NAS Report: FAA Needs to Change its Drone Safety Risk Assessment Strategy
A Congressionally mandated report issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on June 11 is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to change its approach to analyzing the safety risks posed by drones, which are formally known as either unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The NAS report said an "overly conservative approach" to safety risk assessments by the FAA "tends to overestimate the severity and likelihood of risks fro...
Iowa Commission Signs Off on Five-Year $3.4B Transportation Plan
On June 12 the Iowa Transportation Commission approved a five-year, $3.4 billion transportation improvement plan that includes $1.8 billion for "modernizing" the Hawkeye state's existing highway system as well as adding "enhanced highway safety features," according to the Iowa DOT. The agency noted in a statement that its plan "continues to maintain a balance between rural and urban investment," with approximately 55 percent of the program's $3.4 billion in overall funding invested in rural a...
Brown and Caldwell Selected for Environmental Post-Closure Maintenance of Guam’s Ordot Closure Facility
Images courtesy GBB and GHD WALNUT CREEK, Calif., June 19, 2018 — Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm, today announced its selection by Federal Receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB), to provide operations and maintenance services for the post-closure care of Guam’s Ordot Closure Facility. In operation from the 1940s through 2012, the 42-acre Ordot Dump had been the sole disposal facility for Guam’s civilian solid waste. Before the...
Streamlining Automated Inspection Technology for Transportation
Avitas Systems, a GE Venture, provides state-of-the-art, robotic based autonomous and semi-autonomous inspection management, smart scheduling, and safety compliance. The Avitas Systems cloud based platform uploads inspection data from a wide variety of sensors, fuses the data with regulatory and external sources, such as weather, and outputs advanced risk-based insights that are accessible 24/7 via an online inspection interface and mobile application. The Avitas Systems solution protects asse...
U.S. DOT Announces $7.7 Million for First Round of Regional University Transportation Center Grants
WASHINGTON: As part of the University Transportation Centers (UTC) program, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has selected the University of Maine, Rutgers University, and Pennsylvania State University for regional grants authorized under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act for fiscal years 2016-2020. All three UTCs will receive their first-year funding now: Region 1: University of Maine – Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center: $2,570,600 Region...
Neste and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are Collaborating to Drive Sustainable Aviation Operations
Neste, the leading renewable products producer and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a global leader in airport sustainability are collaborating in an effort to reduce air pollution, especially carbon dioxide emissions, from aircraft at DFW. Both parties share the view that environmental awareness is growing globally and actions to combat climate change are needed in aviation, the fastest growing means of transport in the world today. “We are happy to partner up with leaders such...
Kats Joins WSP as Business Development Manager
LOS ANGELES — Steven Kats has been named business development manager for the Los Angeles transportation and infrastructure business of WSP USA, formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy. In his new position, Mr. Kats will work closely with the firm’s Los Angeles office staff and regional leadership to achieve annual sales goals, develop and implement tactical action plans and client relation management plans, and lead key external initia...
Julie Wienberg Rejoins HNTB as Aviation Project Director and Vice President
KANSAS CITY – Julie Wienberg, NCARB, has rejoined HNTB Corporation as aviation project director and vice president, serving as aviation group leader for HNTB’s architecture practice. Wienberg focuses on strategic planning, client service and providing support and advisory services to HNTB’s national aviation practice and to clients in the development of public-private partnerships. Wienberg brings extensive experience in developing, managing and leading project teams, with more than 20 years...
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Association to Form
Reston, VA - A new trade and professional association of subsurface utility engineering (SUE) practitioners, the SUE Association, is being formed and an organizing conference will be held on Thursday, July 26 at the Capitol Skyline Hotel in Washington, DC. The intent of the SUE association is to fill a niche for firms and individuals engaged in providing SUE services, as well as allied stakeholders. The SUE Association is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and increasing client understanding...
Soo Locks Improvements Finally Gaining Momentum?
Long-sought improvements and upgrades to Michigan's Soo Locks complex in Sault Ste. Marie, considered a vital linchpin to the nation’s economy and national security, appears to finally be getting some long overdue attention on multiple fronts, according to Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) National Legislative Counsel John Kran. “The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018 by a 408 to 2 vote,” Kran said. “At the same time – Michigan’s Congressional deleg...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
TriMet’s Banfield Type 1 Substation Replacement Project
February Issue 2026
