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Researchers from the Volpe Center determined that Waze alerts data contain meaningful information, including user-reported traffic jams. However, due to the nature of crowdsourced data, there are limitations to using this dataset, including reliability of the reports as well as discrepancies...
FRA and RailTEC at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign examined the performance of degraded concrete crossties installed on U.S. high-speed rail and joint passenger/freight rail corridors. Research showed that center binding conditions often led to flexural cracks in concrete...
On September 22, 2021, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) conducted a full-scale grade crossing impact test of a locomotive fuel tender at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, CO. The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and Transportation Technology Center, Inc....
The U. S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe), under the direction of the U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research, Development and Technology (RD&T), evaluated the effectiveness of using drones and...
On July 24, 2021, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) conducted a full-scale shell impact test (Test 12) of a surrogate DOT-113 specification tank car at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, CO. This test was the third DOT-113 impact test in a planned series of four. A DOT...
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) collaborated with a railroad advisory group to progress a track circuit concept that supports the Quasi-Moving Block (QMB) method of train control. TTCI performed proof-of-concept testing, capacity analysis, hazard analysis, and requirements...
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Railroad Safety’s Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) uses machine vision inspection technology along with Track Geometry Measurement and Gage Restraint Measurement Systems to thoroughly evaluate track. Algorithms trained to detect...
This report gives a roadmap for applying model-assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) to the ultrasonic detection of rail flaws. Researchers at ENSCO, Inc., selected this type of track inspection as the most suitable for the MAPOD approach.
MAPOD analysis involves identifying...
Model-assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) is a method for evaluating the effectiveness of inspection processes. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), through a contract with ENSCO, Inc., researched the feasibility of applying the MAPOD approach to the inspection of track flaws. ENSCO...
Kansas State University researchers produced two, fully functional, longitudinal strain measurement and transfer length assessment devices that address specific needs of the industry. The devices are: (1) an automated computer-controlled traversing device and (2) a 6-camera stationary strain...