AnnuAl RepoRt - University of Alabama at Birmingham
AnnuAl RepoRt - University of Alabama at Birmingham
AnnuAl RepoRt - University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Annual Report<br />
Traffic Safety & Injury Control<br />
2009-2010<br />
The UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center<br />
www.uab.edu/utc<br />
ray lahood - US Secretary OF TRANSPORTATION<br />
addressing the 2009 alabama distracted driving summit
MAILING ADDRESS | street ADDRESS | PHONE | FAX | STAFF<br />
Contact Inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center<br />
MAILING ADDRESS:<br />
1530 3rd Avenue South<br />
CH-19 401<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL 35294-2041<br />
street ADDRESS:<br />
933 19th Street South<br />
Suite 401<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL 35205<br />
PHONE:<br />
205.934.7845<br />
FAX:<br />
205.975.8143<br />
STAFF:<br />
Dr. Russ Fine, Director<br />
rfine@uab.edu<br />
205.934.1448<br />
Dr. Gerald McGwin Jr.,<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Research & Scientific Oversight<br />
mcgwin@uab.edu<br />
205.975.3036<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster,<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion & Finance<br />
fosterau@uab.edu<br />
205.996.6086<br />
Dr. Jay Goldman,<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Research & Scientific Oversight Emeritus<br />
jay.goldman1@gmail.com<br />
205.980.5822 / 205.907.1765<br />
Dr. K<strong>at</strong>hleen Bolland, Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and Outreach Advisor<br />
kbolland@sw.ua.edu<br />
205.348.3926<br />
Dr. Andrea Underhill, Research Consultant<br />
moonpie@uab.edu<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Post-Doctoral Fellow<br />
dstavrin@uab.edu<br />
205.934.7861<br />
Ms. Crystal Franklin, Program Administr<strong>at</strong>or<br />
crynklin@uab.edu<br />
205.934.1643<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> administers its educ<strong>at</strong>ional programs<br />
and activities, including admission, without regard to race, color, religion, sex,<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ional origin, age, handicap, or Viet Nam era or disabled veteran st<strong>at</strong>us.
Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />
Director’s Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2<br />
Center Theme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
Management Structure<br />
& Principal Center Staff . . . . . . . . . . 6<br />
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Leadership Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Figure 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />
The UAB UTC’s Principal Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
The Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
UAB UTC Recognized Ozge Cavusoglu as 2009-2010 Student <strong>of</strong> the Year . . . . 12<br />
First Student Earns Certific<strong>at</strong>e in Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety & Injury Control Engineering . . 13<br />
UAB UTC Partners with Mountain-Plains Consortium<br />
for Expanded Educ<strong>at</strong>ional Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Plays Key Role in SOPH Injury Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
UAB UTC Affili<strong>at</strong>ed TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® Offers Unique Opportunities<br />
for Students in Non-Traditional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Disciplines . . . . . . . . . . 16-17<br />
UAB UTC Welcomes Second Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Intern . . . . . . 18<br />
UAB UTC’s First Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Intern – One Year L<strong>at</strong>er . . . . . 19<br />
Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
Domain 1: Emergency Medical Services and Congestion . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21<br />
Domain 2: Development <strong>of</strong> a Dynamic Traffic Assignment and Simul<strong>at</strong>ion Model<br />
for Incident and Emergency Management Applic<strong>at</strong>ions in the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Region 22-23<br />
Domain 3: Small-Scale Research Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
Urban Sprawl Associ<strong>at</strong>ed with Increased Emergency Response Times . . . . . . . 25<br />
Autom<strong>at</strong>ic Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion Can Increase Chances <strong>of</strong> Survival . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
Traffic Congestion Increases EMS Response Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27<br />
