Abstracts of Presenters at the Transportation ForumWashington D.C. November 19, 20, 2002
Dr. Ian Cornwell Technical Director Mott McDonald
Title: "European Travel Information Distribution built on OMG technology" Abstract: Stephen R. Ditmeyer Director of Research & Development, Federal Railroad Administration Title: Intelligent Rail Systems Abstract: Richard Hubert Founder and CEO of Interactive Objects Software ( www.iO-software.com ) RICHARD HUBERT is an accomplished software architect who has won numerous international awards for large-scale software systems and architectural tools. As founding director of Interactive Objects Software GmbH (iO), he leads a large team of professional architects who apply Convergent Architecture across diverse industry segments. In 2000, iO introduced its Architectural IDE for MDA, ArcStyler ( www.ArcStyler.com ). He is author of the leading OMG Press book on Model Driven Architecture ( www.ConvergentArchitecture.com ) and is an active contributor to the OMG’s MDA standardization effort.
Title: Applied MDA Process, Techniques and Returns at the Austrian National Railroad Abstract: The Austrian National Railroad (ANR) embraced the concept of convergence (Convergent Architecture) in early 2000 and proceeded to outsource, co-develop and integrate a critical set of mainstream systems (infrastructure resource planning, tracking, billing) using MDA tools and techniques which are central to the Convergent Architecture approach. These large systems went on-line in 2002 and lead to an OMG award for applied MDA (London, 2002) In this presentation, the type, extent and delivery of the resulting systems will be summarized and the overall project context, its challenges and its project management will be presented. The MDA-centric process, applied MDA tools, and techniques will be reviewed as well as the returns and lessons learned at each step of the way. Lastly, individual questions and comments will be addressed.
Steve Lewis GIS Applications Manager, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation Title : The GeoSpatial One-Stop Abstract: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics is the lead within USDOT for one of the major e-government initiatives, the Geospatial One-Stop.Major goals include developing geospatial data content standards, developing a web portal to provide easier access to these data from various sources, and posting information about planned Federal geospatial data collection activities to encourage partnerships. This initiative will have a positive impact on the GIS community by promoting standards, data accessibility, and collaboration. We anticipate the private sector will develop tools to take advantage of these standardized geospatial data to better serve government agencies and the public.
Ron Lindsey Independent consultant focusing on the strategic advancement of technologies in the rail industry including Wireless and Positive Train Control. Publisher of quarterly journal Full Spectrum which addresses strategic technical, philosophical, and functional aspects of railroad operations Title: The Challenges of Interoperability in Transportation
Abstract: The transportation industries differ from most other industries in two major ways. First, their resources are mobile and are beyond the wired tentacles of the IT platforms that are limited to handling stationary resources, fixed nodes. Second, there are various levels of interoperability that exists within their own ranks as well as the intermodal operations to handle freight cargo between them. Addressing both of these issues would appear to be a significant technology challenge. However, in fact the primary issues are really that of management, labor, and political cultures with little truth in the excuses of technologies and economics that are so readily pleaded. With a focus on the freight railroad industry, this presentation will provide a perspective on the technologies of interoperability and the associated economics as well as some thoughts on the culture issues that are hampering operational advancements. James Thomas: Program Director Software Engineering Resource Center Office of the Chief Information Officer Title = Adaptation Improvement in the National Airspace System Abstract: The Software Engineering Resource Center (SERC) is improving how FAA's Air Traffic Control Automation Systems are custom tailored with geopraphical, aeronautical, and environmental data in over 200 facilities nationwide. This complex and predominantly manual process is currently estimated to cost in excess of $100M a year. Adaptation Specialists who perform this work will be given an array of web enabled data, tools, and services that will be available from a single secure web portal. The SERC will work with FAA field people to reengineer processes and develop additional new capabilities to further enhance quality and meet deployment goals.
Walter Townsend Regional Manager
Title: NTCIP and CORBA Abstract: NTCIP, the "National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol" (ITS=Intelligent Transportation Systems) is a joint effort of NEMA, ITE, and AASHTO to establish a common suite of protocols and data models for use in the traffic management industry. In the past the focus has been on "center-to-field" protocols, which have largely been defined around SNMP and ASN.1. The current focus is the development of standards to facilitate communications between traffic management centers. There have been a number of center-to-center implementations using CORBA, in areas such as Maryland, California, Chicago, and Atlanta, but all have used different object models. This presentation will describe an effort currently underway to develop a technology-independent "generic reference model" that will provide a common definition of the data to be exchanged. This reference model will be mapped into specific protocols for use by particular installations -- CORBA, XML, DATEX. The second phase of this project will be to develop the "CORBA-Specific Reference Model", derived from the generic model, to enable interoperation between centers using CORBA. For more information on NTCIP, see www.ntcip.org .
E. Allen West VP, CIO Railinc E. Allen West oversees all technical direction and strategy for Railinc to include supporting expansion of Railinc’s eCommerce business. Mr. West’s over 17 years of expertise in information technology and management provides well rounded leadership and technical direction to lead Railinc’s business and provide quality service to its customers. Prior to joining Railinc, Mr. West was Director of Information Technology for Sea-Land Service Inc., CSX Inc., where he led technology teams in development of applications and eCommerce solutions for Sea-Land’s global operations. He has also held key leadership positions within Tenneco, Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corporation. Mr. West holds a bachelor degree in management information systems from James Madison University and an MBA in information systems from Old Dominion University. He has attended advanced management courses at Harvard Business School and Stanford University Title: Information Interoperability in the North American Rail Industry Abstract: Railinc is an information technology company that is an integral part of the North American rail industry. Railinc maintains extensive industry databases, applications, and services embedded in industry-critical operations and financial systems. For North America's railroads, equipment-leasing firms, rail suppliers and shippers, access to Railinc’s network, as well as an online capability, allows efficient exchange of information between trading partners. Interoperability within the railroad industry is achieved through data standards (EDI), naming standards (customers, stations, equipment), and security standards for access to data. Mr. West will present the technology that Railinc employs to enable the exchange of information within the North American rail industry. He will also discuss the process for introducing new standards and updating existing standards where Railinc plays a part
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