OTC HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) is a multidisciplinary coalition of the Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, and Langston University to serve as a resource for solving critical transportation problems in the state and in the nation in a cooperative manner. Founded in 2001, the OTC has over 30 “founding partners” including Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oklahoma Transportation Authority (OTA), and companies and associations representing all transportation modes. During FY 2001-2005, the OTC faculty and students worked collaboratively on research projects covering a broad spectrum of topics including improving work zone safety through remote monitoring, modeling state-wide freight movement, developing a computerized accident analysis system, analyzing impacts of highway construction, and implementing emerging technologies for pavement condition and structural health monitoring and material testing. These projects were selected in close cooperation with ODOT and OTA, with emphasis on projects having practical deliverables.

OTC THEME
“Economic Enhancement Through Infrastructure Stewardship”
The economic vitality of this nation is linked directly to productivity and efficiency of our surface Transportation Highway System. The creation and development of the Interstate Highway System has stimulated our economy by effectively linking every part of this nation and creating timely accessibility never before experienced. The next fifty years will be full of challenges and opportunities for economic growth but we must keep pace with the increasing demands for capacity, safety and productivity.

Oklahoma is positioned to be instrumental in the development of key transportation corridors to facilitate economic expansion attendant thereto. There are technical and physical limitations to the existing system that are obstacles to increased productivity, safety and security that must be addressed to realize the full potential and economic opportunities for our State and Nation.

The Oklahoma Transportation Center proposes to systematically address these issues using the collaborative efforts of the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Langston University in conjunction with transportation professionals in government and industry. The Center will marshal the best talent available to examine and advance innovative solutions to the problems of structural limitations, inadequate capacity, security, and safety.

As a National University Transportation Center (UTC), OTC will address the solution of critical transportation infrastructure problems using the collaborative efforts of the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Langston University, in conjunction with transportation professionals in government and industry. Our emphasis on transportation infrastructure will focus on service monitoring and life extension of bridge and foundation systems, vehicle-bridge interactions, pavement materials and mechanics, and intermodal freight logistics. Our goals will be to find ways to mediate structural load limitations, increase traffic capacity and mobility, and enhance safety and security. By marshaling the best talent available to examine and advance innovative solutions to these problems we will make contributions to the national transportation system that affect all Americans.

FUNDING AND WORK PROGRAM
In FY01 and FY02, OTC received $400K each year from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In FY02 the center began receiving federal funding ($350K in FY03, $2 million in FY04, $1.5 million in FY05) for transportation research. In addition, the center received $2 million in FY04 and $4 million in FY05 for transit research. The OTC was designated as a National Transportation Center in the new highway bill, SAFETEA-LU, under the University Transportation Center (UTC) program.

A diverse panel representing over 30 industry and government organizations guides a work program consistent with a UTC, including applied research projects, student internships, and dissemination of results through short courses, workshops, reports, and website. Project topics include highway research (e.g., multi-modal transportation and logistics, freight traffic analysis and forecasting, bridge and roadway structural health and security, sensor deployment and intelligent transportation systems for traffic safety, emerging materials, and construction/maintenance technologies and transit research (e.g., rationalization of the project justification and realization processes for large capital projects, information technology in demand response transit systems, transportation planning process web-based education, coordinated services and strategic planning). Improvement of OTC infrastructure and augmentation of technical and programmatic capabilities at the OTC universities are also a priority.

NEED
There is no more basic component of America’s infrastructure than its transportation systems. Economic growth and better jobs require efficient and effective transportation. Oklahoma’s central location positions it to serve as a crossroads to the nation. However, to be successful in attracting new industries and retaining the existing ones, the state must invest wisely to adequately maintain and expand its transportation infrastructure. Oklahoma’s highways carry over 80% of the $58 billion in commodities delivered annually from sites in Oklahoma. Driving roads in need of repairs cost Oklahoma motorists $1 billion yearly in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs. Nationally, traffic congestion costs motorists $67.5 billion yearly in wasted times and fuel costs. An estimated 46% of major roads in the state are in poor or mediocre conditions. In the post 911-era, transportation security including threat and vulnerability assessment is increasingly becoming a national issue.

