The goal of the Center is to advance the maintenance and upkeep of our region's transportation infrastructure, and ensure the safety and security of our lifeline systems under adverse conditions. Correspondingly, the research focus of the center is on better pavements; safety and security management of transportation facilities, condition monitoring of bridges, tunnels and portways to ensure against failure; emergency management systems; traffic congestion management; transit operations; intelligent transportation systems; and minimization of adverse transportation impact on the environment. The Center is also active in work-force training through academic programs in Civil/Transportation Engineering; and an extensive technology transfer program, reaching out to NJ's K-12 system, and more than 4,000 professionals statewide.

The Center has recently entered into its most significant Industry/University/Government Partnership to date. The development of environmentally and economically re-use solutions for scrap tires, contaminated dredge, and other deleterious materials will be the focus of the Bayshore/CAIT/NJDEP/NJDOT team. We must continually reflect upon the condition of our natural environment and understand our responsibility to resolve and pass on an environment, which is cleaner and healthier for future generations. We have the scientific means to enact meaningful measures to insure that our civil infrastructure and our environment benefits from use of waste materials. Pollution, congestions, and lifelong infrastructure performance are issues that affect us on a daily basis and the cutting edge innovations coming from the Center will serve to enhance our quality of life. Partnerships between the Center and private industry are of paramount importance if we are to continue making technological and scientific breakthroughs.

The dedicated CAIT facility, to be built next year, is proof of the Center’s success record, at both state and national levels, and recognition by all its stakeholders, including NJ and Federal legislators. The University and cooperating agencies have demonstrated their commitment and we look forward to continuing our activities in year five.

Dr. Ali Maher

Director

Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Theme of CAIT:

The theme of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) is maintenance and operation of high volume transportation infrastructure systems. It is the goal of CAIT to be a catalyst for creating a multi-modal transportation infrastructure research and education paradigm that incorporates input from members of the TIS community. The Center will be active in TIS education, research, and technology transfer in the critical areas of safety, mobility, economic growth, human and natural environment, and national security; (envisioned by USDOT in the recently published USDOT Research and Development Plan.) The unique feature of the Center will be its focus on implementation of advanced and cutting-edge technologies, from broad and interdisciplinary sources, used for efficient maintenance and operation of multi-modal transportation infrastructure systems in high volume and heavily utilized intermodal corridors.

The TIS maintenance and operation theme will guide all educational, research, and technology transfer activities of the Center. The main criteria for success will be the implementation of goals and objectives that have been identified and will be presented in detail in the following sections of this plan.

Management Structure:

The CAIT organizational structure consists of four groups: Center administration, education, research, and technology transfer. All personnel report to their designated group chairpersons, who then report to the Center Director (See Figure 1). The duties and responsibilities of the key faculty and staff are described in the following section.

Center Director: In compliance with the USDOT requirements, the CAIT Director, Dr. Ali Maher, manages the daily operations of CAIT, supervises the personnel, complies with the funding requirements, and oversees the progress of research activities. Dr. Maher is an experienced transportation professional and currently a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rutgers University. Additionally, he is responsible for conducting the programs, developing new research initiatives, and presenting seminars on CAIT’s research accomplishments.

Associate Director: The Associate Director for Academic Affairs, Dr. Kaan Ozbay, assists the Director in handling the research planning activities of CAIT. Dr. Ozbay has been designated as a CAIT representative and attends external meetings at the discretion of the Director. Additionally, Dr. Ozbay is an Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering at Rutgers University with a research specialty in Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Associate Director (Business Manager): The Associate Director/Business Manager, Patrick Szary, coordinates the financial activities of CAIT, including handling the procedures for establishing grant projects, and contract management. Mr. Szary also serves as the liaison between CAIT and the Rutgers Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Additionally, he is responsible for maintaining the CAIT Baseline Measure database and meeting the UTRC report requirements. Mr. Szary is a transportation/geotechnical engineer with a research specialty in highway sensors and sensing.

Education Advisory Committee (EAC) Chairperson: The chair of the Education Advisory Committee (EAC), Dr. Nenad Gucunski, oversees the undergraduate, graduate, and internship activities of CAIT and coordinates all student research and educational activities within CAIT. Additionally, Dr. Gucunski is an Associate Professor of Transportation Engineering at Rutgers University with a research specialty in nondestructive evaluation of transportation infrastructure systems.
Research Focus Area Leaders: Professors Gucunski, Nassif, Maher, Ozbay, and Williams serve as research focus area leaders.

