training in action 2011

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NHI Training in ActionImproving the Performanceof the Transportation Industry

Through Training

2011

Office of Technical Services

nCelebrating 40 Years of Service

nWeb Site Refresh

nPartnering with NHI

nAward-Winning Achievements

Inside:


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2011 NHI Training in Action 1NHI Training in Action 2011

Table of Contents

2 Celebrating 40 Years of ServiceNHI continues its legacy of delivering high-quality training to thetransportation workforce

4 NHI Web Site Gets a MakeoverNew interface and features improve the sites accessibilityand function

6 Instructors of Excellence and Team Administrative AwardsRecognizing trainers for quality service in 2009

8 Partnerships Boost Training on Geotechnical EngineeringNHI, ASCE, and DFI collaborate to expand reach oftransportation-focused courses

10 Overcoming Barriers with Distance LearningNHI and TCCC partnership expands training options available to States

12 Going GreenMany NHI courses can help St ate DOTs reduce their environmental footprints

14 Shrinking the Knowledge Gap for Bridge InspectorsRevamped courses incorporate emerging techniques, lessons learned

16 International Training, DeliveredNHI is assisting Kuwait and South Korea in strengthening their infrastructure

18 ACEC Engineering Excellence AwardsNHI is presented with the Silver Award for the rst comprehensivetunnel manual

About NHI

The National Highway Institute (NHI) is the training and education arm of the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA). NHIs team of talented Federal and contract employees are housed within FHWAs Office of TechnicalServices (OTS). NHI provides leadership and resources to guide the development and delivery of transportation-related training in many formats, including both classroom-based and distance-based learning. NHI is authorizedto award continuing education units (CEUs) through t he International Association of Continuing Education andTraining (IACET).

For more information, please visit the NHI Web site at www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov or contact the NHI Training Teamat [email protected].

NHI Course Categories

Business, PublicAdministration & Quality

Financial ManagementIntelligent TransportationSystems (ITS)

CommunicationsFreight andTransportation Logistics

Pavement and Materials

Construction andMaintenance

Geotechnical Real Estate

Design and TrafcOperations

Highway Safety Structures

Environment HydraulicsTransportationPlanning


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2 NHI Training in Action 2011 2011 NHI Training in Action 3

When the National Highway Institute (NHI) firstopened its doors in 1970, it was just a small operation,with a handful of employees who completed everycourse registration, every scheduling arrangement, andevery certificate by hand. Understandably, the menu ofcourses was fairly narrow, covering subjects such as workzone safety, pavements, and hydraulics.

Since then, NHIs course catalog has expanded toinclude hundreds of trainings in 16 broad categoriesranging from structures and pavements to real estateand communications. In addition, NHI now offers morethan 50 distance learning courses, making it feasible fortransportation professionals to attend training from thecomfort of their own offices, without the hassle and costof travel. Although NHI has grown tremendously over thelast four decades, one thing has remained constant: NHIscommitment to quality. Whether developing exceptionaltraining materials or securing topnotch instructors, qualityremains at the core of NHIs values.

One of the main contributors to NHIs success is thefact that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)places a high value on learning within the contextof professional and corporate development, saysFHWA Associate Administrator for Safety Joe Toole,who previously served as associate administrator of theOffice of Professional and Corporate Development. WithFHWAs support, NHI has correspondingly multiplied itsability to offer high-quality training. In the words of NHITraining Director Rick Barnaby, NHIs mission hasntchanged; the organization has just expanded in newdirections to meet new challenges and opportunities.

One of the most important ways in which theorganization has evolved is through the adoption andadaptation of new technologies. In 1992, NHI launchedits Course Management and Training System (CMTS), acomputer program that stores information about NHIcourses, including development milestones, attendancedata, and contract funding levels. In the late 1990s, NHI

launched its Web site, providing customers quick andeasy access to the entire catalog and an array of othertraining-related information.

Then, in 2003, NHI launched its first Web-basedtraining, offering a lower cost, self-study optionthat enables participants to learn at their own pacewherever they can access the Internet. Soon after,NHI launched Web-conference training, in whichparticipants join live training online at a set time.And, with the recent launch of the NHI Store, the

transportation community now can order copies oftraining materials online. These online services giveNHI the ability to reach more people, more efficiently.

To capitalize on diverse skill sets and experiences,NHI regularly collaborates with partners across theindustry to enhance the quality and value of its courses.For example, NHI is accredited by the InternationalAssociation for Continuing Education and Training(IACET) as an authorized provider of continuingeducation units (CEUs). As an authorized provider, NHIcan offer CEUs for its courses that qualify under theAmerican National Standards Institute/IACET 1-2007Standard, which gives them validity as high-qualitytrainings, says NHI Instructor Liaison Carolyn Eberhard.

NHI also forges close relationships with internal FHWAgroups, such as the Resource Center, and external groups,such as the American Society of Civil Engineers, DeepFoundations Institute, State departments of transportation,and university transportation centers. Because of theglobal nature of transportation today, NHI reachesbeyond the Nations borders to develop relationshipswith transportation professionals around the world. Infact, for more than 20 years, NHI and FHWAs Officeof International Programs have collaborated to providetraining resources, briefings on training processes, andWeb-based training to dozens of countries, includingIraq, Korea, and Kuwait.

NHI is constantly striving to not only improve itscourses but also provide up-to-date training facilitiesfor delivering them. In April 2010, NHI relocated itsheadquarters in Arlington, VA, to a newer facility thatoffers modern classroom spaces to accommodate bothinstructor-led and Web-conference training.

