New England Transportation Consortium

New England Transportation Consortium

Other

20-4 Coordinating State Policies, Laws and Regulations for Automated Driving Systems Across New England

Project Objectives

The objectives of this project are to:

  1. Conduct a literature review of research focused on Automated Driving Systems (ADS);
  2. Analyze existing policy, legal, and regulatory issues to overcome anticipated barriers to multi-state ADS operations;
  3. Recommend coordinated steps for the NE States to take in consideration of the operations of vehicles on the roadway transitioning from human driven to ADS operated;
  4. Develop recommendations towards facilitating testing and deployment of ADS-equipped vehicles operating in multiple states or traveling across state lines; and
  5. Support the development of policy, legal, and regulatory approaches that inform national and other regional ADS efforts.

Technical Committee Members

  • TC Chair, Peter Calcaterra, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Daniel Sullivan (Former Chair), Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Kara Aguilar, Maine Department of Transportation
  • Kody McCarthy, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Susan Klasen, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Christos Xenophontos, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Joe Segale, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Co-Liaison: Nicholas Zavolas, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
AC Co-Liaison: Emily Parkany, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Implementation Activities

Tech Transfer Activities

  • March 13, 2023 – 2023 Louisiana Transportation Conference – Greg Rodriguez and Jackie Beckwith, Stantec
  • July 28, 2022 – 2022 AASHTO Research Advisory Committee Meeting – Emily Parkany, Vermont Agency of Transportation

20-3 Investigating Thermal Imaging Technologies and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Improve Bridge Inspections

Project Objectives

The overall research objective is to focus on developing UAV-based inspection and analysis protocols using infrared (IR) thermal imaging to determine the existence and extent of concrete delamination, with emphasis on the underside of bridge decks.  This objective will be realized by answering the specific questions:

  1. Can IR technology be used effectively to identify concrete delaminations, especially on the underside of bridge decks where the concrete surface thermal differences may be only subtle due to very little exposure to direct sunlight. What type of thermal resolution is required? Sensor images will need to be “ground-truthed” with actual measured delaminations from tried and true methods. Also is there sensor equipment that can be used in handheld operation and attached to drones for flight operations.
  2. What type of drone hardware, Camera Specifications, Camera Mountings and Testing Attachments would provide the most cost-effective benefit for each type of data capture?  This question will be answered through surveys and test trials of different UAVs.  For optimal information gathering, it is envisioned that several technologies will be concurrently employed, and a significant outcome of the work will be an assessment of the relative value and optimum combination of technologies. (e.g. drone and infrared imaging systems).
  3. What data storage and retrieval systems and hardware are required for managing and easily re-using the potentially enormous volume of digitized information captured?  Data storage and data transfer technologies make this a relatively simple problem. However, universal data sharing formats will need to be established early on.
  4. What software is available or will require development to efficiently process the captured data for human inspection and evaluation?  Many generic systems of machine learning (including computer vision) are available and as such it is relatively easy to develop and train prototype systems.  Once prototypes are tested, they can be turned into application-specific codes with an interface appropriate for field use.

Technical Committee Members

  • TC Chair, John “Sam” Maxim: Maine Department of Transportation
  • Vitalij Staroverov, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Bruce Sylvia, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Nicholas Goulas, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Colin Franco, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Evan Robinson, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Dale Peabody, Maine Department of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Implementation Activities

Tech Transfer Activities

  • Sam Maxim, Dale Peabody and Kevin Ahearn met with Danny Tullier (Bridge Design/Instrumentation, LA DOTD) to provide information from the project, particularly related to IR thermography cameras.

18-4 Quick Response Project: 2019 ICNet Workshop

Project Objectives

  1. Organize and run an ICNet workshop in spring 2019.
  2. Identify research needs and develop a problem statement that NETC can address.
  3. Develop a plan for sustaining the annual ICNet workshop in future years.