Traffic Congestion Not a Priority for Emergency Disp<strong>at</strong>chers . . . . . . . . . . . 28<br />
First Wave <strong>of</strong> UAB UTC Distracted Driving Research Complete . . . . . . . . . . 29<br />
UAB UTC Funded Research Shows GPS Technology<br />
Improves EMS Oper<strong>at</strong>ional Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30<br />
Products, Technologies, and<br />
Research Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31<br />
Technology Transfer Programs . . . . . 32<br />
Research in Progress Seminars, Webinars and a St<strong>at</strong>e-wide Summit . . . . . . 32-33<br />
2009 – 2010 Public<strong>at</strong>ions and Present<strong>at</strong>ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35<br />
UTC sponsors BJCTA Executive Director Present<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Public Forum for UAB Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36<br />
UAB UTC Sponsored Research Fe<strong>at</strong>ured <strong>at</strong> New Urban Congress . . . . . . . . 36<br />
TRIP ® Lab Students Present Research Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37<br />
UAB UTC Hosts Fourth Annual Advisory Board Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39<br />
UAB UTC Sponsored Scientist Helps Japanese Implement<br />
Accident Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40<br />
UAB UTC Leaders Named to <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s<br />
Blue Ribbon Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Advisory Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40<br />
UAB UTC Provides Distracted Driving Technical Guidance for Alabamians . . . . . 41<br />
Specific Accomplishments . . . . . . . . 42<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit Hosted by UAB UTC and UTCA . . . . . 42-43<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit Panels & Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . 44-48<br />
UAB UTC Fe<strong>at</strong>ured in RITA Spotlight Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49<br />
New Research Labor<strong>at</strong>ory Targeting Distracted Driving Established By UAB UTC . . 50<br />
UAB UTC Welcomes New UTC Scientist and Forges New Partnership with<br />
UAB School <strong>of</strong> Nursing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51<br />
UAB UTC Assists Fellow UTCs in Research Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52<br />
UAB UTC Explores Partnership with Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52<br />
UAB UTC Exploring Partnership with Auburn <strong>University</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53<br />
UTC Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director Particip<strong>at</strong>es in Regional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Workforce<br />
Development Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54<br />
UAB UTC Planning <strong>Alabama</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Workforce Development Conference . . 54<br />
Workforce Development in Real Time: Crystal Franklin Joins UTC Staff . . . . . . . 55<br />
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Dr. David Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . 56<br />
Funding, Sources & Expenditures . . . 57
Dr. Russ Fine | UAB UTC Director<br />
Director’s Note<br />
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreci<strong>at</strong>e more<br />
fully, th<strong>at</strong> each summer as we aggreg<strong>at</strong>e notes, memos,<br />
reports and reminders, and as we look through photos<br />
and correspondence essential to preparing the UTC Annual<br />
Report, it is not the words on hastily written emails<br />
nor those on copy paper spewing out <strong>of</strong> the duplic<strong>at</strong>or or<br />
electronic images <strong>of</strong> typed pages and carefully registered<br />
photos on our computer monitors or in newsletters<br />
printed on shiny paper th<strong>at</strong> brings the center’s work to<br />
life and gives it meaning… IT IS THE PEOPLE.<br />
In this regard, the past year <strong>at</strong> the UAB UTC has been<br />
exceedingly special. Please allow me the luxury <strong>of</strong><br />
reflection, and the privilege <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fering a few examples<br />
th<strong>at</strong> come to mind and are described herein. There are<br />
others, many others <strong>of</strong> course.<br />
In September, 2009 two <strong>of</strong> us were privileged to<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>e in Secretary Ray LaHood’s first N<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Distracted Driving Summit. Although we have no way<br />
<strong>of</strong> knowing for certain, we have every reason to believe<br />
