tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37449649963820152182024-03-05T08:05:16.390-08:00Southern Plains Transportation CenterSouthern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-49977216391039085932015-08-26T20:43:00.002-07:002015-08-26T20:59:31.248-07:00 SPTC BRIEF: Design of Integral Abutment Bridges in Extreme Climate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #767171; font-size: small;">SPTC BRIEF: Highlighting Developments
at Southern Plains Transportation Center – July 2015</span><br />
<span style="color: #767171; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Featured in the UTC Spotlight Newsletter – September 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OVERVIEW:</b> Current research sponsored by the SPTC utilizes data
collected from an instrumented Integral Abutment Bridge (IAB) and computer
models to develop readily implementable design and construction guidelines for IABs
subjected to extreme variations in temperature and soil moisture conditions. The
work builds on several years of collaboration between researchers at the University
of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to improve analysis
and design of IABs to enhance bridge performance and safety while reducing
maintenance costs.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span>Integral
Abutment Bridges (IABs) are jointless bridges without any expansion joints
within the bridge deck or between the superstructure (deck and girders) and the
abutments. A schematic drawing of an IAB is shown in Figure 1. Unlike
conventional abutment bridges where joints allow the bridge to expand and
contract without restraint, integral abutment bridge thermal expansion and
contraction must be accommodated by the movement of the abutments. Thus,
significant forces can develop in the bridge structure, abutment, piles and
soil surrounding the bridge substructure as shown in Figure 1. The magnitude of
these forces and response of the structure is strongly dependent on the
stiffness of the bridge structure, pile foundations and soil. If the piles and
soil are too stiff, large unwanted forces may develop in the bridge. On the
other hand, if the backfill is relatively flexible and the embankment and
foundation soil is stiff, unwanted yielding of the piles may occur at the
bottom of the abutment. Complicating matters is the fact that the soil response
is strongly dependent on the moisture content which can vary significantly both
seasonally and over the life of a structure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br />The integral
abutment is a complex soil-structure interaction problem that must be carefully
analyzed and designed for optimal performance. Not adequately considering the
soil-structure interaction at the abutments can reduce bridge service life and
result in pile failure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #767171; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An IAB provides many advantages during construction
and maintenance of a bridge. Expansion joints and bearings in a conventional
bridge are expensive and costly to install. Leaking joints in a conventional
bridge lead to deterioration of girders and bearings and therefore potentially
unsafe conditions and higher maintenance costs. </span></span>
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #767171; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAlKJhhk9NQV6dcmTv5xNLae8uWVU_ZUJCrUxnXtZyGhIIj_DqAQ0QA4BJJFGasOzR5wHQG37tfm-7KIVmfhOFGnbBYJbZsHs77noJB7DXy0vX-zlDBKbOAbEFdDPZzdJ6n_AH_jM2jw/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAlKJhhk9NQV6dcmTv5xNLae8uWVU_ZUJCrUxnXtZyGhIIj_DqAQ0QA4BJJFGasOzR5wHQG37tfm-7KIVmfhOFGnbBYJbZsHs77noJB7DXy0vX-zlDBKbOAbEFdDPZzdJ6n_AH_jM2jw/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a> <style><!--
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<span style="font-size: small;">IABs also provide superior
performance during extreme loading events such as earthquakes and blast
loading. Due to these reasons, IABs are being built by agencies at an
increasing rate in U.S.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The complex
interactions occurring in an IAB between the superstructure, abutments,
foundations, and soils, however, are still poorly understood. Furthermore,
there are no national design standards for IABs and each state has adapted its
own design and construction practice. This has led to a contradictory and
confusing array of design and construction practices. IAB designers in U.S. Department
of Transportation's (U.S. DOT's) Region 6 states (Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico.