Research Focus Leader	CAIT Research Focus Area
Dr. Hani Nassif (pictured on left)	Large Scale TIS Evaluation
Dr. Ali Maher (pictured on previous page)	Advanced Pavement Materials (Superpave)
Dr. Nenad Gucunski (pictured on previous page)	Advanced Infrastructure Condition Monitoring Nondestructive Testing
Dr. Kaan Ozbay (pictured on previous page)	Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Dr. Kaan Ozbay (pictured on previous page)	Transit Infrastructure and Operation
Dr. Trefor Williams (pictured on left)	TIS Management

Associate Program Specialist - Chair of Technology Transfer Advisory Board: The Associate Program Specialist, Joseph Orth, is responsible for administering all of the CAIT technology transfer activities which include the dissemination of research findings, organization of seminars and conferences, and developing training programs for the transportation community. Additionally, Mr. Orth directs the federally sponsored Local Technical Assistant Program (LTAP) that has joined CAIT. Mr. Orth, a graduate of Rutgers University, has been with the Local Technical Assistance Program since 1992, and became the LTAP Program's Director in 1997. Mr. Orth is at the forefront in promoting long distance learning and interactive web based training initiatives. His efforts were cited by Vice President Gore in 1999, when he was presented with the prestigious Hammer Award for the National Partnership for Reinventing Government. Mr. Orth has been a long-standing member of many transportation oriented organizations, serving on an assortment of education committees and executive boards.

Associate Program Specialist: As Associate Program Specialist, Dr. Claudia Knezek works with Joseph Orth to coordinate the technology transfer activities of CAIT. Dr. Claudia Knezek's major responsibility is to develop and organize the Roadway Safety Task Review Group. She also distributes work zone safety training kits to municipal public works, engineers, and police officers throughout New Jersey. Lastly, Dr. Knezek is assigned the task of overseeing the development of a traffic safety web page for the public sector in New Jersey. Dr. Knezek received a Doctor of Education Degree (1995) from Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education. She has over twenty years professional experience in the field of Continuing and Community Education. Currently, Dr. Knezek is employed as an Associate Program Specialist at CAIT and also serves as a co-adjunct professor at Kean University.

Program Coordinator: As Program Coordinator, Janet Leli works with Joseph Orth to coordinate the technology transfer activities of CAIT. Ms. Leli’s major responsibilities include the preparation and distribution of a quarterly newsletter, publications, and reports on the technology transfer activities of CAIT. Ms. Leli is a graduate of Rutgers University (BA, 1997) and Rider University (MA, 2000). Ms. Leli joined the Local Technical Assistance Program in 1997 and, as the Program Coordinator, is responsible for the administration of continuing education courses and the publication of the Center newsletter. Ms. Leli assists in the general technology transfer activities of CAIT and serves on the committees of various professional organizations.

Administrative Assistant: The Administrative Assistant, Azam Kalantari, assists the Business Manager in the financial operation and reporting responsibilities of CAIT. This includes all daily activities including requisitions, payroll, invoices, and other administrative tasks. Ms. Kalantari has filled a critical role since the inception of CAIT.

Program Assistant: The Program Assistant, Ruth Gacser, assists the Associate Program Specialist and the Program Associates. This includes updating mailing lists, course registrations, training activities, and other technology transfer related tasks. A graduate of Kean College, Ms. Gacser has been a registrar for Rutgers University since 1986. Her tenure with the Local Technical Assistance Program began in 1997. Ms. Gacser oversees the entire registration process for the continuing education programs sponsored by CAIT-LTAP.

Laboratory Scientist/Engineer: The Laboratory Scientists/Engineers, Thomas Bennert and Joseph Smith are responsible for the daily operations of the Asphalt Laboratory. Their work also includes conducting asphalt research studies. Mr. Bennert is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.S. 1996 and an M.S. 1998 in geotechnical and transportation engineering. Currently, Mr. Bennert is the laboratory engineer in the Rutgers Asphalt/Pavement Laboratory (RAPL), as well as the Geotechnical Laboratory. He performs research in the labs, as well as a contributing researcher on projects related to asphalt such as the Investigation into Modified Asphalt Binders for Improved Pavement Performance and the Development of a Performance Specification for Granular Base and Subbase Material. Mr. Smith is a graduate of M.C.C.C. and has spent his professional career working in the construction engineering field for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, in the Materials and Construction Bureaus. In 1991, Mr. Smith began working as a consultant for various construction projects and training programs throughout the United States. Currently, Mr. Smith is the Supervisor of Rutgers University's Asphalt Pavement Laboratory at CAIT, and an instructor for the Local Technical Assistance Program. He also serves as the Training Chairman for the New Jersey Society of Asphalt Technology.