Perhaps NHIs most notable accomplishment isthe change it has inspired within the transportationcommunity. NHIs work has resulted in changestheway people design bridges, the way people build safetyinto our roads, the way they involve the public intransportation decisions, and much more, says Toole.All of these advancements have improved our Nationsroadways, and NHI has played a significant role inmaking that happen. I am confident that NHI willcontinue to grow and evolve, and that the NHI of 2019

will not be the NHI of today. But I am also confidentthat as long as there is a need, NHI will be there, readyto meet it.

Left: In April 2010, NHI moved into its new home at1310 North Courthouse Road in Arlington, VA.

Then-Federal Highway Administrator Francis C. Turner (left) poses withEmmett H. Karrer, the rst director of NHI, in September 1971.

NHI continues its legacy of delivering high-qualitytraining to the transportation workforce

Celebrating 40 Years of Service


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The National Highway Institute (NHI) iscontinually striving to improve its trainingcourses and the ways in which they aredelivered. Over the last few years, demandhas risen for NHI trainings to be Web-basedand accessible anywhere and at any time. Forthis reason, NHI has offered more and moreWeb-based, distance learning courses each

year and has moved all course registrationand material purchasing functions online.With the growing importance of the Web siteas a hub for all things NHI, the organization

knew that an improved site style andnavigation were vital to continuing to deliverhigh-quality customer service. NHI reachedout to its site users through a usability studytargeted research delivered through interviewswith NHI customersfor feedback on howthe site could be improved.

Within the last few years, there has been an increase

in the number of customers who felt the Web sitelacked important information, or they had troublefinding information due to the sites unclear processesand missing features, says Josh Kersey, a managementconsultant who helped lead the redesign. NHI used theresults of the usability study to prioritize updates to thedesign, features, functionality, and content of the Website. These updates have enhanced NHIs online presenceand provided more accessible resources for course hosts,participants, and instructors.

The majority of the redesign process was completedat the end of 2010, but the final phases will continueover the next few years. The significant features thatwere redesigned include improved sign-on functionalityand updates to the home page style and navigation.The improved features enhance the user experience, aswell as increase Web site capabilitiesmaking login,scheduling, searching, and completing NHI trainingseasier for all users.

Todays Web users expect a higher level offunctionality, especially since so many now rely on Web-based training, says Heather Shelsta, NHIs programmanager for systems and marketing. The redesigned sitewill meet such demandsand, we hope, exceed them.

The first phase of updates, completed in March2010, included implementing My Training, a singlesign-on feature. The new feature directly launchesWeb-based and Web-conference trainings on the site,and enables customers to view a list of Web-basedand Web-conference trainings they have scheduledand those they have alrea dy taken. My Training alsoallows customers to access and download trainingdocuments (for Web-based and Web-conferencetrainings only), such as personalized certificatesfor successfully completed courses and electronic

NHI Web Site Gets a MakeoverNew interface and features improve the sitesaccessibility and function

materials ordered from the NHI Store. Through MyTraining, customers also can request an officialtranscript from the NHI Registrar.

During the second phase of updates, completedin August 2010, NHI launched the home page andnavigation redesign. The updates included changes tohome page fonts, colors, and images; a new left-sidenavigation bar and site map at the bottom of each page;navigation options in the center-right of the home page;and a course search box on each page, which enablessite users to find courses on any page at any time.

The goal of the redesigns second phase was to tacklethe navigation and style issues on the original Web site,while maintaining all the strengths of the old site. Forexample, NHI retained several previous Web site featuresin the new design, such as displaying new courseson the home page, providing clear and informativecourse descriptions, maintaining an easy shopping andcheckout process, and emailing updates to site users who

sign up. NHI expects that the streamlined content and

simple design will not only give regular users increasedaccessibility to the information they need, but also attractnew users and potential customers.

The remaining improvements also were developedbased on the usability study, and NHI will implementthese additional changes gradually. By the end of 2011,site users can expect to see updates such as Really SimpleSyndication (RSS) feeds that enable customers to setpreferences to receive email updates on specific NHIsubject areas, print and share features, and improvementsto the NHI Store to make downloading electronicdocuments faster and easier.

Our mission at NHI is to improve the performance ofthe transportation industry through training, and our Website is a critical tool for accomplishing this, Shelsta says.Using customer feedback, we will continue to guide theevolution of the Web site, as well as all NHI services, tomeet the needs of the transportation community.

CheCkoutthenewnhI websIteatwww.nhI.fhwa.dot.gov.

Screen shots from the newly refreshed NHI Web site.


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Enlisting topnotch instructors is critical todelivering the highest quality training. At theNational Highway Institute (NHI), instructorsfrom the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA) and its contractors bring real-world

experience and deep technical knowledgeto the frontlines to train the Nationstransportation workforce. For the third yearrunning, NHI recognizes its top-performinginstructors and administrative teams for theirongoing commitment to quality instruction.

We, at NHI, are the beneficiaries of a highlymotivated, exceptionally skilled cadre of professionalinstructors and educators, says NHI TrainingDirector Rick Barnaby. But the big win is for thetransportation workforce.

Heres a sampling of what training participants had tosay about 2009s top instructors:

Made the learning experience enjoyable andrelevant.

Brought a fresh approach to the subject.

Related course material to real-life incidents.

Kept our attention, and good use of examplesand anecdotes.

Suggested practical alternatives to problemsexperienced by participants.

Best course Ive taken in my 32-year career.