Arkansas and Louisiana) face an additional challenge due to extreme variations
in temperature and moisture in these states. Research sponsored by the SPTC is
utilizing data collected from an instrumented Oklahoma IAB and computer
simulations, with input from bridge engineers in Region 6, to develop readily
implementable design and construction guidelines for IABs in Region 6 and other
areas with extreme variations in temperature and moisture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH:</b> Data collected over 40 months of monitoring instrumentation
installed on an IAB in Oklahoma have provided important insights into
soil-structure interaction resulting from thermal loading. Located on I-44 near
Lawton, OK, the bridge is 210 feet long with three spans and built on a 10
degree skew angle. The bridge was instrumented with 46 separate instruments to
capture the behavior during thermal loading. Five different types of
instruments (pile strain gages, earth pressure cells, crack meters, tilt
meters, and thermistors) were employed to study the thermal behavior of this
bridge. All the instruments contained vibrating wire type sensors. Two piles on
the south abutment and one pile on the north abutment were instrumented with
strain gages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U2YwchNfvD0mTtN_wpEANKTf4kah74UxEbIGWr4LFqBOVS72tIgQSsWDJwVuShcalIXX5H1LbWCxDc7O_p6wYp99At22k5v2UlDCQFv_thi0ONXJf7EAbJS_VPWV6uFLqk53w2-nebw/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9U2YwchNfvD0mTtN_wpEANKTf4kah74UxEbIGWr4LFqBOVS72tIgQSsWDJwVuShcalIXX5H1LbWCxDc7O_p6wYp99At22k5v2UlDCQFv_thi0ONXJf7EAbJS_VPWV6uFLqk53w2-nebw/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Figure 2. Average Annual Temperature Variation in
IAB</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The temperature readings at six
different thermistor locations were averaged to calculate a representative
bridge temperature and the variation of this temperature during the measurement
period is shown in Figure 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The average temperature change
that the bridge superstructure experienced over a six month period of time was
95<sup>0</sup>F. While the data shown in Figure 2 represents average
temperature variations for the bridge, it should be noted that temperature
gradients exist across the depth and the width of the bridge. A temperature
variation as much as 20<sup>0</sup>F was observed during sunny summer days. The
measurements revealed that, due to the movement of the sun, there is also a
temperature gradient from east to west.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CURRENT RESEARCH: </b>While many important lessons were learned from
previous extensive field research and modeling, it is necessary to extend the
results of the instrumentation study to encompass a variety of bridge,
subsurface, and climatic conditions. Since instrumenting a large number of
different bridges and collecting the necessary data over large time frames is
impractical, researchers with support of the SPTC are conducting extensive
parametric analyses to investigate important soil-structure interaction
variables. A crucial outcome of the previous work was the calibration and
validation of computer models to successfully mimic the observed behavior.
Building on this success, researchers are investigating the effects of bridge
configuration (abutment geometry, length, skew angle, etc.), foundation type
and installation (pile bending stiffness, pre-boring), backfill type (granular,
controlled low strength material, etc.), embankment and foundation materials
(type, stiffness), as well as impacts of seasonal temperature variations and
moisture changes in the soil. The results of this extensive parametric analysis
will provide tremendously valuable insight into analysis and design of integral
abutment bridges. Results will be summarized in readily implemental design and
construction guidelines for bridge engineers. In addition numerical modeling
tools will be refined for use on challenging projects. This will remove much of
the guesswork involved in current design approaches for IABs and allow
engineers to explore bridge configurations not currently in use, such as longer
bridges and greater skew angles. Ultimately, better performing and longer
lasting IABs will be the result of this work.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About the Researchers </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Kanthasamy Muraleetharan is
the Principal Investigator and Gerald Miller is Co-Principal Investigator on
the project. They are both professors in the School of Civil Engineering and
Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma. Please send inquiries to <a href="mailto:muralee@ou.edu">muralee@ou.edu</a> or <a href="mailto:gamiller@ou.edu">gamiller@ou.edu</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">The Southern Plains Transportation Center is a consortium of eight universities in U.S. Department of Transportation Region VI: the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, University of Arkansas, University of New Mexico, Louisiana Tech University, University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">The SPTC provides a unique opportunity through multi-institutional initiatives to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, and implementable solutions to critical infrastructure issues facing the transportation systems of the region and the nation, and to prepare transportation professionals for leadership roles through Research, Leadership, Collaboration, Education, Outreach, Tech Transfer and Workforce Development activities.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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</span></i>Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-62677685993404519652015-05-07T12:42:00.001-07:002015-05-07T12:42:09.095-07:00Imad Abdallah Receives UTEP Distinguished Achievement Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm1O84fRlJICvNT7m0d4Hfs-AStUu2ywmGZHlynD_rLu5Zh6oPntMaVSkhrWLrP4ud6jaAUhP-qGzcXADxoXoD4bitev7WksAyPqGBhMq-8VAy-LY5y1J3UTaqjubqkmzQ_jAGQgQL_M/s1600/image001.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm1O84fRlJICvNT7m0d4Hfs-AStUu2ywmGZHlynD_rLu5Zh6oPntMaVSkhrWLrP4ud6jaAUhP-qGzcXADxoXoD4bitev7WksAyPqGBhMq-8VAy-LY5y1J3UTaqjubqkmzQ_jAGQgQL_M/s320/image001.png" width="209" /></a></div>
Congratulations to the Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems University of Texas at El Paso Associate Director Dr. Imad Abdallah,
who was recently honored by President Natalicio as the 2015 recipient of UTEP’s
Distinguished Achievement Award for service to the University by a
member of the professional staff. The Distinguished Achievement Award is
the highest honor bestowed upon UTEP faculty and staff members.<br />
<br />
The
SPTC congratulates Dr. Abdallah and his tireless dedication to CTIS