th<strong>at</strong> Dr. Curt Tompkins, Director <strong>of</strong> RITA’s <strong>University</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Centers Program was largely responsible<br />
for us being invited. Although he may not realize it,<br />
Dr. Tompkin’s advocacy on our behalf opened a career<br />
changing (and hence, a life changing) vista for one <strong>of</strong><br />
this n<strong>at</strong>ion’s more promising, young, transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
scientists.<br />
And it didn’t end there. While <strong>at</strong>tending the Secretary’s<br />
Summit we had the enormous good fortune<br />
<strong>of</strong> being introduced, albeit serendipitously and quite<br />
casually, to Ms. Olivia Alair, DOT Secretary LaHood’s<br />
Press Secretary. It is because <strong>of</strong> Olivia Alair th<strong>at</strong> Secretary<br />
LaHood honored the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s UTC and our companion Center, UTC-A<br />
by personally <strong>at</strong>tending and delivering the “kick <strong>of</strong>f”<br />
speech to our own <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit,<br />
more than 900 miles but less than 70 days l<strong>at</strong>er. Of<br />
course, the Secretary had to agree to come to <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
but it was without question, Olivia Alair’s idea and persistence<br />
th<strong>at</strong> made the Secretary’s possible visit become<br />
a reality. I will treasure, forever, th<strong>at</strong> day; and, while<br />
it will likely embarrass her to learn <strong>of</strong> this, I will be<br />
forever in Ms. Alair’s debt.<br />
A half-year l<strong>at</strong>er, in early June to be precise, I was<br />
privileged to particip<strong>at</strong>e in the Annual CUTC Summer<br />
Meeting on the campus <strong>of</strong> Texas A&M <strong>University</strong> in<br />
College St<strong>at</strong>ion. A long-time friend and former UAB<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor who is now on faculty <strong>at</strong> A&M told me in<br />
advance <strong>of</strong> my trip th<strong>at</strong> “A&M was a special place.”<br />
He was right, <strong>of</strong> course. But, as impressive as<br />
everything was, it is my considered opinion th<strong>at</strong><br />
th<strong>at</strong> which I experienced was beyond special<br />
2<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
ecause <strong>of</strong> two exceptional transport<strong>at</strong>ion research<br />
leaders: Dock Burke, Director <strong>of</strong> the Southwest Region<br />
<strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center and Dr. Melissa Tooley,<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for<br />
Mobility. Through them, I’ve been able to experience a<br />
“world class” transport<strong>at</strong>ion research environment. The<br />
folks <strong>at</strong> Texas have raised a very high bar; a standard <strong>of</strong><br />
excellence th<strong>at</strong>, in my opinion, should be pursued by all<br />
the rest <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
There are four other people,<br />
closer to home, who have inked<br />
themselves, indelibly, into my<br />
consciousness and into my heart<br />
because <strong>of</strong> risks they willingly<br />
took when we were little more<br />
than an idea; and, sacrifices<br />
they’ve willingly made to<br />
ensure our survival when times<br />
Sen<strong>at</strong>or RICHARD Shelby<br />
and challenges have been<br />
tough… like l<strong>at</strong>ely. Former<br />
Dean <strong>of</strong> Medicine, Dr. Jim Pittman; former Chair <strong>of</strong><br />
Medicine, Dr. Bill Koopman , Dr. Lou Bridges, current<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the Division <strong>of</strong> Clinical Immunology & Rheum<strong>at</strong>ology<br />
and <strong>Alabama</strong>’s Senior Sen<strong>at</strong>or Sen<strong>at</strong>or Richard<br />
Shelby. Without these four key people, it is likely … in<br />
fact it is probable, th<strong>at</strong> there would be no UTC <strong>at</strong> UAB.<br />
There are two other people – special people - whose<br />
mention I have purposefully saved until the end.<br />
First is my long-time friend, advisor and colleague,<br />
Dr. Jay Goldman who retired to<br />
Emeritus st<strong>at</strong>us this past year. Jay is<br />
Dean Emeritus <strong>of</strong> the UAB School<br />
<strong>of</strong> Engineering. For us here on the<br />
“other side <strong>of</strong> campus” Dr. Goldman<br />
served as an Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for<br />
both the ICRC and the UTC and as<br />
Assistant Director and Co-Principal<br />