To earn an award, instructors must consistentlyachieve participant satisfaction rankings of 4.5 orabove (on a 5-point scale), be nominated by an NHItraining program manager, attend and pass the NHIInstructor Development course, and achieve or be inthe process of achieving NHI certification. Recipientsof the Team Administrative Award are judged

according to criteria including timely and accuratesubmission of session administrative packages, allinstructors in the group maintain a minimum rankingof 4.5, instructors have completed the InstructorDevelopment course, and instructors have achievedor are in the process of achieving NHI certification.

In 2009, the number of honorees hit an all-timehigh, with NHI recognizing 66 individual recipientsand 6 teams. I want to commend each of theinstructors and teams, says NHI Instructor LiaisonCarolyn Eberhard, for their outstanding service,professional competence, and ethics in deliveringtraining to the transportation workforce.

formoreInformatIon, vIsItthenhI websIteatwww.nhI.fhwa.dot.govorContaCtCarolyn eberhardat(703) 235-0952 [email protected].

Instructors of Excellence andTeam Administrative AwardsRecognizing trainers for quality service in 2009

2009 INSTRUCTORS OF EXCELLENCE

INSTRUCTOR COMPANY

Dean TestaApplied Pavement Technology

Katie Zimmerman

Andrew Fickett

Ayers Associates, Inc.

John Hunt

Peter Lagasse

Johnny Morris

Jerry Richardson

James Ruff

James Schall

Jonathan BartschCDR Associates

Louise Smart

James Collin Collin Group, LTD

Te rence Browne Collins Engineers

Kenneth Craig Allred

FHWA

Angel Correa

Mark Doctor

Michael Duman

Frank Julian

Owen Lindauer

Keith Moore

Larry ODonnell

Fred Ranck

Jeff Shaw

Douglas Townes

Christopher Webster

Stuart Stein GKY

Chris topher Huffman Huffman Corridor Consul ting Inc .

Joe McKool

Infrastructure EngineersDavid Reser

Jeffery Rowe

Richard Denney ITERIS

Tamim AtayeeKilgore Consulting and Management

Roger Kilgore

Bert CossaboonMcCormick Taylor

Stephen Nieman

Darrell Burnett Metric Engineering

Milo Cress

Michael J. Baker, Inc.

Phillip FishWilliam Gedris

George Gorrill, Jr.

Ronald Ladyka

J. Eric Mann

Thomas Ryan

John Wackerly

2009 INSTRUCTORS OF EXCELLENCE

INSTRUCTOR COMPANY

Elissa (Lisa) Barnes

O.R. ColanRobert Merryman

Ted Pluta

Dan Brown

Parsons BrinckerhoffSusan Killen

Steve Plano

De nnis Ja ckso n Pavement Solutions

William Fitzgerald

PerformTech

LeAngela Ingram

Dane Ismart

Charles OConnell

Carlene Reid

Nancy Rosenshine

Dee Spann

P at ri ck Ha nn ig an Ry an R. Ber g, As so ci ate s

Bruce LandisSprinkle Consulting Co.

Theodore Petritsch

Mike Hughes The Keystone Center

Brian Furniss

Trauner Consulting Services, Inc.Scott Lowe

Mark Nagata

Bruce Falk H. C. Phoenix Group/Trauner ConsultingServices, Inc.

Gary Thomas TTI

Paula Dowell Wilbur Smith Associates

2009 TEAM ADMINISTRATIVE AWARDS

INSTRUCTOR COMPANY

Kathryn Zimmerman Applied Pavement Technologies

Dean Testa

David GrachenFHWA

Deborah Suciu-Smith

Joseph McKool Infrastructure Engineering, Inc.Sean Patrick

Rick DonnellyParsons Brinckerhoff

Andrew Stryker

LeAngela IngramPerformTech

Nancy Rosenshine

M ar k N aga ta Tr aun er C on sul tin g Se rv ice s, I nc.


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membership association of firms and individuals in thedeep foundations and related industries. A significantpercentage of both ASCEs G-I and DFIs memberships areinvolved in the design and construction of transportationfacilities and need geotechnical training specific toFHWA-recommended guidance and policymakingeach a natural fit for such a partnership with NHI.

Partnering with FHWA to deliver NHI training is sucha great opportunity for us to supplement our existingcontinuing education programs, says Theresa Rappaport,executive director of DFI. We look forward to workingtogether to provide this much-needed training for ourmembers, arming them with the know-how to do theirjobs successfully.

Likewise, ASCEs G-I Director Robert Schweinfurthsays, Our partnership with NHI will significantlyenhance the professional knowledge of the Geo-Institutes and ASCEs members and other geotechnical

practitioners, and support their common goals ofdesigning and constructing safer, longer lasting, andsustainable transportation infrastructure.

asCes g-I wIllpostInformatIononItssCheduled nhItraInIng,asItbeComesavaIlable,atwww.geoInstItute.org. dfI wIllpostIts nhI traInIngsCheduleatwww.dfI.org/ConferenCes.asp. formoreInformatIononthepartnershIps, ContaCtsIlas nICholsat(202) 3661554 [email protected], or louIsa wardat(703) 2350523 [email protected].

Specialized disciplines in the transportationindustry, such as geotechnical engineering,often present training challenges. A majorbarrier in most States is the small number

of practitioners, which makes it difficultto meet the minimum participantrequirement to hold training courses.To address this particular challenge forgeotechnical engineering, the National

Highway Institute (NHI) partnered withthe American Society of Civil Engineers

(ASCE) and the Deep Foundations Institute(DFI) to provide enhanced geotechnicalengineering training focused on designingand constructing transportation structures.