students, staff and faculty.Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-79713106517632770682015-03-18T18:44:00.001-07:002015-03-18T18:44:21.290-07:00 ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development - June 26-29, 2016 in Houston<div class="intro">
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International Conference on Transportation & Development<br />Houston, Texas | June 26-29, 2016</div>
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A Conference of the Transportation & Development Institute (T&DI) of ASCE</div>
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<b>Conference Objectives</b><br />Smart transportation and development are essential components of competitiveness and prosperity. Projects and practices that truly contribute to smart transportation and development form the theme of this international event. The ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development (ICTD 2016) will focus on projects and best practices in infrastructure planning and development. It will provide a forum for relevant engineering research, applications, and innovations that contribute to competitiveness, efficiency, convenience, safety, and well-being. Presentations and panel discussions will cover transportation and development planning, financing, functional design, construction, operation, and management: how practitioners are improving performance to meet the critical mobility and development challenges of a changing operational and competitive environment. Presentations and papers are sought to address transportation applications, innovations, and critical needs.</div>
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<br /><b>Top Reasons to Attend</b> </div>
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<ul>
<li>Network with other professionals in transportation, development, and infrastructure</li>
<li>Learn more about major infrastructure projects underway or being planned in the United States and overseas</li>
<li>Discover the latest innovations in planning, design, construction, operations and management</li>
<li>Get up-to-date information about federal and state policies and initiatives that are shaping your profession</li>
<li>Earn Professional Development Hours and Continuing Education Credits</li>
<li>See the infrastructure projects that are reshaping Houston and Texas</li>
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<b>Who Should Attend</b><br />ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development (ICTD 2016) is organized to facilitate exchange of information, knowledge, and best practices among transportation and development practitioners and researchers, public infrastructure owners, policy makers, government engineers and planners, operations managers, and leading academics from around the world.<br /> </div>
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<b>Program Overview</b><br />The conference is planned for June 26–29, 2016. The technical program will include plenary session with keynote speakers, and multiple technical sessions with panels, presentations, and contributed papers under 5 parallel tracks dealing with roadways, rail and transit, aviation, development, and cross-cutting themes. A poster session with displays of high profile projects and best practices will be held throughout the course of the event. Workshops on specialized topics will be organized as part of the event. The social program will consist of a welcome reception, technical tours, and multiple networking opportunities with speakers and presenters, sponsors and exhibitors, and transportation and development professionals from around the world.</div>
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<a href="http://www.asce-ictd.org/" target="_blank">Learn more. </a></div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-84293005995235212692015-03-09T19:26:00.003-07:002015-03-09T19:26:54.247-07:00Tyler Ley Receives OSU's Regents Distinguished Research Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVCn5ZGrqrKJt0kBBRGNa5UK6bFayI6jFmloUhoOPRVTg5n7C9L9b25-vRnr_PnTW4MclUMOaJuXifFK3ZGlbRaCRbAty-PfAlt6PzYDz8afAEOSi3XhfUmzjw5zK3KnUMiBdur6Syjw/s1600/TylerLey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVCn5ZGrqrKJt0kBBRGNa5UK6bFayI6jFmloUhoOPRVTg5n7C9L9b25-vRnr_PnTW4MclUMOaJuXifFK3ZGlbRaCRbAty-PfAlt6PzYDz8afAEOSi3XhfUmzjw5zK3KnUMiBdur6Syjw/s1600/TylerLey.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
Tyler Ley, associate professor and Williams Foundation professor,
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering,
Architecture and Technology, was named Oklahoma State University Regents
Distinguished Research Award Winner.<br />
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Dr. Ley investigates using
material science to improve constructions materials, the development of
sensors to monitor roads and bridges, and the imaging of the structure
and chemistry of materials at the micron and nano scale. In his<span class="text_exposed_show">
six years at OSU, his research has been awarded more than $8.8 million
in grants, including the funding of 32 projects in which he was the
principal investigator. Dr. Ley’s work has led to five patent
applications.</span><br />
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His research
has been published in 45 peer-reviewed publications and he has
co-authored 25 industry reports with his students. He is actively
collaborating on research projects with a variety of OSU departments
outside of engineering. One project with the College of Education
involves developing an engineering-based curriculum for 5th grade
students. He is also collaborating on projects involving nine other
universities.<br />
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In 2014, Dr. Ley was recognized with the American
Concrete Institute Walter P. Moore Award, the organization’s highest
honor for a faculty member. A passionate teacher, Dr. Ley received the
2011 Halliburton teaching award and the Chi Epsilon Honor Society
