State-of-the-Art
Research Facilities
National
Transportation Research Center
The Transportation Technology
Demonstration and Development Team is a member of the of the National Transportation
Research Center (NTRC) which has a vision to be a national leader in transportation
research, development and technology applications. The Center is working
toward this vision by drawing on the talent, facilities, and experience
of its constituent 
members.
The goal of the NTRC is to provide the public and private sectors
with state-of-the-art knowledge, understanding and technologies for cost-effective,
advanced transportation systems. -- systems that are affordable, while
meeting industry standards in safety, security, and convenience.
Within the NTRC, the TTDDT has a 6,000 sq. ft. CVO development and testing
bay area, a 30,000 lb. in-ground scale, a multimedia lab, a ITS/CVO technology
demonstration lab, and two ITS technology development labs.
For more information on the
NTRC:
-
Click here
to see a pdf version of the ORNL Review Publication
-
Click here
to see a PowerPoint presentation (the slide show must be activated and
computer speakers must be on to hear the narration)
Contact Gary
J. Capps for additional information about the NTRC.
Past Remote Facilities
Weigh-In-Motion
The transportation research
facilities included a state-of-the-art laboratory at the Knox County, Tennessee
weighstation, the second busiest weighstation in the country. The
purpose for the laboratory was to conduct on-site RD&D projects consistent
with ITS-CVO missions and needs. It included a high-speed weigh-in-motion
test lab, data feeds from Tennessee Department of Safety facilities, and
connections to ORNL's home office via an ISDN line. Research activities
included research on the conversion of static weighstation scales into
enforcement quality weigh-in-motion systems.
Contact Jeff
Muhs for additional information about the Weigh-In-Motion.
Tennessee
Transportation Technology Test Track (T5)
The
Tennessee Transportation Technology Test Track(T5) was designed
for and was used in the development of low-speed weigh-in-motion systems;
in the development of fiber optic road switches; in vehicle dynamics characterization;
in vehicle tire/pressure/loading characterization; in the training and
maintenance of transportation systems; and it served as an active weight
station for the TN ANG.
The T5 facility
was conceived by ORNL and constructed in 1995. It was the result
of bringing the USAF, The Tennessee Air National Guard (TN ANG), the State
of Tennessee, and ORNL together to develop a facility for low-speed testing
of military, commercial, and passenger vehicles.
The facility is located within
the confines of the McGhee Tyson Air Force Base and adjacent to the Knoxville
Airport.
Some of the unique features
of the facility
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One quarter mile asphalt oval
track
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On-site access to military,
pneumatic tired vehicles
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Local access to military, tracked
vehicles
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Adjacent to a military runway
with C-5 Galaxy capability
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A 30,000 lbs. in-ground scale
with +/- 1% accuracy
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Embedded fiber optic switches
and fiber optic WIM strips
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Configurable low profile WIM
test pit that can accommodate system up to 32 in. in width (direction of
travel) and up to 20 ft. in length (perpendicular to the direction of travel)
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20 ft. by 200 ft. concrete test
bed with 0.75 in. height variation
Contact Gary
J. Capps for additional information about T5.