The partnerships call for selected courses from the NHIgeotechnical curriculum to be offered through ASCEsGeo-Institute (G-I) and DFI. The arrangement providesmore opportunities for government and consultingengineers and contractors involved in transportation workto attend technical training.

We are thrilled about the partnerships with ASCE andDFI because of the potential to educate a larger portionof the engineering community, says Silas Nichols,a senior bridge engineer with the Federal HighwayAdministrations (FHWA) Office of Bridge TechnologysHydraulics and Geotechnical Team. These partnershipswill help us reach engineers and contractors working ontransportation projects who otherwise might not havebeen able to attend the training.

The partnerships have the following goals:

To advance the common mission of FHWA, DFI, andASCEs G-I to provide more training and educationfor practicing engineers, technicians, contractors, andother geo-professionals.

To establish a framework for coordinated delivery ofNHI geotechnical engineering training through DFIand ASCEs G-I.

To promote a coordinated effort to build theprofessional capacity of practitioners designing,constructing, and inspecting foundations andgeotechnical features for roadways, bridges, andother transportation structures.

ASCEs G-I is a geo-industry-focused membershiporganization of scientists, engineers, technologists, and

organizations interested in improving the environment,mitigating natural hazards, and constructing engineeredfacilities more economically. DFI is a technical

Partnerships Boost Training onGeotechnical EngineeringNHI, ASCE, and DFI collaborate to expand reach oftransportation-focused courses

NHI COURSES TO BE OFFERED THROUGH ASCES G-I AND DFI

ASCEs G-I

Driven Pile Foundations - Design and Construction (FHWA-NHI-132021)

Driven Pile Foundations - Construction Monitoring (FHWA-NHI-132022)

Drilled Shafts (FHWA-NHI-132014)

Driven Pile Foundation Inspection (FHWA-NHI-132069)

Drilled Shaft Foundation Inspection (FHWA-NHI-132070)

Micropile Design and Construction (FHWA-NHI-132078)

DFI

Soils and Foundations Workshop (FHWA-NHI-132012)

Geosynthetics Engineering Workshop (FHWA-NHI-132013)

Subsurface Investigations (FHWA-NHI-132031)

Ground Improvement Techniques (FHWA-NHI-132034)

Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements (FHWA-NHI-132040)

Micropile Design and Construction (FHWA-NHI-132078)

Subsurface Investigation Qualication (FHWA-NHI-132079)

NHI Director of Training Rick Barnaby (front left) and DFI PresidentRudolph P. Frizzi (seated, right) sign the partnership agreement. (From backleft) NHI Training Program Manager Louisa Ward, FHWA Senior BridgeEngineer Silas Nicols, and DFI Executive Director Theresa Rappaport also

participated in the signing ceremony.

Amy Lucero (left), director of FHWAs Ofce of Technical Services, and JohnCasazza, ASCE managing director for continuing education, at the signing

ceremony for the ASCE-NHI partnership agreement.


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Livability is a fast-growing focus withinthe U.S. Department of Transportation andacross the country. The notion of communitylivability is tied to the quality and locationof transportation facilities in relation to goodjobs, affordable housing, quality schools, safestreets, and a clean environment. The streets incities and towns can contribute tremendouslyto the livability of communities, yet decades

of car-centric planning often have failed totake into consideration the character ofcommunities or the needs of an entirespectrum of usersincluding bicyclists,pedestrians, neighborhood residents,

and local businesses. But policies andpractices that once favored and focused almost

exclusively on mobility are now shifting toprocesses that prioritize sustainability andlivability, as more planners and decisionmakerscome to view transportation as a means ofbuilding the kinds of communities in whichpeople want to live, work, and play.

At the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),one aspect of improving livability involves refining therelationship between highway infrastructure and thehuman and natural environment, in part by enhancing

the environmental sensitivity of roads and bridges.Toward that end, the National Highway Institutes (NHI)training catalog offers a variety of courses that sharestate-of-the-practice knowledge and strategies to helptransportation professionals make their projects andoperations more sustainable.

NHIs Transportation and Land Use course (FHWA-NHI-151043), for example, examines how downtown,suburban, and rural communities are integratingtransportation and land use systems so they serve theneeds of all users, not just automobiles. Through casestudies and best practices, course participants examinehowin communities across the countryland useand transportation strategies are being used to fosterplacemaking to support downtown revitalization andtransit-oriented development.

Roadway construction itself affects streams andecosystems in a number of ways, in turn affecting people,wildlife, and the environment. In partnership with theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, NHI developed the courseManaging Road Impacts on Stream Ecosystems: AnInterdisciplinary Approach (FHWA-NHI-142048). Thetraining covers the ecological and physical characteristicsof stream ecosystems, discusses the impacts that roadwayscan have on those ecosystems, and then turns to tools thatpractitioners can use to avoid or mitigate those effects.

The course strives to provide a more holisticunderstanding of a streams physical and biologicalenvironment so roadway improvement projects areimplemented with more sensitivity toward retaining the

natural character of the system, says David Griffin, ofMcCormick Taylor, Inc., who is one of the instructors.We try to stay away from solutions that force streamsto do what we want and focus more on finding ways toallow streams to do what they want, but in a manner thatprotects the transportation infrastructure.

Plus, NHI and its instructors regularly update coursematerials to reflect new information, technologies,practices, and regulations. For example, to helpdepartments of transportation (DOTs) safely managepolluted runoff, or effluent, from roadway construction,NHI partnered with EPA to develop the course Designand Implementation of Erosion and Sediment Control(FHWA-NHI-142054). The training covers best practicesin planning, design, implementation, enforcement,inspection, and maintenance strategies to controlerosion related to road projects.