Committees:

Education Advisory Committee (EAC): The EAC consists of Center researchers who have the expertise to develop a multidisciplinary program of course work and can develop an active learning process utilizing the Center's transportation research.

Education Advisory Committee (EAC) Members
CAIT Researcher - EAC Chair: Dr. Nenad Gucunski
CAIT Assoc. Director: Dr. Kaan Ozbay
CAIT Assoc. Director: Patrick Szary
CAIT Researcher: Dr. Hani Nassif

Research Advisory Board (RAB): The RAB members represent their respective agencies or institutions. The NJDOT has a process of creating problem statements within their own organization. During the RAB meeting(s) the RAB members present the proposed problem statements from their agency and institutions. Thus the RAB members bring with them the pre-evaluated problem statements concerning transportation infrastructure system issues.

Research Advisory Board (RAB) Members
CAIT Director - RAB Chair: Dr. Ali Maher (facilitator, non-voting)
CAIT Assoc. Director: Dr. Nenad Gucunski
McLarin Assoc. President: Melvin McLarin
Fredrick Harris Vice-President: A. Sarmad
URS Greiner Transportation Engineer: R. Oryani
Bayshore Recycling Corp President: Valerie Montecalvo
Parsons Brinkerhoff Vice President: Farzen Lackpour
FHWA representative to NJ: Lawrence Cullari
NJDOT Research Bureau: Nick Vitillo (non-voting)
Advanced Infrastructure Design Representative: Dr. Kaz Tabrizi

Technology Transfer Advisory Board (TTAB): The TTAB members represent their respective agencies or institutions. Once the Research Advisory Board (regional stakeholders) selects the Center's research, the TTAB is able to develop technology transfer programs and actions to enhance the previously selected research. Therefore by using the past selection efforts of the RAB, the TTAB will be able to meet the goals of CAIT and deliver services to the stakeholders most affected by transportation infrastructure issues within a high volume, heavily utilized transportation corridors.

Technology Transfer Advisory Board (TTAB) Members
LTAP Associate Program Specialist - TTAB Chair: Joseph Orth
CAIT Director: Dr. Ali Maher
CAIT Assoc. Director: Patrick Szary
LTAP Program Coordinator: Janet Leli
FHWA representative to NJ: Lawrence Cullari
FHWA representative to NJ: William Hoffman
FHWA representative to NJ: Patty Leech
DHTS Principal Specialist: Alfred Tindall
NJDOT Research Bureau: Nick Vitillo

TTAB Task Review Groups: The TTAB has established two Task Review Groups based on operational guidelines of the strategic plan. Each Task Review Group is focusing on a specific discipline or area within the transportation field.

LTAP Advisory Task Review Group: The Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation-Local Technical Assistance Program (CAIT-LTAP) is known throughout the region for advancing and promoting innovative technologies, proven solutions, and reliable services to successfully resolve the transportation and safety issues facing New Jersey and beyond. The mission of this Task Review Group is to foster a safe, efficient, environmentally sound transportation system by improving skills and knowledge of transportation professionals through multi-modal forms of training, technical assistance, and technology transfer.

LTAP Task Review Group Members
CAIT Director: Dr. Ali Maher
LTAP Associate Program Specialist: Joseph Orth
CAIT Assoc. Director: Patrick Szary
LTAP Program Coordinator: Janet Leli
CAIT Assoc. Program Specialist: Dr. Claudia Knezek
FHWA representative to NJ: Lawrence Cullari
NJDOT representative: Lad Szalaj
American Public Works Association: Edward Gottko
Public Works Association of New Jersey: Raymond Manfra
Public Works Association of New Jersey: Howard Dill
Public Works Association of New Jersey: Donald Hansen
DHTS Principal Specialist: Alfred Tindall
NJDOT Research Bureau: Nick Vitillo
New Jersey Institute of Technology: John Wiggins
Institute of Transportation Engineers: Lynn La Munyon
Morris County Engineering Department: Stephen Hammond
New Jersey State Police: Ray Glowacki
Rutgers University Police Department: Jeffrey Jannarone
3M Products, Inc.: Louis Glasper
New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers: Thomas Zilinek

Roadside Safety Task Review Group: The worn infrastructure of New Jersey has created an increasing need to perform work on or along the roadside while it remains open to traffic. An aging roadway network and increasing traffic volumes have created the need for more frequent road repair. However, currently there is limited training for state, county, and municipal employees in highway safety topics. These conditions expose workers to greater risk: all city, county, utility, maintenance, and construction workers find themselves working close to traffic more often. The mission of this task review group is to train all pertinent roadwork personnel, especially flagger, in proper set-ups, procedures, and techniques. Also, there is a need to train police in work zone set-up, maintenance design, inspection, and enforcement of work zone rules and regulations.