Teacher of the Year award in 2009.</div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-48800817567315742882014-11-14T17:31:00.003-08:002014-11-14T17:31:35.876-08:00Wesley Kumfer Selected as Student of the Year Award Nominee for the SPTC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DdfRHLa37xaEHpD_BgThpaph6Vi-HivCku3Gd6k3PzuuUj_-BzzESRqF3a5dS7EA2mAMD_wMgIeTOaHzQEND9Ol22-GzgLb7zDwvmDQ84We5l-1fiv0gNHYR9Ef2AKGm5y7Z87Eo8hw/s1600/wesley+soy2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DdfRHLa37xaEHpD_BgThpaph6Vi-HivCku3Gd6k3PzuuUj_-BzzESRqF3a5dS7EA2mAMD_wMgIeTOaHzQEND9Ol22-GzgLb7zDwvmDQ84We5l-1fiv0gNHYR9Ef2AKGm5y7Z87Eo8hw/s1600/wesley+soy2.png" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Wesley Kumfer, doctoral candidate in transportation engineering at Texas Tech University, has been selected as the Student of the Year award nominee to represent the Southern Plains Transportation Center. He will be recognized at the Council of University Transportation Center's awards banquet on Jan. 10, 2015 in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board.<br /><br />For the past 23 years, the U.S. Department of Transportation has honored an outstanding student from each University Transportation Center at a special ceremony held during the Transportation Research Board's annual meeting. Each student is recognized during the ceremony by a departmental official; the administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration.<br /> </span></div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-9157108238403003662014-11-11T18:58:00.002-08:002014-11-11T18:59:17.162-08:00SPTC Highlighted in OU CEES Communique Publication<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqJihISe2lLxJDk2Ba4nxW01fA2A9wmIXLVufcBRa1bUoy_MnA68R61Qss08wD8-aBsXpVthdw7ZDSnzd1tWoAyLYfn2xkAacrAq8AYfJhrs1Q6_UTqduc81uUqy9SESu-yR2N8zTBkQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-11+at+8.48.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqJihISe2lLxJDk2Ba4nxW01fA2A9wmIXLVufcBRa1bUoy_MnA68R61Qss08wD8-aBsXpVthdw7ZDSnzd1tWoAyLYfn2xkAacrAq8AYfJhrs1Q6_UTqduc81uUqy9SESu-yR2N8zTBkQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-11+at+8.48.52+PM.png" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
The University of Oklahoma's School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science produced a summer newsletter, Communique, for alumni and friends of CEES. Included in the publication, pages 14-17 is a story on the SPTC. To view the PDF of the publication, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ou.edu/content/dam/CoE/CEES/cees_assets/documents/cees_communique2014.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a></span>.Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-22536485578440541512014-11-11T16:17:00.002-08:002014-11-11T16:20:53.337-08:00Mazari Awarded Second Place in Paper Competition by the Transportation & Development Institute of the ASCE and the FHWA<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkoxmzdw9elSy7bKlqrj-k6iHA1oMalysX3yCT78_KgxafcVq6UuucaSTJjbroehyRsYKqMQD7S3tezOfSHXz4T1Kqc4gk7Of8dmdJDfZO-HOzLwtGmFgAHzZCnCYTUWCa60dbg5hay0/s1600/Mazari.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkoxmzdw9elSy7bKlqrj-k6iHA1oMalysX3yCT78_KgxafcVq6UuucaSTJjbroehyRsYKqMQD7S3tezOfSHXz4T1Kqc4gk7Of8dmdJDfZO-HOzLwtGmFgAHzZCnCYTUWCa60dbg5hay0/s200/Mazari.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Mehran Mazari, postdoctoral research and teaching associate at the University of Texas at El Paso, has been awarded second place in the graduate category by the Transportation & Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The paper, entitled “Novel Approaches in Visualization of Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Data. </div>
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The award presentation will take place on the morning of Sunday, January 11, 2015, at the LTPP State Coordinators’ Meeting.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">BIO:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mehran earned his Bachelor’s and
Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Ferdowsi University of
Mashhad. In January 2011, he joined the Civil Engineering doctoral program at
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Since then, he has been working as a
graduate research assistant, under the direction of Prof. Soheil Nazarian, at
the Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CTIS),</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">a member of a national and a regional University Transportation Research
Center (UTRC) consortium by the US Department of Transportation, working on
several federal and state funded research projects. His work has so far been
published in several high quality journals and peer-reviewed international conferences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Throughout his academic career,
Mehran has been honored with several fellowships and awards including the International
Road Federation (IRF) Fellowship in 2014 and Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship
from the Federal Highway Administration of United States Department of
Transportation in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013). He has received the
Cotton Memorial Graduate Scholarship from The University of Texas at El Paso in
2012. Maintaining a GPA of 4.00, he has been privileged to become a member of
Golden Key International Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
and Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mehran is currently a
postdoctoral research and teaching associate at The University of Texas at El
Paso. He is keenly interested to continue his academic career as an assistant
professor of Civil Engineering focusing on both teaching and research
activities.</span></div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-83505549930178157022014-11-09T18:47:00.000-08:002014-11-09T18:51:23.379-08:00Kulicki to Present SPTC Seminar Dec. 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDcFcljt7sj-Rclv_5D3PgB7HhpTwmdlKghdhD8J-tCT7HPOPuLv_0wFG6Z6i0vd6w6VftHilllfRIHMyQE5KFKazYG_8z4gQ8GAQeZZGSfZjJpj0lj1Iss4QiwVY6FgTplAg5KRlJQg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-09+at+8.41.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDcFcljt7sj-Rclv_5D3PgB7HhpTwmdlKghdhD8J-tCT7HPOPuLv_0wFG6Z6i0vd6w6VftHilllfRIHMyQE5KFKazYG_8z4gQ8GAQeZZGSfZjJpj0lj1Iss4QiwVY6FgTplAg5KRlJQg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-09+at+8.41.33+PM.png" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
BIO:<br />
A graduate of Lafaye.e College and Lehigh University, Dr. Kulicki has over forty years of experience in virtually all aspects of bridge analysis and design including suspension, cable-stayed, and long-span truss and arch bridges. He joined Modjeski and Masters in 1974, retired from full time service at the end of 2013 and is now Chairman Emeritus and Senior Technical Advisor. His experience includes design, research, code development, and teaching. Designs he has led have won many awards including the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement awards and three American Institute of Steel Construction’s (AISC’s) Prize Bridge awards. Kulicki has authored more than 80 technical papers and presentations, and has contributed to three engineering handbooks. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received numerous awards, most recently AISC’s Kimbrough Award. John is both a user of, and a contributor to, the AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications having led the 50-member team of experts in the development of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. <br />
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ABSTRACT<br />