Until recently, visual inspection was the primary toolfor evaluating effluent discharges. But in December2009, EPA issued new quantitative guidelines thatrequire stricter monitoring of water turbidity levels andimplementation of various treatments such as infiltrationtrenches, berms, or settling basins to control discharges.As a result, NHI and EPA are busy updating the course toreflect the new standards.

We are looking at methods to improve water qualityand meet the new regulatory requirements, saysPatricia Cazenas, a highway engineer with the FHWAOffice of Project Development and EnvironmentalReview who is involved in revamping the course. Theupdate will highlight the latest approaches to retainingsediment onsite and explain the steps DOTs need totake to be in compliance.

A related course, Water Quality Management ofHighway Runoff (FHWA-NHI-142047), looks at toolsDOTs can use to reduce pollutant discharges fromhighways, maintenance facilities, and other land usesin order to comply with the requirements of theClean Water Act.

NHI training courses do more than buildcompetency, says Kevin Moody, an environmental

specialist at FHWA. The water courses not only showhowto get a wetland permit, they explain that the permitaddresses a social value as important as the roadwayitself. The instructors help participants discover how thepower of moving water can be turned from a threat to anopportunity, so countermeasures use the rivers energy asa positive force. Sort of like hydraulic jujitsu.

In addition to these more obviously environment-focused courses, other NHI training related to pavingand operations shines a light on best practices thatnot only save money but also contribute to greening

the transportation system. Asphalt Pavement In-PlaceRecycling Technologies (FHWA-NHI-131050), forexample, imparts in-depth technical knowledgeof methods to recycle old pavements into newones. By reusing existing pavement materials,DOTs can simultaneously reduce the demandfor mining and processing virgin aggregatematerials and save landfill space that wouldhave been used for old pavement materials.

Another course that offers ancillary environmentaland livability benefits is Traffic Signal Design andOperation (FHWA-NHI-133028), which focuses ontechniques to optimize traffic signal timing. Althoughthe primary purpose of effective signal design andtiming is to reduce congestion and delays, more fluidtraffic flow also helps limit carbon dioxide emissionsassociated with vehicles idling at intersections. Bettertimed signals also improve safety and usability formotorists, pedestrians, and other road users, leading toa more pleasing transportation experience.

Going green is about being smart, saving money,and reducing project delivery time, while fostering

healthy human and natural environments, FHWAsMoody says. Its about making sure our infrastructureprovides the American people with safe and reliableservice. Participants walk away from NHI classes withthe knowledge needed to deliver projects better, faster,and cheaper. And by better, I mean that costs, safety,environmental opportunities, and all the other valuesthat go into the decision, support a suite of tradeoffs thatreflect the multiple values of our society.

Given the variety of training opportunities availableat NHI, learning the skills needed to improve thesustainability of roadway construction, management, andoperations is just a mouse click or phone call away.

topartICIpateInorhostaCourse, vIsItwww.nhI.fhwa.dot.gov.

Left: NHIs Transportation and Land Use course describes the valueof implementing green roadway elements, such as the landscaping,storm water curb extensions, and transit and pedestrian supportiveenvironment shown in this artists rendering. These elements supportsafety, mobility, and visual quality, therefore promoting more walkableand livable communities.

Credit: McCormick Taylor, Inc.

The design of this new bridge to carry State Route 1058 over SkippackCreek in Montgomery County, PA, minimizes impacts on the stream and theinfrastructure. Engineers used natural channel design techniques to providea smooth entry and exit from the structure, deect high-velocity ows frombanks and piers, retain aquatic and riparian habitat, and provide passagefor endemic species. These practices are among those covered in the NHIcourse Managing Road Impacts on Stream Ecosystems: An Interdisciplinary

Approach (FHWA-NHI-142048).

Credit: Laren Myers, McCormick Taylor, Inc.

Going Green

Many NHI courses can help State DOTsreduce their environmental footprints


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The Nations highway system depends onits more than 600,000 bridges to make

mobility and commerce possibleandsustain Americans way of life. Thisimmense, aging inventory of bridgesneeds to be carefully inspected andstrategically preserved. Properly

trained bridge inspectors, therefore,are critical to accurately assessing the

condition of each structure and keepingbridges safe and functional.

Comprehensive training is a Federal requirement for allbridge inspection team leaders and program managers.

The number of bridges requiring inspection, coupledwith a transitioning workforce, puts this training in highdemand. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)and National Highway Institute (NHI) are meeting thisneed by offering a portfolio of courses and ensuringthat the content reflects the latest research, lessonslearned from bridge failures and inspection findings, andfeedback from training participants.

We recognize the importance of keeping bridgetraining courses fresh and sharing knowledge gainedfrom past experiences with the bridge inspection

community, says Thomas Everett, team leader of theBridge Programs Team in FHWAs Office of BridgeTechnology. Inspectors are the frontline in identifyingbridge safety concerns, and it is vitally important to makesure they have the latest information as they carry outtheir inspection duties.

Notably, NHI updated the Underwater BridgeInspection (FHWA-NHI-130091) course in 2010to include advancements in underwater inspectiontechniques, such as sonar imaging methods, whichuse sound to obtain underwater images. In addition,NHI developed a reference manual for the course andupdated the materials to include photographs that helpillustrate underwater bridge inspection. The updated4-day course targets experienced divers, as well as bridgeinspection program managers, structural engineers, andnondiver bridge inspectors from the public and privatesectors. The course, which meets the National BridgeInspection Standards requirements for underwater divinginspectors, uses practical exercises, such as identifyingbridge parts in dark water, and demonstrations toreinforce the course content.