Roadway Safety Task Review Group Members

NJ State Police: Michael Brunson
NJ State Police: Raymond Glowacki
FHWA representative to NJ: Lawrence Cullari
FHWA representative to NJ: Basharat Siddiqi
DHTS Principal Specialist: Alfred Tindall
DOL-OSHA: Lou Ricca
CAIT Associate Director: Patrick Szary
CAIT Associate Program Specialist: Claudia Knezek
LTAP Associate Program Specialist: Joseph Orth
NJDOT: Angelo Armano
NJDOT: Leon Fulginiti
NJDOT: Peter Pagano
NJDOT: Anthony Pellegrino
NJDOT: Charlie Phy
NJDOT: Lee Steiner
NJDOT: Anker Winther
NJAPA: Brian Tobin
Local 472: Mike Cackowski
NJ Turnpike Auth: Solomon Caviness
CAIT: John Clearwater
Local 172: Joseph DeMarco
NJ Laborers Health & Safety Fund: Ken Hoffner
OSHA: Robert Kulick
OSHA: John Mazur
UTCA: Eric Larkin
UTC & AGCNJ: Kevin Monaco
AAA: Pam Maollo

Congestion, Safety, and Security Task Review Group: Roadway congestion is caused when traffic demands approach or exceed the available capacity of the roadway system. Throughout New Jersey traffic volumes have grown so great that many urban, suburban, and even rural roadways are experiencing congestion on a routine basis. A side effect of this widespread congestion is the probability for increased number of crashes and incidents each year causing an interruption in the State transportation system. The mission of this task review group will be to seek ways to promote “best practices” at the State and Local level to alleviate traffic congestion in an emergency or incident condition throughout New Jersey.

Congestion, Safety, and Security Task Review Group Members

FHWA representative to NJ: Lawrence Cullari
FHWA representative to NJ: Patty Leech
CAIT Associate Program Specialist: Claudia Knezek
CAIT Director: Dr. Ali Maher

LTAP Associate Program Specialist: Joseph Orth
NJDOT representative: Lad Szalaj

NJDOT representative: Nazhat Aboobaker

NJDOT Research Bureau: Nick Vitillo

Research:

The primary research selection objective of the Center is to develop a research program that will focus on implementation of advanced and cutting-edge technologies, from broad and interdisciplinary sources, used for efficient maintenance and operation of multi-modal transportation infrastructure systems in high volume and heavily utilized intermodal corridors.

Research:

Our research program is currently comprised of 43 funded research studies; of which 30 are active and 13 are recently completed. The total research expenditure in the last four (4) years exceeds six (6) million dollars. The Center closely follows the concerns of the transportation community at large. Therefore, the Center has awarded several new projects in response to the needs of aging infrastructure, fiscal constraints, legislative agendas, workforce development, environmental concerns, and technological advances. These projects focus in areas such as congestion, security, air quality, emergency management, and traffic circles.

A number of major new research partnerships with the private sector have also been initiated. Two new projects have been created that particularly leverage resources of the University/Industry Partnership. One project deals with utilization of recycled crumb rubber in asphalt, and the other project involves providing security against BCR (biological, chemical, radiological) threats in transportation hubs.

In addition, the Center has recently received federal funding for a two-year project, entitled the New Jersey Local Congestion, Safety, and Security Initiative (CSSI). The focus of this grant is the promotion of Safety Conscious Planning (SCP), as a proactive approach to further prevent motor vehicle crashes and unsafe transportation conditions. A series of safety forums will be conducted to facilitate dialogue between representatives from all levels of the transportation industry. During the forums, program participants have the opportunity to review the transportation planning process, identify safety challenges, and seek resources that are required for reducing roadway injuries and fatalities. The forum outcomes are then formulated into an integrated safety plan that utilizes crash data and technical resources to establish statewide and local priorities.