The bridge design specifications promulgated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the primary source of technical guidance for highway bridge designers in the United States. The various states may make exceptions to these provisions and the basic document has been the basis of national specifications in many other countries.<br />
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This presentation will discuss the pre-AASHTO years from the late 1800’s until the early 1900’s and review the design philosophies utilized by AASHTO to provide structural safety. Engineers have been reacting to the lessons taught by natural forces, man-made loadings and socio-economic factors throughout history. This presentation also looks at how failures caused by underestimating natural forces and material limitations have influenced bridge design specifications in the U.S., particularly the earlier AASHTO Standard Specifications and the current AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, as well as the knowledge base and the state of professional practice. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Funding will continue for the LTBP program in the current legislation, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-62542176669072224872014-08-19T15:17:00.002-07:002014-08-19T15:17:55.357-07:00SAVE THE DATE - Tues., Oct. 21 for the Oklahoma Transportation Research DayYou are invited to attend the Oklahoma Transportation Research Day. <br /><br />Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<br />OSU-OKC Conference Center<br />900 N. Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK. 73107<br /><br />The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) are pleased to announce their sponsorship of the 2014 Oklahoma Transportation Research Day. Attendees from academia, government service, and the private sector are strongly encouraged to attend. This event will consist of keynote speakers, ODOT research services and projects, and student transportation project posters. Registrants will have the opportunity to receive up to 8 Professional Development Hours (PDH) while attending this event.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/oklahoma-transportation-research-day-tickets-12409397843?aff=rss" target="_blank">Register to attend this free day of learning.</a><br />Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-10664892447938052152014-07-30T20:55:00.001-07:002014-07-30T20:55:31.678-07:00Pandey presents SPTC Seminar on July 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The SPTC hosted a seminar at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
in Oklahoma City on July 28. Invited speaker, Dr. Braj Bhushan Pandey from the
Indian Institute of Technology, presented on the topic of "Innovative Road Construction in India." The seminar was well attended and
insightful. <br />
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-55758311522559667092014-05-12T20:13:00.002-07:002014-05-12T20:13:45.877-07:00Region 6 Transportation-Climate Summit<style>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">SAVE THE DATE!</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">for the</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Region 6 Transportation-Climate Summit</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sept. 30, 2014 <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.</span><span style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">National Weather Center</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Norman,
Okla.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">You are invited to a one-day regional symposium on
the mounting challenges facing this country’s transportation system due to
extreme weather and climate variability, hosted by Southern Plains
Transportation Center (SPTC) and the South Central – Climate Science Center
(SC-CSC). Transportation officials, engineers, and scientists must come together
with the weather and climate community to develop viable solutions to such
complex and costly challenges as rising seas, increasingly severe storms,
extreme temperature cycles and droughts, which are creating tremendous demands
on infrastructure and operations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The purpose of this summit
is to bring together weather and climate and transportation specialists to
educate one another, spur new ideas, and promote fruitful collaborations for
research at and between our regional universities, transportation departments
and government research institutions. We have an exciting program planned, with
noted experts from the climate, weather and transportation sectors setting the
stage for productive discussions. There will be ample networking time, with
breaks and lunch held in the beautiful National Weather Center Atrium.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Details of the program and local accommodations will be announced later in
May. Please contact Sonya Brindle (SPTC) at <a href="mailto:sbrindle@ou.edu">sbrindle@ou.edu</a>
or Aparna Bamzai (SC-CSC) at <a href="mailto:aparna@ou.edu">aparna@ou.edu</a>
for more information.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-27956342510992629292014-05-01T19:29:00.002-07:002014-05-01T19:29:48.411-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />SPTC Center Director Musharraf Zaman and Financial/Outreach Associate Colleen Wilhelm, will be attending the CUTC 2014 Summer Meeting on June 2-5. Hosted by the Mid-America Transportation Center at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the meeting will focus on the sharing of state-of-the-art ideas and methods to advance research, education, and development in the transportation field.<br />
<br />
Conference sessions will be held in the Grand Manse, a former U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse located in the heart of downtown Lincoln. A historical building surviving from the city’s early years, the Grand Manse was built in 1904, renovated in 2004 and remains an important landmark in Lincoln’s bustling city center. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit landmarks that make Lincoln and the state of Nebraska unique such as the Strategic Air and Space Museum, Union Pacific's Harriman Dispatching Center, Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard and the University Nebraska-Lincoln campus.<br />
<a href="http://cutc2014.unl.edu/welcome.php" target="_blank"><br />Learn more. </a><br />Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-14522540591017753042014-04-27T21:04:00.001-07:002014-04-27T21:04:41.914-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Zahid Hossain, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Arkansas State University received the award for “Excellence in Scholarship” for his research into the use of novel paving materials. Hossain, who completed his Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma, joined the Arkansas State University faculty in 2012.Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-39416482534567967342014-04-17T20:38:00.001-07:002014-04-17T20:38:37.295-07:00Maher presents SPTC Seminar on April 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The SPTC hosted a seminar at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in Oklahoma City on April 16. Invited speaker, Dr. Ali Maher, from the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, School of Engineering, Rutgers University, presented on the topic of the "Long Term Bridge Performance Program." The seminar was well attended and insightful. <br />