Investig<strong>at</strong>or for the Southern Consortium<br />
for Injury Biomechanics (SCIB).<br />
He served, also, as the UAB UTC liaison to the UAB<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Engineering, the SCIB and the <strong>University</strong><br />
dr. Jay goldman<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>. Jay is a member <strong>of</strong><br />
the American Society for Engineering Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and a<br />
life member <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> Industrial Engineers, the<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Society <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Engineers, and several<br />
other organiz<strong>at</strong>ions; and, he has held membership on<br />
many federal, st<strong>at</strong>e, and university advisory panels and<br />
study sections. But, for me personally, he was and always<br />
will be “just Jay” … a good person who helped, guided<br />
and advised me in the early days, when I needed it most.<br />
Jay Goldman, a man with a quiet demeanor and a sense <strong>of</strong><br />
humor just “weird enough” to make him appreci<strong>at</strong>e mine.<br />
IOW, he invariably “got” and laughed <strong>at</strong> my jokes; even<br />
the ones told poorly. Thanks for th<strong>at</strong>, Jay. Since the<br />
mid-1980s Jay and I have shared many smiles. Without<br />
question, it has been my good fortune to have worked<br />
with this very unique, talented man. We miss his involvement<br />
in the things we are doing now, but if anyone has<br />
ever paid their pr<strong>of</strong>essional dues in full and earned a<br />
wonderful retirement, it is Jay Goldman.<br />
And finally, the most difficult “people part” <strong>of</strong> this past<br />
year was losing my Assistant <strong>of</strong> twenty years – Gail<br />
Hardin. Because <strong>of</strong> a lengthy, life-thre<strong>at</strong>ening illness,<br />
Gail was forced into a medical / disability retirement in<br />
March. With no disrespect to the wonderful young woman,<br />
Crystal Franklin, who now occupies her space, but not<br />
“her place” I still find myself whirling in my chair from<br />
time to time, looking through the door th<strong>at</strong> connected our<br />
<strong>of</strong>fices … and almost speaking her name. Some time ago,<br />
I jotted down a few thoughts about Gail – the person –<br />
and how much she grew to mean to me and all the others<br />
who worked with us, over the years:<br />
“Little did I dream, th<strong>at</strong> day in 1990, when she<br />
showed up in a small space I was sharing with<br />
my young gradu<strong>at</strong>e student helper (who has<br />
since become Senior Associ<strong>at</strong>e Dean for<br />
Administr<strong>at</strong>ion in the School <strong>of</strong> Medicine),<br />
th<strong>at</strong> I had just encountered the Center’s<br />
eventual institutional memory bank,<br />
psychological lynch-pin, Mother-In-Residence<br />
and the sister for whom I had always longed.”<br />
I remember my l<strong>at</strong>e F<strong>at</strong>her describing the most<br />
important quality <strong>of</strong> a drummer in a small ensemble.<br />
A pr<strong>of</strong>essional musician before becoming a physician,<br />
Dad used to say “you never hear a good drummer; you<br />
feel him. They’re just there.” Gail was and is a gre<strong>at</strong><br />
drummer.<br />
For all <strong>of</strong> those mentioned here, by name, as well as all<br />
the others who could have been and probably should have<br />
been, Thank You. Thank you for your humanity and thank<br />
you for being part <strong>of</strong> this Center’s history and heart.<br />
Dr. Russ Fine<br />
UAB UTC Director<br />
mrs. gail hardin<br />
DIRECTOR’S NOTE 3
UAB UTC’s theme is Traffic Safety and Injury Control<br />
Center Theme<br />
The UAB UTC’s theme is Traffic Safety and Injury Control. The Center’s Advisory Board<br />
recommended adoption <strong>of</strong> this theme because it was judged to support: (1) the United St<strong>at</strong>es<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion’s vision <strong>of</strong> safer, simpler and smarter transport<strong>at</strong>ion; (2) the first goal<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Federal Transit Administr<strong>at</strong>ion’s str<strong>at</strong>egy plan <strong>of</strong> safety and security; (3) the N<strong>at</strong>ional Highway<br />
Traffic Safety Administr<strong>at</strong>ion’s goal <strong>of</strong> addressing the most significant traffic and motor vehicle safety<br />
issues; and, (4) the Federal Highway Administr<strong>at</strong>ion’s goal <strong>of</strong> reducing the number <strong>of</strong> highway-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