SOLUTION
The solutions for many transportation problems in Oklahoma and elsewhere in the nation require cooperative efforts of government, industry and academia. Universities play a key role in solving these problems through research, technical assistance, and technology transfer activities. The importance of this role is evident in that Congress authorized funding for nearly 60 transportation centers in the country, including Oklahoma Transportation Center. Through cooperative efforts of faculty and students at the three universities, OTC is playing a key role to support economic development (e.g., provided technical assistance to retain and grow the aircraft industry in Tulsa), promote formulation of sound transportation policy, help develop a more technologically advanced transportation system, improve accessibility and quality of life in urban and rural communities, and work cooperatively with leaders and agencies to meet the nation’s need for a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation system.

SOME FY 2003-2005 PROJECTS AND THEIR IMPACTS
Evaluating the State of the State’s Bridges: A Systematic Review of the Bridge Inspection System: The current bridge inspection and rating methods often provide a rather cryptic and incomplete descriptions that are difficult to interpret. This project will help improve the bridge inspection system and develop tools that will allow more transparency in the interpretation of data. Impact: An improved bridge inspection and rating method.

Freight Movement Model Development for Oklahoma: A Freight Movement Model for the State of Oklahoma is being developed for the purpose of predicting the economic impacts of increased or decreased freight movement through the state, as well as predicting the impact of major disturbances such as the I-40 bridge collapse last year. Impact: A new and only Freight Model for Oklahoma.

Protecting Oklahoma Transportation Infrastructure from Natural and Man-Made Hazards: Our transportation infrastructure is in dire need of better protection against natural and man-made hazards. Advanced simulation techniques that model such hazard scenarios on the computer can be used to assess their vulnerability. Impact: an integrated capability to model extreme events on transportation infrastructure.

Sensor Network for Intelligent Pavement Maintenance: Detection of dangerous roadway conditions such as ice is essential to providing warning to the traffic in real-time. A combined laboratory and field demonstration project is being pursued to use a densely distributed sensor network, for monitoring pavement conditions. Impact: Enhanced traffic safety and ITS deployment.

Cost Effective Timber Pile Repair Technique: A technique to repair timber piles was developed, replacing the decayed core with aggregate, and adding epoxy and fiber reinforcement for confinement. Field and laboratory compressive strength tests were used to validate the integrity of repaired piles. Impact: A new method to repair severely decayed timber piles.

24/7 Remote Monitoring of Work Zones and Intelligent Decision Support System for the Safety of Motorists and Highway Construction Workers: Fatalities and serious injury accidents in “work zones” have been steadily increasing in Oklahoma. We have developed a prototype continuous monitoring system for work zones to proactively inform commuters through variable message signs, the conditions near work zones and suggest possible remedial actions. Impact: Enhanced work zone safety.

Evaluation of Surface Free Energy Characteristics of Aggregates and Binders in Hot Mix Asphalt: Millions of dollars are spent annually to control moisture-induced damage, including stripping of asphalt roads. The surface free energy characteristics of the ingredients are used to identify, and eliminate mixes having high stripping potential at the design stage. Impact: An innovative approach to control moisture-induced damage in asphalt pavement.

An Accident Analysis System for Traffic Engineering Decision Support on a Statewide Basis: A software package will be developed that will acquire accident and other pertinent data from the ODOT mainframe computer, analyze them interactively on a PC platform, and recommend solutions to traffic problems. Impact: The software will help engineers manage traffic problems and develop solutions.

Quality Control Testing for Granular Materials: Proper compaction of sub-grade soils is vital to roadway performance. An alternative method and protocol are being developed and tested with four commonly used field tests. Impact: Eventual adoption of the new protocol in highway construction will result in significantly better performance of compacted granular backfills in highway structures.

Transportation Planning Process Training and Education: As issues concerning transportation needs become increasingly complex, the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Tribal governments need assistance to meet the demands of transportation system planning. OTC assists Federal Transit Adminstration in developing and distributing Distance Learning coursework tailored for small MPOs and Tribal governments. Impact: Enhanced transportation planning process training and education.

Environmental Risk Assessment / Cost Containment for Large Projects: Although criteria for evaluation of transit capital projects include environmental benefits, information submitted currently under this criterion does not help in assigning ratings. The objective of this project is to provide clear guidance for environmental assessments for large projects, so that cost overruns and delays may be avoided. Impacts: Better environmental risk assessment rating guidance for transit and other transportation projects.