Western States Forum 2016: Image Gallery
Steering Committee members are pictured here as they welcome participants and kick off the 2016 Western States Forum. Left to right: Leann Koon, Western Transportation Institute; Ian Turnbull, Caltrans District 2; Doug Galarus, Western Transportation Institute; and Sean Campbell, Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation, and System Information. The Steering Committee is responsible for organizing and facilitating the event, including choosing abstracts and reviewing presentations.
Photo By: Regan
The Western States Forum is made possible through the support of the Western States Rural Transportation Consortium (WSRTC). Here, the Forum Steering Committee recognizes members of the WSRTC. Left to right: Leann Koon, Western Transportation Institute; Doug Galarus, Western Transportation Institute; Ian Turnbull, Caltrans District 2; and Sean Campbell, Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation, and System Information.
Photo By: Jacob Turnbull
Caltrans District 2's Jeff Worthington, ITS Engineer, explained their design for a new RWIS RPU (remote processor unit). In this photo, he discusses the reasons for proceeding with their own RPU redesign. Jeff described the implementation of the new RPU, providing details and discussion about what worked and what didn’t work. He concluded with future plans for the system and a lead-in to Mike Beyer’s presentation on in-pavement versus non-invasive pavement sensors.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Caltrans District 2 ITS Engineer Jeff Worthington explained their design for a new RWIS RPU (remote processor unit). Here, Jeff is describing the first version of the redesigned unit.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Caltrans District 2 ITS Engineer Mike Beyer reviewed the process of deploying pavement sensors with the new RWIS RPU design. He compared in-pavement versus out-of-pavement sensor technology, and discussed lessons learned for best practice implementation for both types of technology. In this photo, Mike is showing videos of an interesting event at one of the test sites to help the audience visualize what is happening relative to the readings/results given by the different sensor types.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Caltrans District 2's Mike Beyer, ITS Engineer, compared in-pavement versus out-of-pavement sensor technology, and discussed lessons learned for best practice implementation for both types of technology. Here, the audience turns to look at the ESS tower instruments, including some of the Out-Of-Pavement sensors.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
WSDOT Olympic Region’s Freeway Operations Manager, Tony Leingang, and Information Technology Specialist, Tom Stidham, discussed the Bluetooth traveler information project recently deployed around the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) corridor. Here, Tony (left) is explaining the simple installation process for the Bluetooth reader units.
Photo By: Leann Koon
WSDOT Olympic Region’s Freeway Operations Manager, Tony Leingang, and Information Technology Specialist, Tom Stidham, discussed the Bluetooth traveler information project recently deployed around the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) corridor. In this photo, Tom (seated, right) is demonstrating the system’s software.
Photo By: Leann Koon
ODOT's Region 2 Signal Operations Engineer, Julie Kentosh (left), teamed up with ODOT’s ITS Standards Engineer Doug Spencer (right) to present the Local Adaptive Signal Timing project implemented on US101 Hwy in Lincoln City, Oregon. Here, Julie is showing a traffic alert for bumper to bumper traffic in Lincoln City during a special event to explain the reasons for this project.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
ODOT's Region 2 Signal Operations Engineer, Julie Kentosh (left), teamed up with ODOT’s ITS Standards Engineer Doug Spencer (right) to present the Local Adaptive Signal Timing project implemented on US101 Hwy in Lincoln City, Oregon. Here, Doug is discussing some issues with another adaptive signal project in Oregon and how they were addressed relative to the Lincoln City system.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Washington State DOT Technology Resource Manager Joe Schmit presented their Highway Activities Tracking System (HATS) that was developed for use with maintenance division iPads. Pictured here, he discussed the project from development to field deployment and then gave a live demonstration of the application.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Joe Schmit, WSDOT, demonstrates the Highway Activities Tracking System (HATS) application that is on the iPads used by highway maintenance employees.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Arturo Robles, Caltrans District 2, uses WSDOT’s Highway Activities Tracking System (HATS) iPad application while Joe Schmit conducts his live demonstration of the system.