f<strong>at</strong>alities and injuries.<br />
The UTC theme is an excellent fit for the UAB<br />
Injury Control Research Center’s (ICRC) faculty,<br />
because it complements the ICRC’s Mission,<br />
which is: “To help the n<strong>at</strong>ion achieve a significant<br />
reduction in the r<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> injuries and their resulting<br />
de<strong>at</strong>hs and disabilities, especially in the southeastern<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es.” In the United St<strong>at</strong>es in 2007,<br />
there were more than 123,700 unintentional injury<br />
de<strong>at</strong>hs in persons less than 1 year <strong>of</strong> age through<br />
older than 85 years <strong>of</strong> age. Of these de<strong>at</strong>hs,<br />
approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 36% were motor vehicle-rel<strong>at</strong>ed, a<br />
proportion essentially unchanged from the year before.<br />
However, this figure and proportion increases<br />
substantially when four additional transport<strong>at</strong>ionrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
c<strong>at</strong>egories, (1) Other Land Transport, (2)<br />
Other Transport, (3) Pedestrian and (4) Pedal<br />
Cyclist, are added to the mix. The UAB UTC<br />
Theme and the activities conducted in its support<br />
apply to more than one mode <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion. To<br />
this end, the research, educ<strong>at</strong>ion and technology<br />
transfer activities <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC are addressing<br />
problems, issues and challenges associ<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
with priv<strong>at</strong>e motor vehicles, commercial carriers<br />
and transit. Since the UAB UTC is the first – and,<br />
to our knowledge, the only – UTC ever to be<br />
established within a School <strong>of</strong> Medicine which<br />
is a major component <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>, a high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile research<br />
university, the UAB UTC has chosen to address<br />
medically rel<strong>at</strong>ed issues such as (1) the impact<br />
<strong>of</strong> congestion on motor vehicle crash-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
(MVC) injury outcome as a function <strong>of</strong> the<br />
“golden hour”/first-responder access; (2) traffic<br />
management and emergency preparedness via<br />
development <strong>of</strong> a dynamic traffic assignment<br />
and simul<strong>at</strong>ion model for incident and emergency<br />
management applic<strong>at</strong>ions; (3) achieving<br />
a st<strong>at</strong>istically significant reduction in morbidity<br />
and mortality associ<strong>at</strong>ed with MVCs occurring<br />
in medically under served, rural areas <strong>of</strong> a large<br />
Southern st<strong>at</strong>e; and, in response to DOT Secretary<br />
Ray LaHood’s newly st<strong>at</strong>ed priority, a fourth<br />
activity domain was established this past year:<br />
distracted driving.<br />
4<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
From 2004 to 2008, se<strong>at</strong><br />
belts saved over 75,000 lives<br />
— enough people to fill a<br />
large sports arena.<br />
CENTER THEME 5
FIGURE 1 | LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES | FIGURE 2 | The UAB UTC’s Principal Staff | The Advisory Board<br />
Management Structure & Principal<br />
The UAB Injury Control Research Center (UAB-ICRC), Dr. Russ Fine, Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or, is the<br />
design<strong>at</strong>ed grantee to which the UAB UTC was awarded. Thus, the integr<strong>at</strong>ed approach to the UTC’s<br />
management is both efficient and highly cost-effective (see inside back cover, Funding Sources &<br />
Expenditures). For example, the ICRC’s management paradigm addresses all the functions and<br />
programs <strong>of</strong> the Center, whether research, educ<strong>at</strong>ion, training or service (Figure 1).<br />
The Director and two Associ<strong>at</strong>e Directors, Mr. Jeff Foster and Dr. Gerald McGwin comprise the<br />
Center’s Leadership Committee. Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director Emeritus, Dr. Jay Goldman serves the Leadership<br />
Committee on an ad hoc basis. The Leadership Committee formul<strong>at</strong>es the oper<strong>at</strong>ing policies and<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>ive procedures th<strong>at</strong> are used to guide UTC activities.<br />
6<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Center Staff<br />