<br />Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-81218998691630782162014-03-27T19:59:00.000-07:002014-03-31T08:27:58.114-07:00April 24 SPTC Seminar: Important Aspects of Chemical Stabilization of Fine-Grained Soils
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Seminar Time:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"> Thursday, April 24<sup>th</sup>, 2014<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3:00-5:00 pm</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Seminar Location: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">ODOT Training Center, 1025 SE 59<sup>th</sup>
Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Oklahoma City, OK<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>73129</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Speakers: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Dr. Amy Cerato, P.E. and Dr. Gerald Miller,
P.E., both of the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the
University of Oklahoma</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Topics:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"> This
seminar will focus on three topics:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">1) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The state of the practice
relative to selecting a stabilizer and determining the optimum additive content
based on soil properties</i></b>. Reference will be made to local practice and
the use of Oklahoma Highway Department method OHD L-50.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">2) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adverse reactions and unexpected
outcomes from chemical stabilization</i></b>. This part of the seminar will
focus on adverse chemical reactions with particular emphasis on how to address soils
containing sulfate. Discussions of techniques to measure sulfate content and
methods for reducing sulfate induced problems in stabilized soil will be
presented.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">3) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Determination of the additive
content of compacted soils in the field</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>Methods of determining the amount of additive in soil samples
obtained from the field will be discussed. Such methods are important for
quality control/quality assurance considerations and for forensic
investigations. Traditional methods as well as, a new and simple, yet powerful
technique will be presented.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Cost: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">A fee of
$30/person will help cover the costs of conducting the seminar. Since ODOT has
graciously supplied the venue for this seminar, employees of ODOT are exempt
from this fee. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the “OU
Foundation” (or “OUF”) with “SPTC” in the notes section. Please bring payment
with you to the seminar. Please register by contacting gamiller@ou.edu.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Professional
Development Hours: </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">A certificate of attendance will be provided to
those persons attending the entire two-hour seminar. The seminar is worth 2 PDH
credits. You must sign in to receive the certificate.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-20178699640858430632014-02-09T17:30:00.000-08:002014-02-09T17:54:58.175-08:00Multi-million Dollar Grant Addresses Region’s Transportation Infrastructure <div style="font-family: Tahoma; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Becoming
a Regional Transportation Center presents a great opportunity to OU to
become an even stronger leader in the field,” said OU President David L.
Boren.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
In addition to OU, the Southern Plains Regional Transportation Center
consortium includes Oklahoma State University, Langston University,
University of Arkansas, The University of New Mexico, Louisiana Tech
University, The University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech
University. Regional transportation centers differ from other U.S.
Department of Transportation funded centers in that consortium members
must be located in the region they serve and address regional needs.<br />
<br />
“Oklahoma’s central location positions our state at a critical
crossroad for the shipment of goods and travel across the nation,” said
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a senior member of the Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee. “Two primary constitutional duties of the
government are providing a strong national defense and supporting a
strong transportation and infrastructure system to facilitate commerce.
With this grant, our Oklahoma universities will continue to advance
Oklahoma’s research, technology and expertise in the transportation
industry.”<br />
<br />
"I am pleased that the Department of Transportation will award more
than $2.5 million in grant money to the University of Oklahoma’s UTC
consortium," said Congressman Tom Cole. "This grant recognizes that
Oklahoma is advancing viable solutions that will repair broken
infrastructure and improve other transportation needs nationwide. I look
forward to the difference this money will make through the bright minds
in Norman and through the seven other consortium universities in
Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico.”<br />
<br />
“Extreme weather conditions can create enormous challenges for our
transportation infrastructure,” said Governor Mary Fallin. “This grant
will support research that will help make our roads, bridges and rail
systems more climate adaptive and less vulnerable to bad weather.” <br />
<br />
The funding helps advance U.S. technology and expertise in
transportation through education, research, technology transfer, and
workforce development at university-based centers of excellence. The
two-year grant awards each regional UTC $2.6 million annually for the
next two years, with eligibility to renew for multiple subsequent years.<br />
<br />
“Increased truck traffic and limited resources for construction,
maintenance, and preservation of infrastructure challenge every state in
the nation,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation, Gary Ridley.