[The Underwater Bridge Inspection course] is still thebest course Ive attended in my 35 years as a commercialdiver, says Bill Woddail, dive unit supervisor with the

Alabama Department of Transportation. It bridges thegap between the diver/inspector and his counterpartengineer/inspector on the surface.

In addition, a new 2-day course, UnderwaterBridge Repair, Rehabilitation, and Countermeasures(FHWA-NHI-130091A), details techniques for selectingand executing repairs to underwater bridge elements.The goals of the course are to enable design engineersto select, design, and specify appropriate and durablerepairs to underwater bridge elements, and to train staff in

Shrinking the Knowledge Gapfor Bridge InspectorsRevamped courses incorporate emerging techniques,lessons learned

effective construction inspection of below-water repairs.Hosts can choose to offer the course in conjunction withUnderwater Bridge Inspection or as a stand-alone class.

Other related courses recently updated include BridgeInspection Refresher (FHWA-NHI-130053/130053A),Fracture Critical Bridge Inspection (FHWA-NHI-130078),and Engineering Concepts for Bridge Inspectors (FHWA-NHI-130054). Revisions to these courses include newphotos, graphics, and exercises in participant materials;updated references to other manuals; and changesto topic-specific information that incorporate lessonslearned and new techniques.

For example, the Fracture Critical Bridge Inspectioncourse now includes a module on gusset plates, which

are used to connect beams or truss members to load-bearing columns. The Bridge Inspection Refresher coursenow provides a menu of optional lessonsinspectionof truss gusset plates, inspection of adjacent box beams,common National Bridge Inventory miscodings, elementlevel ratings and timber superstructureso the coursecan be tailored to meet States individual needs. Theupdated Engineering Concepts for Bridge Inspectorscourse implements an audience response system(ARS), which enables participants to submit responses

electronically to interactive questions. Instructors willuse the ARS to reinforce the courses learning outcomesby asking review questions and having the class voteon responses.

NHI also is updating Safety Inspection of In-ServiceBridges (FHWA-NHI-130055). This course, one ofNHIs most popular, will receive a complete overhaulof its exercises, case studies, photos, and graphics, andit will include two field trips for inspection exercises.The revamped course will highlight the advantagesand disadvantages of nondestructive evaluationequipment and component- and element-leveldata rating. Also in the works are a Web-basedprerequisite training to prepare inspectors for the

safety inspection course, and a three-dimensional,virtual bridge inspection training for use whenweather or other circumstances do not permit anonsite bridge field trip. In conjunction with the courseupdates, NHI will revise the Bridge Inspectors ReferenceManual(FHWA NHI 03-001). NHI expects to pilot theupdated 2-week safety inspection course in fall 2011.

formoreInformatIonontheupdatedCoursesorotherbrIdgeInspeCtIontraInIng, ContaCtlouIsa wardat(703) 2350523 [email protected].

A diver makes underwater bridge repairs with a hydraulically drivencircular cut-off saw.

This inspector is conducting ultrasonic testing on a steel bridge component.

Credit: Phil Fish, Fish & Associates, Inc.


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Undersecretary for Roads handed out NHI certificates ofcompletion to all the participants.

The NHI RSA training course here in Kuwait was asuccess, and the Ministry of Public Works is keen to havethis course repeated in the near future, Barkawi says.NHI officials hope that the RSA course is only the first ofmany training sessions to be scheduled in Kuwait. In fact,in July 2010, a Kuwaiti delegation visited NHI to learn

more about training in the structures program area.Although NHI has just started delivering courses inKuwait, South Korean engineers have been travelingto NHI to attend training sessions since 2004. Withinthe last 6 years, a group of 1520 Korean engineershave visited NHI five times to learn about the latestdevelopments in pavement engineering and newtechnologies in the U.S. transportation industry. Overa 2-week period, the Korean engineers not only attendNHI courses but also have participated in field trips tomaterials labs and the Virginia Transportation ResearchCouncil in Charlottesville, VA. In the past, the engineershave been most interested in warm-mix asphalts, notonly because they are cheaper, but because they producefewer toxins and pollutants than hot-mix asphalt.

Before the engineers travel to the United Statesfor the training, NHI sends relevant course materialsand manuals to South Korea, where the materials aretranslated into Korean so the participants are betterprepared when they arrive for the program. Althoughthe training sessions are taught in English, only a few ofthe Korean engineers actually understand the language.Therefore, they employ a translator to sit in the trainingswith them and translate the instructors lectures.

A few other countries have shown interest indeveloping a similar exchange program, but thus far

South Korea is the only country that has been able todo this, says FHWA International Programs EngineerRoger Dean. The last group of engineers visited NHIin October 2010 and attended a 2-week sessionthat included four NHI courses: Analysis of Newand Rehabilitated Pavement with M-E Design Guide

Software (FHWA-NHI-131109); Asphalt Pavement In-place Recycling Technologies (FHWA-NHI-131050);Pavement Management Systems: Characteristics of anEffective Program (FHWA-NHI-131116A); and Hot-MixAsphalt Pavement Evaluation and Rehabilitation (FHWA-NHI-131063). The delegates also went on a field tripto the Branscome Paving Companys materials lab inManassas, VA.

NHI is always looking for opportunities to developnew international partnerships and share knowledge andcourses with transportation counterparts beyond the U.S.border. These programs with South Korea and Kuwaitare only the beginning.

formoreInformatIonaboutoIpsaCtIvItIes,vIsIthttp://InternatIonal.fhwa.dot.gov.