university <strong>of</strong> alabama<br />
<strong>at</strong> birmingham<br />
Dr. Carol Garrison, President<br />
Figure 1<br />
uab School <strong>of</strong> Medicine<br />
Dr. Ray W<strong>at</strong>ts,<br />
Dean & Senior Vice President for Medicine<br />
UAB Injury Control<br />
Research Center<br />
Dr. Russ Fine,<br />
Director and Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Southern Consortium<br />
for INjury<br />
Biomechanics<br />
UAB <strong>University</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center<br />
Advisory<br />
Board<br />
Dr. Russ Fine, Director and Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director<br />
for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
& Finance<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster<br />
program<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Ms. Crystal Franklin<br />
post-doctoral<br />
fellow<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for<br />
Research & Scientific<br />
Oversight<br />
Dr. Gerald McGwin, Jr.<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion &<br />
Outreach Advisor<br />
Dr. K<strong>at</strong>hleen Bolland<br />
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE & PRINCIPAL CENTER STAFF 7
Leadership Responsibilities<br />
The UAB UTC Director, Dr. Russ Fine, has global<br />
responsibility for oper<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> the Center. He provides<br />
leadership, vision and cohesiveness, and instills and<br />
nurtures centeredness through experienced, daily, ongoing<br />
engagement r<strong>at</strong>her than simply serving as manager<br />
<strong>of</strong> an array <strong>of</strong> loosely aggreg<strong>at</strong>ed activities and workers.<br />
Dr. Fine fosters rel<strong>at</strong>ionships with intra- and extra-mural<br />
personnel, agencies institutions, schools, departments,<br />
divisions and centers by deleg<strong>at</strong>ing specific aspects <strong>of</strong> his<br />
overall responsibilities to two Associ<strong>at</strong>e Directors.<br />
The Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Research and Scientific<br />
Oversight and Vice Chair <strong>of</strong> UAB’s Department <strong>of</strong> Epidemiology,<br />
Dr. Gerald McGwin Jr, coordin<strong>at</strong>es and supervises<br />
the UTC’s research efforts and research support personnel,<br />
provides guidance for intramural and extramural<br />
research project selection and external review processes,<br />
and interfaces with various UAB school and research<br />
entities. Dr. McGwin is an intern<strong>at</strong>ionally known and<br />
highly regarded injury epidemiologist who, since the<br />
UTC’s research program was launched, has been the<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the UTC’s three major<br />
research domains: Emergency Medical Services and<br />
Congestion. More about Dr. McGwin’s extensive background<br />
and qualific<strong>at</strong>ions for this appointment appear<br />
elsewhere in this document.<br />
Dr. Jay Goldman retired this past year and during th<strong>at</strong><br />
time has served the UTC in an Emeritus capacity.<br />
Dr. Goldman’s years <strong>of</strong> service as an Engineering<br />
School Dean, as a classroom pr<strong>of</strong>essor, as an investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
and research administr<strong>at</strong>or, have provided current<br />
Center leadership with the benefit <strong>of</strong> his vast experience<br />
and pr<strong>of</strong>essional network. The UTC is gr<strong>at</strong>eful to<br />
Dr. Goldman for his many and varied contributions to<br />
UAB UTC activities.<br />
The Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion and Finance,<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster, is responsible for managing and<br />
coordin<strong>at</strong>ing all day-to-day oper<strong>at</strong>ions and support activities<br />
<strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC. This includes working closely<br />
with Drs. Fine, McGwin and Goldman on m<strong>at</strong>ters<br />
pertaining to the UTC visioning, policy promulg<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion and monitoring, as well as nurturing<br />
and promoting rel<strong>at</strong>ionships with a host <strong>of</strong> extramural<br />
and intramural departments, agencies, organiz<strong>at</strong>ions and<br />
individuals. In addition, Mr. Foster is the UTC’s day-today<br />
interface with our DOT-based RITA Project Officer<br />
(Figure 2). Mr. Foster was named the UTC’s Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion and Finance in January<br />
