Western States Forum 2018: Image Gallery

The Western States Forum is organized and facilitated by a Steering Committee. This Committee chooses abstracts, reviews presentations, and plans the logistics associated with the event. Steering Committee members are pictured here as they welcome participants and start the 2018 Western States Forum. Left to right: Leann Koon, Western Transportation Institute; Jeremiah Pearce, Caltrans District 2; Sean Campbell, Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation, and System Information (DRISI); and Doug Galarus, Western Transportation Institute and Utah State University.

Photo By: Jeff Worthington

Steering Committee member Sean Campbell (left) is one of the founders of the Forum. He’s shown here introducing Doug Galarus for his presentation. Doug has also been involved with the Forum since the first event in 2006.

Photo By: Jeff Worthington

Here, Steering committee member Jeremiah Pearce (center) is introducing the speakers from Utah DOT, Jeff Williams (left) and Cody Oppermann (right). Jeremiah has attended 12 of the 13 Forums and recently became Chief of the Caltrans District 2 Office of ITS Engineering and Support. He took the position after another Forum founder, Ian Turnbull, retired.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Pictured during Forum registration are Steering Committee members Marlene Woodard (left) and Leann Koon (right). Leann has been the Forum Coordinator since 2008 and Marlene has been the event planner for every Forum.

Photo By: Lorena Fox

Caltrans District 2 ITS Engineer Keith Koeppen started the Forum’s technical agenda by presenting their experiences with cellular communications in rural applications. He discussed in detail the multiple cellular field sites they have deployed in order to test system reliability and evaluate deployment strategies.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

With a little different perspective on using weather data, Bryan Prestel from the California Department of Water Resources discussed their Hydrology Data Acquisition System (HyDAS). After reviewing data needs for his program and the similarities to roadside weather stations, he shared details about the current and future infrastructure given the challenges with accessing the remote sites.

Photo By: Leann Koon

ITS Design Engineer Blaine Van Dyke (left) and ITS Systems Operator Michael Burkart (right) from the Oregon Department of Transportation gave an in-depth review of the applications that make up ODOT’s statewide Active Traffic Management System. Here they are discussing lessons learned and resolutions for some of the challenges faced.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Doug Galarus, WTI/MSU and Utah State University, summarized the work conducted over 10 years on the Caltrans Aviation Weather Information project. The project is culminating with the migration of the system from research and development at MSU to long-term implementation within Caltrans. This photo shows Doug defining the need for the project and how the Aviation Weather Information system provides a solution.

Photo By: Leann Koon

Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Fleet and Maintenance Manager Ira Pray (right) and IBM Senior Consultant Sarah Lightbody (left) teamed up to present their Advanced Traffic and Weather Visualization Platform. The system is helping INL and the Idaho Transportation Department address transit challenges in and around site facilities.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Jeff Williams (left) and Cody Oppermann (right) from the Utah DOT Weather Operations Group described in detail the Snow and Ice Performance Measure (S&I PM) they helped develop. Here they are explaining the Storm Intensity Index (SII), a critical component of the S&I PM.

Photo By: Leann Koon

ODOT’s ITS Standards Engineer Doug Spencer was back for his sixth Forum presentation. This time he presented their condition rating dashboard for ITS, signals, signage, and sign structures.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Stephen Donecker, a researcher with the AHMCT Research Center at the University of California – Davis, provided details on the mobile device app they are developing for maintenance of CMS field elements. In this photo, Stephen is showing the various components of the kit’s architecture.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

To round out the technical program, Ansley Skillern (left) and Amit Misra (right) from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) discussed their work to adapt urban ATMS systems for use in rural settings, specifically the New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. After reviewing the development of the system, the team demonstrated its features and functionality.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

The 46 Forum attendees came from diverse backgrounds: eight states (CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA) and Washington D.C., five state DOTs, the California Department of Water Resources, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Southwest Research Institute, IBM, three universities, and half of the Caltrans Districts as well as Caltrans Headquarters and DRISI. This photo shows this year’s Forum participants as they listen 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, Jim Whalen from the Nevada DOT (far left), discusses a point with speaker Keith Koeppen.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Presentations at the Western States Forum are detailed and last between one and two hours, allowing speakers the opportunity to really delve into the technical details of a project. This year’s Forum included nine technical presentations and demonstrations with weather / road weather management as a common theme. In the photo below, Mike Jenkinson (center, back), Caltrans Division of Traffic Operations, adds to the discussion during a technical presentation.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Networking sessions, breaks, and meals provided good opportunities for the Forum attendees to meet and discuss Rural ITS technology implementations. Here, different groups visit during the Tuesday evening reception and meal.

Photo By: Leann Koon

Yreka is 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, the Wednesday evening dinner and networking session were held at a local park.

Photos By: Doug Galarus

Jeff Worthington from Caltrans District 2 (left) and Doug Galarus (right) from WTI/MSU and Utah State University, discuss some of their projects during the Tuesday evening reception and meal.

Photo By: Leann Koon

Attendees network during the Tuesday evening no-host reception and dinner.

Photo By: Leann Koon

Having equipment on display for demonstration during networking sessions and presentations was an asset to the Forum and its participants. In this photo, Jeremiah Pearce (right) from Caltrans District 2 is discussing their ITS node equipment cabinet and out-of-pavement RWIS sensors with Sheri Rodriguez from neighboring Caltrans District 1.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Stephen Donecker (left), UC-Davis, and Mike Beyer (right), Caltrans District 2, examine some equipment relative to the mobile device app for CMS maintenance that Stephen’s project team is developing.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Michael Lee (back), Caltrans District 4, and Greg Larson (front), Caltrans DRISI Chief of Traffic Operations Research, take a look at some of the components for the CMS maintenance kit and mobile device app presented by UC-Davis.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

Equipment from Caltrans District 2 on display for demonstration and discussion during breaks and networking sessions.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

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 after the Forum is completed, the notebooks also contain contact information for each of the Forum participants.

Photo By: Leann Koon

At registration, event planner Marlene Woodard (right) checks in Sarah Lightbody (left) from IBM and hands her a custom WSRTC and Western States Forum hat.

Photo By: Leann Koon

Regan Campbell (center) was the audio technician again this year. Thanks, Regan, for keeping the sound system adjusted during the presentations! She’s shown receiving her Certificate of Participation.

Photo By: Doug Galarus

At the conclusion of the Forum, all speakers were recognized for their efforts to put together a presentation and discuss a project. Each attendee was also given a certificate of participation and recognized for the number of years they had attended the Forum. Two of this year’s participants have attended all 13 Forums, one has attended 12 of the events, three have been to 11 of the 13 Forums, and four individuals have attended over half of the events. Of the 46 participants this year, 16 were attending for the first time. Leann Koon is shown here recognizing the speakers and thanking those who helped ensure the Forum went smoothly this year.

Photo By: Doug Galarus