Photo By: Leann Koon
ODOT’s Blaine Van Dyke presented the solar powered portable data collection trailers that were developed to monitor traffic in work zones. Blaine reviewed the trailer specifications and components, deployment and data collection, and lessons learned. He included a walk-around video of an actual trailer as well. In this photo, he is discussing future improvements to the trailers.
Photo By: Leann Koon
ODOT’s Blaine Van Dyke presented the solar powered portable data collection trailers that were developed to monitor traffic in work zones. Here, he is explaining the various components of the trailers and how they are deployed as a walk-around video of an actual trailer is shown.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Herasmo Iniguez, Caltrans' Traffic Controls Systems Branch Chief, presented some of Caltrans’ controller cabinet standards. He reviewed the history of Caltrans cabinet standards and then discussed the features and benefits of the newer LX cabinet. Here, he talks about the filtering surge protector in the L series cabinets.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Herasmo Iniguez, Caltrans' Traffic Controls Systems Branch Chief, presented some of Caltrans’ controller cabinet standards. He reviewed the history of Caltrans cabinet standards and then discussed the features and benefits of the newer LX cabinet. Here, he talks about when to replace the filtering surge protector in the L series cabinets.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Caltrans’ Traffic Controls Systems Branch Chief, Herasmo Iniguez, presented the features and benefits of the newer LX controller cabinet. He also had a demonstration cabinet on-site. Here, David Arias from Caltrans District 6 checks out the cabinet’s functionality.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Nevada DOT’s Rodney Schilling and Jim Whalen discussed their Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) radio for rural ITS project. Shown here, Rodney describes the onboard units that have been fitted on nine District II snow plows and a Freeway Service Patrol van.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Nevada DOT’s Rodney Schilling and Jim Whalen discussed their Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) radio for rural ITS project. In this photo, Jim is going into detail and describing pictures of the plows’ on-board hardware.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Bob Koeberlein, Headquarters Operations Engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), and Ira Pray, Fleet Manager for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), collaborated to present their ongoing Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) partnership for connected vehicles. In the photo below, Bob (right) is discussing the security certificate part of the system and how those certificates are communicated.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Bob Koeberlein, Headquarters Operations Engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), and Ira Pray, Fleet Manager for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), collaborated to present their ongoing Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) partnership for connected vehicles. Here, Ira is describing the pavement temperature sensors mounted on the INL scout vehicles.
Photo By: Leann Koon
The Forum could not go on without speakers who are willing to develop and present a detailed, technical discussion of a rural ITS project or topic. In the photo below, Forum Steering Committee member Doug Galarus of WTI (right) recognizes speakers Rodney Schilling (left) and Jim Whalen (center back).
Photo By: Jacob Turnbull
Presentations at the Western States Forum are detailed and last between one to two hours, allowing speakers the opportunity to really delve into the technical details of a project. In this photo, participants are listening to a technical presentation.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
One of the more unique aspects of the Forum is that questions and discussion are encouraged throughout the presentation, not just at the end. Here, Sean Campbell from Caltrans DRISI raises his hand and asks a speaker a question.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Participants took an active part in discussion during each of the technical presentations. In the photo below, Steve Pyburn of FHWA-California stands to ask a question and discuss a point made by one of the speakers.
Photo By: Leann Koon
All of the Forum presentations generated several questions and prompted dialogue among participants. In this photo, Mike Beyer (center) from Caltrans District 2 raises his hand to ask a speaker a question.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Dean Campbell from Caltrans District 3 (back left) discusses a question with other Forum attendees during a technical presentation.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Participants are engaged as they listen to a technical presentation.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Several speakers passed around examples of the equipment or components. Here, Samuel Campos from Caltrans District 6 takes a look at an in-pavement sensor that Mike Beyer showed to the group.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Ira Pray from the Idaho National Laboratory looks at an in-pavement sensor that speaker Mike Beyer passed around during his presentation.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Chris Strong (City of Gresham, OR) on the left and John Castro (Caltrans Headquarters Operations) on the right work together using WSDOT’s Highway Activities Tracking System (HATS) iPad application while Joe Schmit conducts his live demonstration of the system.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
The Forum provides many opportunities for participants to network with other ITS practitioners to discuss Rural ITS technologies and how these technologies are being utilized to improve operations and safety in their own district or state. In the photo below, speakers Jeff Worthington and Mike Beyer from Caltrans District 2, discuss and demonstrate the redesigned RWIS RPU, and in-pavement and out-of-pavement sensors and their associated software. Pictured left to right: Jeffrey Forester (Caltrans Headquarters), Jeff Worthington (Caltrans District 2), Joe Schmit (WSDOT), and Mike Beyer (Caltrans District 2).
