Amber Alert Support ProgramATAC's expertise in Intelligent Traffic Systems - dynamic traffic management systems that often rely on high-tech, high-speed communication - is being put to use to help locate lost children. A key component of "Amber Alert" systems is the use of dynamic message signs and other traveler information systems along the highway to relay descriptions of children, suspects or vehicles involved in possible abductions. "Accomplishing that is more difficult than it sounds," says Ayman Smadi, ATAC director. Communications systems between traffic officials and law enforcement officials are not always compatible and updating traveler information systems with Amber Alert information in a timely fashion may be difficult. Also, there are not standards for Amber Alert messages for traveler information systems - where messages should appear, how long they should appear and how they should be worded. ATAC researchers are examining current communications and data flows between the North Dakota DOT and law enforcement agencies and between NDDOT and its eight districts. The researchers will also assess the agencies' current use of traveler information outlets such as the Internet and dynamic message signs. UGPTI's Miner Earns Professional Engineer Designation
"The designation will give me added credibility with clients and allows me to take broader responsibility for our projects," Miner says. Engineers who take the exam must have worked at least four years under the direction of a professional engineer. Miner's work at ATAC focuses on Intelligent Transportation Systems, technologybased systems employing traffic surveillance, electronic signs, signal timing and other tools to improve traffic flow and safety. ATAC Completes Bismarck School Grounds InventoryBismarck traffic engineers will use data collected by ATAC to improve safety around schools in that city. ATAC researchers Dana Johnson and Jason Baker and a student from Bismarck State College created an inventory of objects on school grounds, such as signs and trees, and recorded their locations with global positioning technology. The locations were entered into a geographic information system database which engineers will use to conduct a city-wide school safety study. |
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Kate Miner, associate research fellow at the Advanced Traffic Analysis Center, recently passed an exam to earn the designation of professional engineer.