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5.0 Technical Support Resources
I
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5.0 Technical Support Resources
This section describes some support services 0'nformation and software) which could be unkind by
transportation professionals to improve their access and understanding of secondary information. Such
resources have been included In our research because oftheir value to Me transportation professional In
aggregating and disseminating transportation related statistics and information. These resources may
assist transportation planners to more quicldy acquire and understand data identified through the
siege assessment evaluation. Resources identified. include:
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Center for Microcomputers in Transportation:' In may 1986, FLEA established the
Center for Microcomputers In Transportation (McT~ns) to serve as a resource for Be
distribution and support of microcomputer software. McT~ns replaced three FHWA centers:
Microcomputer Applications in Highway Projects (MA"), Microcomputers in
Transportation Planning APE, and Safetr.and Typic En~eenng Applications for
Microcomputers (STEAM), as wed as He Urban Mess Transportation Adm~nishation's
Transit Industry Microcomputer Exchange ~ME) Support Center.
McTrar~s represents aD funchonal areas under He purview of FHWA and UMTA and is self-
supported by user fees. McT~ns membership has reached over 18,000 worldwide and He
catalog now contains more Can 250 Portion packages. They also maintain a technical
assistance hotline, publish the Software ~ Source Book, which identifies software and
information sources in the transportation eng~neermg field, and are actively involved m
software maintenance.
PC-TRANS:2 Established in 1986 by He University of Kansas ~ Transportation Center,
PC-TRANS exists to help ~sportation engineers, planners, administrators, and transit
providers find specialized microcomputer applications and software. Moor areas addressed by
the center include. highway engineering, regional and ruM transportation planning, traffic
engineering and safety, and transit operations.
PC-TRANS originally published a newsletter, PC-TRANSmisQon, which has now become a
magaz ne format published 10 times a year. They also published the 1991 PCs in
Trar7~porf~ion Software Directory. The directory contains infonnation on more Man 500
software products and sources of sof~vareinfonnatio~ PC-TRANS also works closely wad
He Federal Highway Admirustration (FHWA) to help facilitate the distribution of software
developed Trough FlIWA programs. Finally, the KU Technology Transfer Program has
1Wallace, Charles E. And W.M. Sampson. "MATS National Technology Resource", 1TE Journal. April
1991, pp. 35-37.
Minor, Carl. "PC-TRANS - Lending a lIelpfill Hand", Ace; Journal. April 1991, p.39.
51
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provided an ideal medium for presenting short courses and workshops covering
microcomputer applications for the transportation professional.
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BTS Statistical Information Line - 800/853-1351. The BTS has established a toD-8ee
number designated to answer public inquires relating to transportation information. The
information line specializes in providing referrals to the proper individual/organi~tion and is
shed Dom 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, ET. After hours arid on weekends,
cans are received electron~caby and acknowledged the foDowung day.
National Vehicle Detector Test Center - Although not yet operational due to limping,
the test center is proposed to address the need for standardization, certification, and
information sharing related to vehicle detection technologies. The center is designed to be
used! to both users and vendors. One of the primary benefits of the center was to save
agencies the expense and time of testing equipment before it is implemented, as wed as
avoid the duplication of multiple agencies testing the same technology. The status of the
center is unknown. Inquiries can be made to Ralph GiDmann, Office of Information
Management, Federal Highway Administration - (202)-366-5042, fax- (202)-366-7742.
Vehicle Detector Clearinghouse - The clearinghouse has been established as an inters
step towards the test center described above. The mission of the clearinghouse would be
to provide information, particularly product test results, to transportation agencies on the
capabilities of commercially available vehicle detectors. The clearinghouse would also be
used to advance the development of standard test protocols. The status of the
clearinghouse can be obtained by contacting Ralph Gilimann, Office of Information
Management, Federal Highway AdmLnistration - (202)-366-5042, fax- (202)-366-7742.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
microcomputer applications
