John LeFante, Wayne Hug, Bill Toothill, and DCS consultant Mark Robinson represented DCS at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 101st Annual Meeting held January 9–13, 2022, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in Washington, D.C. The information-packed program attracted 5000+ transportation professionals from around the globe. TRB is the largest transportation research conference in the world.
The meeting program covered all transportation modes, with more than 2,000 presentations in nearly 400 sessions and workshops, addressing topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions. Thirty sessions were focused on COVID-19 ramifications. A number of sessions and workshops focused on the spotlight theme for the 2022 meeting: Innovating an Equitable, Resilient, Sustainable, and Safe Transportation System.
DCS staff showcased our company’s portfolio at the conference. For the 101st conference, TRBwent to a hybrid conference with in person attendance supplemented by virtual meeting feeds. DCS was able to meet with DOTs, potential vendors, industry partners and researchers to discuss the future of the transportation infrastructure and discuss future innovations within the infrastructure industry as a whole. DCS was happy to invite Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to support our exhibit and showcase our Automated Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) technology that we have been mutually developing with VTTI and the Virginia DOT. The ATMA is being enhanced to support operations where GPS signals may be unreliable and these features will be tested over the next several months.DOTs and researchers had a chance to talk with DCS and VTTI staff to discuss this emerging technology as well as discuss how DCS could support current DOT needs. DCS was able to highlight the projects that our talented team of professionals manage on a daily basis. DCS staff attended a number of podium and poster sessions outlining future trends in the management of infrastructure.
Mark Robinson is a member and former Chair of TRB’s Maintenance and Operations Management Committee (AKR10). Mark noted that there currently is a large focus for both highway and structures maintenance on data, data visualization, and the use of augmented & extended reality for inspection, maintenance quality assurance, and decision support. There is also a large focus on maintenance staff shortages/development. There were many conversations and presentations around these focus areas at the conference, and they all present opportunities for DCS to help our customers. The future of technology in our field is very exciting.
TRB was established in 1920 as the National Advisory Board on Highway Research to provide a mechanism for the exchange of information and research results about highway technology. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research. In an objective and interdisciplinary setting, TRB facilitates the sharing of information on transportation practice and policy by researchers and practitioners; stimulates research and offers research management services that promote technical excellence; provides expert advice on transportation policy and programs; and disseminates research results broadly and encourages their implementation.