“But the southern plains region’s volatile weather conditions place an
additional burden on the system.”<br />
<br />
Extreme summer temperatures, flash floods and large numbers of
freeze-thaw cycles, coupled with poor soils, create enormous challenges
to the region’s transportation infrastructure and public safety.
According to OU Civil Engineering Professor and Southern Plains Regional
Transportation Center Director, Musharraf Zaman, counting only recent
severe droughts, economic losses are estimated at almost $9 billion
annually to managed systems in Oklahoma and Texas alone, including
transportation infrastructure.<br />
<br />
“Fortunately, we can access some of the world’s best weather research
and information in our back yard,” said Zaman, referring to weather
entities that include the National Weather Center, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, and
Radar Innovations Laboratory located in Norman, Okla. Zaman said the
Southern Plains Regional Transportation Center plans to overlay weather
expertise upon infrastructure research to focus on climate adaptive
transportation and freight movement. “This will give us a more accurate
picture of the challenges and stress on the southern plains region
transportation infrastructure and insight to the best solutions,” said
Zaman.<br />
<br />
The group plans to research all aspects of extreme weather on
transportation infrastructure from direct impact to innovative
materials, winter weather vehicles and multi-modal freight movement.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">“The center will address the most
challenging issues of both the Federal Highway Administration and State
Transportation Agencies. The commercial, agricultural and energy
transportation corridors in the southern plains keep our nation’s
economy moving forward. OSU is proud to be a partner in this
consortium,” says Oklahoma State University Engineering Dean Paul
Tikalsky. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; margin: 0px;">
“Sustainable transportation
infrastructure is crucial to public safety and economic prosperity.
Through the Southern Plains Regional Transportation Center we have
assembled an outstanding team that fully represents the states in our
region, and we look forward to working together,” said OU Engineering
Dean Tom Landers.</div>
Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-68198118212249714812014-02-05T19:20:00.004-08:002014-02-05T19:54:13.222-08:00UNM's Department of Civil Engineering Hosts Annual Paving and Transportation Conference<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR3s8z9IdL7IEAwsntL7T2FnmZlb7_bI3P4h50aTQ7evNebdfqJMEA6CJ5fTXsCx73PuFY6ut5-JkA-bb4yh9f27vrzgNduGmMjpl95i528E4-AnVITc0V3NczAtE2NFT08BpXfkkSdw/s1600/Co-Chairs+-+Susan+Bogus+and+Rafi+Tarefer+-+Opening+General+session.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR3s8z9IdL7IEAwsntL7T2FnmZlb7_bI3P4h50aTQ7evNebdfqJMEA6CJ5fTXsCx73PuFY6ut5-JkA-bb4yh9f27vrzgNduGmMjpl95i528E4-AnVITc0V3NczAtE2NFT08BpXfkkSdw/s1600/Co-Chairs+-+Susan+Bogus+and+Rafi+Tarefer+-+Opening+General+session.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Co-Chairs - Susan Bogus and Rafi Tarefer - Opening General Session</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHRXi6fWidnuZwj9vOP9A233SO0y-fc8c34B_-1FEuECzuHt0UexkuogIze8Amc6h_sCdAnqBH7BBFI51MVKrPnjzAnbjXYf4gEK_s3_Hoz92rlL8YshBMd0RM7a9NxJGzGsHqfPBp_w/s1600/OPENING+GENERAL+SESSION.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHRXi6fWidnuZwj9vOP9A233SO0y-fc8c34B_-1FEuECzuHt0UexkuogIze8Amc6h_sCdAnqBH7BBFI51MVKrPnjzAnbjXYf4gEK_s3_Hoz92rlL8YshBMd0RM7a9NxJGzGsHqfPBp_w/s1600/OPENING+GENERAL+SESSION.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening General Session</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHn6v3pEk4s-EW2eY9mp2kLfERCjuQxgwxk-7J2rnaO8d9gaGdN1Yn0IMj4VgOMIbadY-m406S4XNOLioVtDT0-a2QtOIkmcOnwad4Nbvs84kW8hCvaGq6vYRmsYFvZL0-KFFNgrSMA/s1600/Transportation+session+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHn6v3pEk4s-EW2eY9mp2kLfERCjuQxgwxk-7J2rnaO8d9gaGdN1Yn0IMj4VgOMIbadY-m406S4XNOLioVtDT0-a2QtOIkmcOnwad4Nbvs84kW8hCvaGq6vYRmsYFvZL0-KFFNgrSMA/s1600/Transportation+session+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transportation Session</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
annual Paving and Transportation Conference was held January 6-7 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sponsored by UNM’s
Department of Civil Engineering and its Alliance for Transportation
Research
Institute, the conference is in its fifth decade, focusing on critical transportation
issues facing New Mexico and the Southwest. Participants typically number approximately 600 from throughout New Mexico
and the Southwest and consist of transportation planners,
engineers, administrators and policymakers from both the public and
private sectors. In recent years, as the country’s national laboratories
have focused more on non-defense problems of national interest
(including transportation), the conference has seen
increased participation from both Sandia and Los Alamos National
Laboratories. The conference also attracts all of the largest
transportation contractors, consulting engineering firms and other
