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2007 Transportation Short Course:
For Chairs and Co-Chairs

Speaker Information and Needs

Session 14
Materials II
Wednesday, October 17
Room: 110-111 Koldus

Speaker: Caroline Herrera
Title: Geotechnical, Soils & Aggregates Branch Manager
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Austin, TX
Presentation Title: Soils & Flexible Base Certification Program/Surface Aggregate Classification System
Presentation Summary: Describes soils and flexible base certification program conducted at the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association and discusses surface aggregate classification system as it pertains to TxDOT's Wet Weather Accident Reduction Program.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: Developed soils and flexible certification program in conjunction with Texas Asphalt Pavement Association. Oversee TxDOT's Wet Weather Accident Reduction Program, which includes the surface aggregate classification system.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Moderator: Andrew Wimsatt
Title: Materials and Pavements Division Head
Company: Texas Transportation Institute
Location: College Station, TX
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Speaker: Mark McDaniel
Title: Transportation Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Austin, TX
Presentation Title: Latest Research Findings Regarding Geotextiles
Presentation Summary: Research findings from geotextile field tests, new research studies, and discussions of geotextile specifications.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I have been coordinating the specification development for geosynthetics within the department for the last 5 years. I have tested and recorded the performance of pavements using geosynthetics for more than 10 years.
A/V Needs: LCD projector
Computer projector
Speaker: Joe Button
Title: Senior Research Fellow
Company: Texas Transportation Institute
Location: College Station, TX
Presentation Title: Latest Research Findings Regarding Geotextiles
Presentation Summary: Discussion of TxDOT project research findings on geosynthetic materials to reduce reflection cracking in asphalt concrete overlays.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: Have conducted several related projects over the past 35 years.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Speaker: Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan
Title: Chairman, Professor and Director of CIGMAT
Company: University of Houston
Location: Houston, TX
Presentation Title: Testing Composite Coating Systems with Silanes for Protecting Concrete Columns at Galveston Causeway
Presentation Summary: Selecting coating materials to protect the new bridge at the Galveston causeway.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan (Vipu) is the chairman and professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston, Texas. He is the Director for the Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) at the University of Houston. He received his MS and PhD in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois and BSc in Civil Engineering from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. His current research interests in the materials areas include durability of concrete, grouts and coatings, and developing smart piezoresistive and chemiresistive materials for civil and environmental engineering applications.. He has been Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator for 60 funded projects since 1984 amounting to over $6 million. His work has resulted in more than 150 refereed and non-refereed papers and over 100 presentations at national and international conferences. In 2005, he received the Fluor Daniel Faculty Excellence Award, highest award given by the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. He has also received several other awards. He is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Concrete Institute (ACI) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). He is very active in number of technical committees of these professional societies. He was the keynote speaker at the International Workshop on Deep Foundations- 2007 in Yokosuka, Japan.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Speaker: Mark McClelland
Title: Geotechnical Branch Manager
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Austin, TX
Presentation Title: Comparison of RC Pipe, CGM Pipe, Thermoplastic Pipe, and Fiber Reinforced Pipe
Presentation Summary: Discussion of various pipe types available for use on TxDOT projects.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I am the Geotechnical Branch Manager in Bridge Division. My office has overall responsibility for pipe specifications, policy for use on new pipe types, and TxDOT's overall Pipe Selection Policy.
A/V Needs: walk-around microphone, LCD projector
Moderator: Stanley Yin
Title: District Materials Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Houston, TX
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Speaker: David Debo
Title: CST/CMISD Section Director
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Austin, TX
Presentation Title: Lab Information Management System Status
Presentation Summary: Present current status of the LIMS development effort along with plans for future development.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I am the Construction and Materials Information System Development (CMISD) Section Director. CMISD is responsible for the TxDOT Lab Information Management System LIMS development effort and SiteManager development and support. I also serve as chairman of the AASHTO Trns*port User Group (TUG). The state of New York is currently working with the TUG in an effort to upgrade SiteManager to include a LIMS. Assuming NY LIMS is incorporated into the general release of SiteManager my section would also be responsible for implementation of the SiteManager LIMS functionality in TxDOT.
A/V Needs: LCD projector
Speaker: Billy Pigg
Title: Materials/Pavement Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Waco, TX
Presentation Title: Variations in Flexible Base Specifications Across District Lines and Associated Impacts
Presentation Summary: Outline flexible base specifications amoung districts, how they differ and the impacts associated.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I am a 1985 graduate of The University of Texas in Arlington with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. I have over 28 years experience with TxDOT and over 12 years experience as the Waco District's Materials Engineer. In this time, I have been involved with many materials producers, the CST Materials/Pavements section, Area Engineers and District Administration personnel on issues involving flexible bases. I have also been involved in TxDOT research projects that have dealt with flexible base triaxial testing as it pertains to pavement design.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Speaker: Joe Button
Title: Senior Research Fellow
Company: Texas Transportation Institute
Location: College Station, TX
Presentation Title: Latest Research Findings Regarding Geotextiles
Presentation Summary: Discussion of findings from recent TxDOT lab/field study of geosynthetic materials applied to reduce/delay reflection cracking in HMA overlays.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: Have conducted several laboratory and field studies for TxDOT and materials manufacturers over the past 30 years.
A/V Needs: LCD projector

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