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Networking sessions and meals provided a good opportunity for the Forum participants to meet and discuss Rural ITS technology implementations. This year, participants represented six states, five state DOTs, the FHWA, the City of Gresham (OR), the Idaho National Laboratory, three universities, eight Caltrans Districts, and two groups from Caltrans Headquarters. Below, attendees are networking during the Tuesday evening meal.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
In this photo, Jeremiah Pearce (left) from Caltrans District 2 and Steve Hancock (center) from Caltrans Headquarters are discussing ITS projects. Separately behind them, Jeff Cullins, also from Caltrans District 2, is networking with another Forum attendee.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Participants network during the Tuesday evening no-host reception.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
In this photo, Chris Strong (City of Gresham, OR; left) visits with Doug Galarus (WTI; right) at the start of the Forum. Chris is one of the founders of the Forum and it was good to see him back as a participant this year.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Participants network during the Tuesday evening dinner.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Participants look at equipment and network during the Tuesday evening no-host reception. Pictured left to right: Ernesto Fermin (Caltrans District 11), Keith Koeppen (Caltrans District 2), John Castro (Caltrans Headquarters Operations), Jeffrey Forester (Caltrans Headquarters), Herasmo Iniguez (Caltrans Headquarters), Mike Beyer (Caltrans District 2), and Lonnie Hobbs (Caltrans District 2).
Photo By: Leann Koon
Lonnie Hobbs (left) and Jeremiah Pearce (right) discuss Caltrans controller cabinets.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Yreka is located in rural northern California in Caltrans District 2 and provides an appropriate setting for in-depth dialogue about rural ITS system design and implementation. To maintain the rural perspective and continue to foster transparency and trust with an informal atmosphere, an evening dinner and networking session were held at a local park.
Photo By: Doug Galarus
Having equipment on display for demonstration during networking sessions and presentations was an asset to the Forum and its participants. Caltrans District 2 generated active discussion with the redesigned RWIS RPU and the in-pavement and out-of-pavement sensors and testing equipment they had on display.
Photos By: Leann Koon
These pictures show some of the equipment on display this year including Caltrans District 2's ITS Node Equipment Cabinet (top left), Caltrans demonstration controller cabinet (top right), and Nevada DOT's Integrated Mobile Observation (NIMO) 3.0 Onboard Sensor Package (Onboard Unit) (below).
Photos By: Leann Koon
Each participant receives a personalized notebook which contains copies of the presentations to use during the technical program. To facilitate networking and sharing of ideas and experiences even after the Forum is completed, the notebooks also contain contact information for each of the Forum participants.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Participants prepare for the start of the Forum by reviewing the upcoming presentations. Bob Koeberlein from the Idaho Transportation Department is seated in front.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Ian Turnbull, Chief of the Office of ITS Engineering and Support for Caltrans District 2, is one of the founders of the Western States Forum. His leadership and guidance have been crucial to the success of the Forum. This year, in recognition of his efforts, he was recognized with a framed collage depicting the Forum over the last 10 years. Doug Galarus and Sean and Ann Campbell made and framed the collage.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Regan was the timekeeper and insured that the event ran according to schedule.
Photo By: Leann Koon
Jacob was the audio technician for the Forum. He kept the sound system adjusted at optimal levels during each speaker’s presentation.
Photo By: Leann Koon
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