related transportation businesses and industries in New Mexico.</span>Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-50376011070436529182014-02-01T10:33:00.001-08:002014-02-01T10:33:16.061-08:00Paul Honored with W.N. Carey Jr. Distinguished Service Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlA5Hj-eiRRN8RlG8xFr0yIkbymnq3wt6YRZDTy4g5E4LRaa7Qn6OvBpw3NalvgCdXpAbzBPdYLETNWooouBy2_HeRcvZQjOFgOrIShOc7WSjpd9EL96qBZ7b4Kx_bSKXAu7JSwppvwM/s1600/Skip_Paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlA5Hj-eiRRN8RlG8xFr0yIkbymnq3wt6YRZDTy4g5E4LRaa7Qn6OvBpw3NalvgCdXpAbzBPdYLETNWooouBy2_HeRcvZQjOFgOrIShOc7WSjpd9EL96qBZ7b4Kx_bSKXAu7JSwppvwM/s1600/Skip_Paul.jpg" height="320" width="285" /></a></div>
<i>From the 93rd Annual Meeting and Chairman's Luncheon program - Jan. 15, 2014, Washington, D.C.</i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
In recognition of his outstanding service to transportation research and to the Transportation Research Board, Harold R. (Skip) Paul is the 2013 recipient of the W.N. Carey, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Paul is the director of the Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The Carey Award, named in honor of W.N. Carey, Jr., the Board's executive director from 1967 to 1980, recognizes individuals who have given leadership and distinguished service to TRB.<br />
<br />
Paul has served TRB tirelessly for more than 25 years in a variety of roles. The consummate TRB state representative, he has long been the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development's voice in TRB and a key contributor to the Board's strong continuing partnership with the states, both in that role and through his leadership on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and Standing Committee on Research (SCOR). The two committees work closely with the National Cooperative Highway Research Proram and have benefited from Paul's thoughtful and far-reaching contributions as the current RAC Chair and SCOR Vice-Chair.<br />
<br />
Paul has served as a member or chair of more than 30 TRB councils, groups, sections, committees, panels and task forces. As chair of the Division A Council, now the Technical Activities Council, from 1999 to 2002, he initiated the effort that led to the reorganization of TRB's standing technical committees and task forces into the current 11-group functional and modal structure. The enhanced structure has been credited with creating a new synergy among the groups, enabling the standing committees to address a wider variety of transportation research issues. In 2001, Paul was named a National Associate of the National Research Council of the National Academies. Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744964996382015218.post-44938932720610833512014-01-29T21:09:00.001-08:002014-01-29T21:28:44.555-08:00Rodney Collins Named Oklahoma Transportation Center's Student of the Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUHhDZkQdmDJlOFyfusyjSZXO4Gs68anLGVtAGxqYh2_3J7-gH7isAgRIRw0JCYTuTDDqkpeXcGRi-ZxmWg6nQM5e4Gu9jh5cBlK4QT9btxPeyPbCrdO-oYbCoMv4AkKJjeRfbh9uOdc/s1600/Collins1.13.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUHhDZkQdmDJlOFyfusyjSZXO4Gs68anLGVtAGxqYh2_3J7-gH7isAgRIRw0JCYTuTDDqkpeXcGRi-ZxmWg6nQM5e4Gu9jh5cBlK4QT9btxPeyPbCrdO-oYbCoMv4AkKJjeRfbh9uOdc/s1600/Collins1.13.14.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
Rodney Collins, doctoral student in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma, was named as the Outstanding Student of the Year by the Oklahoma Transportation Center. Collins was recognized for his achievement at an awards ceremony on January 11, 2014 in Washington, D.C. during the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board.<br />
<br />
Each year the U.S. Department of Transportation honors the most outstanding student from each participating University Transportation Center for his/her achievements and promise for future contributions to the transportation field. Students are selected based on their accomplishments in areas that include technical merit and research, academic performance, professionalism and leadership.<br />
<br />
Rodney Collins was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. He received his bachelor's degree at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2009, followed by his master's degree in 2011. Collins' thesis was titled "Stabilization of Marginal Soils using Geofibers and Nontraditional Additives." In fall 2012, Collins moved to the University of Oklahoma to work with Dr. Gerald Miller as a Ph.D. student. His doctoral work focuses on in-situ testing in unsaturated soils and his dissertation will involve establishing a methodology for interpreting Pressuremeter and Cone Penetration tests in unsaturated soil deposits.<br />
<br />
Collins is in the second year of his doctoral studies and expects to complete his degree in spring 2016. He has published four technical papers, coauthored one reviewed conference paper, authored another conference paper that is in press and an additional paper is under review. In his spare time, Collins enjoys playing in an adult ice hockey league and spending time with his wife and two dogs.<br />
<br />
Collins was selected for this award because of his decision to build his career in the transportation field, as well as his academic achievements, outstanding research, contributions to transportation improvement and a genuine interest in helping his peers. Southern Plains Transportation Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08404345528242151784noreply@blogger.com