Technical Committee Members

  • Charles Hebson, Maine Department of Transportation
  • Elise Greenberg, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Katherine McArthur, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Steven Miller, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Julia Gold, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Joe Segale, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison, Ann Scholz, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

18-3 Integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into Operations Conducted by State Departments of Transportation

Project Objectives

  • Provide guidance to New England DOTs regarding best practices when incorporating UAS into daily operations.
  • The research will focus on the following: (1) exploring UAS applications in order to support state DOT missions and identify those most suitable for specific (or categorical) DOT operational missions; (2) identification of up-to-date technologies and support systems that are necessary in order to accomplish the selected use-cases; (3) addressing challenges associated with the implementation and integration of UAS technologies and FAA rules and regulations; (4) developing processes to carry out selected UAS applications.
  • The following UAS use cases will be evaluated in detail:
    • Emergency response and recovery (Vermont Agency of Transportation)
    • Public outreach and engagement (Rhode Island DOT)
    • Bridge inspection (Maine DOT)
    • Surveying and mapping (New Hampshire DOT)
    • Construction inspection (Connecticut DOT)
    • Traffic monitoring (Massachusetts DOT)

Technical Committee Members

  • Jeffrey DeCarlo (TC Chair), Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Pamela Cotter, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Carol L. Niewola, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Matt Philbrick, Maine Department of Transportation
  • Amy E. Stula, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • David Tillberg, Vermont Agency of Transportation

AC Liaison: Emily Parkany, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Project Coordinator, Kirsten Seeber, CTC & Associates

Implementation Activities

A UAS New England peer group formed as a result of this project. NHDOT is pursuing a UAS implementation plan that will build off this project and be specific to NHDOT’s needs. VT AOT will use the project’s results to look at new platforms, as a starting point to fill in gaps in their existing UAS procedures and workflows, and as a reference for future discussions in the peer group.

Tech Transfer Activities

NHDOT Aeronautics submitted a poster on their UAS Plan for NHDOT to the 2024 TRB Annual Meeting and received the top honor. NHDOT has undertaken or teamed up on several research projects, which included NETC 18-3, to evaluate the use of UAS at DOTs in terms of data needs and staff skillsets. The result was a NHDOT implementation plan to integrate UAS technologies into everyday processes. Tricia Lambert represented NHDOT at the session. Carol Niewola and Jason Leavitt authored the poster. Download the award-wining poster here.

17-1 Quick Response: New England Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Project Objectives

The research objectives of this project include:

  • Identify multi-state issues related to the testing and deployment of CVs, AVs, and CAVs in New England
  • Document opportunities and challenges related to multi-state CV, AV, and CAV issues
  • Prepare an action plan that minimizes the challenges and pursues the opportunities

Technical Committee Members

  • Emily Parkany (Chairperson), Vermont Agency of Transportation
  • Joe Segale, Vermont Agency of Transportation
  • Kara Aguilar, Maine Department of Transportation
  • Peter Calcaterra, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Daniel Sullivan, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Julia Gold, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
  • Susan Klasen, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Kody McCarthy, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Implementation Activities

The project resulted in a roadmap for the six states to follow. The framework has led to the six states continuing the discussions, meeting quarterly and one-to-two times a year in person. The states continue to share ideas and resources about CAVs and plan joint activities inspired by the roadmap.

Tech Transfer Activities

14-1 Measuring the Effectiveness of Competency Models for Job-Specific Professional Development of Engineers & Engineering Technicians

Project Objectives

  1. To identify and review existing Competency Models (CM) and matrices that can help in the development of a DOT specific competency model
  2. To perform a gap analysis on the existing CM’s and matrices to create a DOT specific employee competency matrix
  3. To create a CM framework for each of the NETC member states
  4. To run a pilot program in one of the NETC member states
  5. To determine the financial benefits (return on investment) of having a CM in place
  6. To create an implementation plan and technology transfer strategy for the research results
  7. To deliver a final report (as required in Task 5)

Technical Committee Members

  • Rhonda Fletcher (Chairperson), Maine Department of Transportation
  • Alternate Chairperson Janice Arsenault, Maine Department of Transportation
  • Paula Nash, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Christine Hetzel, VTrans Training Center
  • Robert Lauzon, Connecticut Department of Transportation
  • Kathleen Sisson, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Implementation Activities

ConnDOT feels this project will serve as an excellent foundation for future regional efforts.