For more than 20 years, the NationalHighway Institute (NHI) has collaboratedwith the Federal Highway Administrations(FHWA) Office of International Programs(OIP) to provide training resources to dozens

of countries. For example, FHWA andNHI have longstanding relationshipswith both South Korea and Kuwait,and have hosted delegations fromboth countries to attend trainings

at NHI. In fact, South Korea has sentfive groups of engineers to NHI over the

last 6 years to att end training on roadway

development, highway safety, and technicalassistance. FHWA has a staff member onsitein Kuwait who provides general guidanceand advice regarding road work equipmentand procedures.

Although NHI has collaborated with and assisted OIPin Kuwait in the past, it was not until 2010 when NHIhad the opportunity to deliver a full-length training coursethere. In February 2008, a four-person FHWA teamconducted an assessment of the training needs of theKuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the strategythat FHWA is using to provide training assistance. Theassessment was requested by the MPW Minister duringhis December 2007 visit with the FHWA Administrator.The report identified several training opportunities forKuwait, including roadway design features, road safetyaudits, utilities, and Superpave.

Through the efforts of Aladdin Barkawi, FHWA senioradvisor to the Kuwait MPW, NHI and OIP determinedthat the first international training session they wouldoffer in Kuwait would be Road Safety Audits/Assessments

(RSAs) (FHWA-NHI-380069). Two NHI instructorstraveled there to deliver the 5-day RSA training to 35attendees who represented the Ministry of Public Works,Ministry of the Interior, traffic police, contracting firms,and engineering consultant firms. On the last day ofthe course, the Ministry of Public Works Assistant

International Training, DeliveredNHI is assisting Kuwait and South Korea instrengthening their infrastructure

Left: Shown here are Kuwaiti participants in NHIs RSA course, whichwas the rst full-length NHI training delivered in Kuwait.

From left: Jeff Bagdade, NHI instructor and vice president and seniortransportation engineer with Opus International Consultants in Detroit,MI; Hussain Mansour, Kuwait Ministry of Public Works AssistantUndersecretary for Roads; Dr. Aladdin Barkawi of FHWA; and RichardMiller, retired Michigan State Police command ofcer, trafc safetyexpert, and NHI instructor.


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Every year, the American Council ofEngineering Companies (ACEC) recognizesits member firms for engineering projectsof the highest level of skill and innovationthrough its Engineering Excellence Awardscompetition. Engineering firms enter their

projects into the competition under one oftwelve categories: studies, research, andconsulting engineering services; building/technology systems; structural systems;surveying and mapping technology;environmental; waste and storm water; waterresources; transportation; special projects;small projects; energy; and industrial,manufacturing processes, and facilities.The awards encourage ingenuity in theengineering field and recognize firms for thevalue and achievement of their projects.

On March 27, 2010, the Federal HighwayAdministration (FHWA) and the National HighwayInstitute (NHI) were awarded the Engineering ExcellenceSilver Award in the category of Studies, Research, andConsulting Engineering Services for creating the first

national, comprehensive manual on the design andconstruction of tunnels. The Technical Manual for Designand Construction of Road TunnelsCivil Elementswas developed through NHI and under the technicaldirection of Dr. Firas I. Sheikh Ibrahim, currently TeamLeader of Infrastructure Management in the FHWA Officeof Infrastructure Research and Development and formerlya member of the FHWA Office of Bridge Technology. Theprimary goal of the manual is to address the structuraland geotechnical elements of road tunnels. The manualprovides guidelines for designing, constructing, andrehabilitating these tunnels.

To commemorate his work, Dr. Ibrahim attendedthe black tie awards ceremony and accepted the SilverAward along with Louisa Ward (NHI training programmanager for geotechnical, structures, and hydraulicsprograms) from ACECs New York chapter.

We appreciate ACECs recognition of this landmarkeffort, Dr. Ibrahim said. The manual exemplifies FHWAand NHIs proactive commitment to ensure that ourinfrastructure is safe, reliable, and healthy. It is the firstU.S. comprehensive manual to standardize state-of-the-art practices for the design and construction of tunnels.The success of this effort was the result of an experiencedtunnel development team, the seamless cooperationof several FHWA offices and NHI, and the active

engagement of our State partners.Up next, in cooperation with tunnel owners,

FHWA is in the process of developing a manualon the maintenance, operation, and inspection ofroad tunnels. The Technical Manual for Design andConstruction of Road TunnelsCivil Elements isavailable for download at www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/tunnel/pubs/nhi09010/index.cfm and printed versionscan be purchased from the NHI Store by visitingwww.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/nhistore.aspx.

Louisa Ward (left) and Dr. Firas I. Sheikh Ibrahim accept the SilverAward from ACEC New York.

ACEC EngineeringExcellence AwardsNHI is presented withthe Silver Award forthe rst comprehensivetunnel manual

The Cumberland Gap Tunnel is a highway tunnel that carriesU.S. Route 25 East under Cumberland Gap National Historical Parkbetween Tennessee and Kentucky. Shown here is the east portal fromthe Tennessee side.

Credit: Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.

New and Updated Courses Launched in 2010NHI is continuously developing and delivering new and updated courses to ensure thehighest quality training and help improve the transportation industry. Listed below are just afew examples of the courses NHI launched in 2010.

INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAINING

An Overview of the Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Improvement Program FHWA-NHI-380097

Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT) FHWA-NHI-131118

Bridge Inspection Non-Destructive Evaluation Showcase (BINS) FHWA-NHI-130099

Bridge Inspection Refresher Training (3.5 Day) FHWA-NHI-130053A

Fracture Critical Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges FHWA-NHI-130078

Highway Safety Manual Practitioners Guide for Intersections FHWA-NHI-380105

Modern Roundabouts: Designing Intersections for Safety FHWA-NHI-380096

Science of Crash Reduction Factors FHWA-NHI-380094

Transportation Asset Management FHWA-NHI-131106

Underwater Bridge Inspection FHWA-NHI-130091

Underwat er Bridge Repair, Rehabil itation, and Count ermeasures FHWA-NHI-130091A

Value Engineering (3 Day) FHWA-NHI-134005

WEB-CONFERENCE TRAINING

Optimal Timing of Pavement Preservation FHWA-NHI-131114

WEB-BASED TRAINING

Introduction to Value Engineering FHWA-NHI-134005A

TCCC Advanced Self-Consolidating Concrete FHWA-NHI-131130

TCCC Basic Construction Surveying FHWA-NHI-134106

TCCC Bolted Connections FHWA-NHI-134074

TCCC CDL Series: Air Brakes FHWA-NHI-381005

TCCC CDL Series: General Knowledge FHWA-NHI-381004

TCCC CDL Series: Pre-Trip Inspection FHWA-NHI-381006

TCCC Concrete Pavement Preservation Series FHWA-NHI-131126 (A-J)

TCCC HMA Paving Field Inspection FHWA-NHI-131129

TCCC Maintenance of Trafc for Supervisors FHWA-NHI-380099

TCCC Maintenance of Trafc for Technicians FHWA-NHI-380098

TCCC Pavement Preservation Treatment Construction FHWA-NHI-131110

TCCC Pavement Preservation Treatment Series FHWA-NHI-131110 A-K

TCCC Plan Reading Series FHWA-NHI-134108 (A-H)

TCCC Recognizing Roadside Weeds (Southeastern States) FHWA-NHI-134107

TCCC Safe Use of Basic Carpentry Tools FHWA-NHI-381003

TCCC Safe Use of Hand and Power Operated Tools FHWA-NHI-381002

TCCC Safety Orientation FHWA-NHI-381001

TCCC Testing Self-Consolidating Concrete FHWA-NHI-131128


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20 NHI Training in Action 2011 2011 NHI Training in Action

Contact UsDivision of FHWA Office of Technical Services1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 300Arlington, VA 22201Phone: (703) 235-0500 or Toll Free (877) 558-6873Fax: (703) 235-0593

Questions About? Email TelephoneNHI Training [email protected] (703) 235-0534NHI Web site [email protected] (703) 235-0556Instructors [email protected] (703) 235-0952Materials [email protected] (703) 235-0552

Subject Area ContactsQuestions About? ContactAsset Management Marty Ross

Business, Public Administration & Quality Tom ElliottCommunications Bud CribbsConstruction and Maintenance Marty RossDesign and Traffic Operations Bud CribbsEnvironment Mila PloskyFinancial Management Tom ElliottFreight and Transportation Logistics Bud CribbsGeotechnical Louisa WardHighway Safety Tom ElliottHydraulics Louisa WardIntelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Bud CribbsPavement and Materials Marty RossReal Estate Mila PloskyStructures Louisa WardTransportation Planning Mila Plosky

Name Title ContactBarnaby, Rick Training Director [email protected], Bud Training Program Manager [email protected], Tom Training Program Manager [email protected], Mila Training Program Manager [email protected], Marty Training Program Manager [email protected], Heather Training Program/Marketing Manager [email protected], Louisa Training Program Manager [email protected]

Accessing NHI TrainingMy Training

My Training is a single sign-on feature that simplifiesthe process of accessing Web-based and Web-conference training by enabling NHI customers todirectly launch them on the NHI Web site. ThroughMy Training, customers also can view their coursehistory, obtain personalized certificates and unofficialtranscripts for completed trainings, request an officialtranscript, and download electronic materials orderedfrom the NHI Store.

Hosting a Course

NHI partners with the transportation industry to developand deliver training. Hosting organizations provide thefacilities and equipment, while NHI provides topnotchinstructors and course materials. Because of this uniquetraining delivery model, the host and Local Coordinator(a representative of the host organization) play asignificant role in coordinating NHI training.

Any organization can host an NHI session, includingFederal Highway Administration division offices, Statedepartments of transportation (DOTs), consultants,metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),professional associations, and universities. For U.S.customers interested in hosting an NHI session, submitthe Host Request form available on the NHI Web site(www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/HostCourse.aspx).International customers should contact Roger Dean at

(703) 235-0550 or by email at [email protected] formore information about hosting an NHI training.

After the Host Request form is received, an Instructoror a member of the NHI team will contact the LocalCoordinator to schedule session dates and issue a formalhosting confirmation. The Local Coordinators contactinformation will be listed with the scheduled sessionon the NHI Web site. Participants can contact the LocalCoordinator directly to enroll.

Public Seats

Once a session is scheduled, hosts can choose to sellavailable seats to the public through the NHI Web site.NHI refers to these open seats as public seats. Whenhosts elect this option, the display for a scheduled sessionwill have a shopping cart appear with the listing. Anindividual can enroll by adding the session to his or hershopping cart and proceeding to checkout.

formoreInformatIonaboutmytraInIng, hostIngan nhItraInIng, orpurChasIngpublICseats, vIsItthenhI websIteatwww.nhI.fhwa.dot.gov.


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National Highway Institute

1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22201

(703) 235-0500

(877) 558-6873

Fax (703) 235-0593

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

training in action 2011

Documents