modal Transportation: Linking Ohio to the World on All Fronts.” NEXTRANS faculty members from OSU actively engaged students at this year’s conference to inform them on UTC activities and opportunities, and help them transition into transportation careers. Faculty also shared research projects co-sponsored by NEXTRANS with attendees at large.
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57th Annual Illinois Traffic Engineering and Safety Conference
October 22 - 23, 2008
Urbana, ILFor nearly six decades, this conference has provided participants with cutting-edge information on transportation research, government policies and regulations, product development and testing, product evaluation, and computer hardware and software developments. As one of the premier meetings in the Midwest region, the Illinois Traffic Engineering & Safety Conference gives participants a chance to discuss ideas and issues with experts, gain job-related information and re-new their sense of professional purpose. This year’s conference gave NEXTRANS faculty members from UIUC the chance to share Center goals and activities with the transportation community by networking with colleagues in the Illinois area.
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The NEXTRANS Center Inaugural Summit
Monday, May 5, 2008
Purdue University Campus
West Lafayette, IN 47907Exploring Partnerships for Innovative Transportation and Logistics Solutions
The day long summit brought together a broad range of high-level stakeholders in the Federal, State and Local Governments, Industry, University and the Non-profit sectors in a series of events to share the NEXTRANS Center’s mission, vision and goals while exploring mechanisms for collaboration and participation for innovative and integrated solutions for current and emerging challenges in the transportation and logistics domains.
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94th Annual Purdue Road School
March 25, 2008
Purdue University Campus
West Lafayette, IN 47907NEXTRANS Session : Integrated Solutions for Transportation: Perspectives and Practice