2010 when the former Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Finance, Dr. Andrea Underhill retired from<br />
full-time employment secondary to moving to the St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
<strong>of</strong> Georgia.<br />
Secretary ray lahood<br />
8<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Office <strong>of</strong> the Director /<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Dr. Russ Fine<br />
• Provides leadership, direction, global center management,<br />
program vision, guidance and opportunity identific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Supervises program oper<strong>at</strong>ions, planning, implement<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
quality assurance<br />
• Assures policy promulg<strong>at</strong>ion and compliance<br />
• Coordin<strong>at</strong>es activities <strong>of</strong> the Advisory Board<br />
• Promotes and nurtures rel<strong>at</strong>ionships with governmental agencies<br />
and priv<strong>at</strong>e-sector human service organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
• Coordin<strong>at</strong>es and promotes intramural and extramural rel<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
with academic entities<br />
• Directs the UAB Injury Control Research Center (UAB ICRC)<br />
• Directs the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics (SCIB)<br />
Figure 2<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Director for<br />
Research and<br />
Scientific Oversight<br />
Dr. Gerald McGwin, Jr.<br />
• Directs the Office <strong>of</strong> Research and Scientific<br />
Oversight, the Research Support Services Unit<br />
and the Oversight and Evalu<strong>at</strong>ion Unit<br />
• Provides management and oversight <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Center’s intramural, extramural and seed<br />
grant research programs including the project<br />
selection and external review process<br />
• Serves as the Center’s working liaison with<br />
the UAB School <strong>of</strong> Engineering and the<br />
Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics<br />
• Co-directs the UAB ICRC<br />
• Co-directs the SCIB<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director<br />
for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Finance<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster<br />
• Directs the management and coordin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> all non-research<br />
programm<strong>at</strong>ic and support activities <strong>of</strong> the Center<br />
• Develops budgets on Center and project level; interfaces<br />
with intramural and extramural parties having budgetrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
interests; prepares financial reports and other<br />
document<strong>at</strong>ion for the funding agency; and reconciles<br />
financial st<strong>at</strong>ements and reports<br />
• Assists in the coordin<strong>at</strong>ion and management <strong>of</strong> the<br />
research project selection process, assists in the monitoring<br />
<strong>of</strong> research project quality and progress; maintains<br />
currency <strong>of</strong> inform<strong>at</strong>ion in the Project Management Reporting<br />
system; plans and executes all grant applic<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
non-competitive renewal activities; coordin<strong>at</strong>es submission<br />
<strong>of</strong> final research reports<br />
• Supervises the UTC Outreach and Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Liaison and<br />
the UTC Webmaster; writes and produces UTC newsletters<br />
and annual reports; represents and speaks on behalf<br />
<strong>of</strong> the UTC <strong>at</strong> intramural and extramural events; interfaces<br />
with outside print and electronic media; serves as primary<br />
interface with the UTC funding agency and with other<br />
parties <strong>of</strong> interest<br />
• Coordin<strong>at</strong>es meetings <strong>of</strong> UTC members and affili<strong>at</strong>es; facilit<strong>at</strong>es<br />
UTC investig<strong>at</strong>or and staff activities; assists in the<br />
development and execution <strong>of</strong> educ<strong>at</strong>ion and technology<br />
transfer activities<br />
• Facilit<strong>at</strong>es pre-activity and renewal-oriented continu<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
approval from oversight boards and regul<strong>at</strong>ory agencies;<br />
ensures project-rel<strong>at</strong>ed personnel and activities are in<br />
compliance with IRB, HIPAA, CIRB and/or the IACUC<br />
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE & PRINCIPAL CENTER STAFF 9
The UAB UTC’s Principal Staff<br />
Center Director<br />
Philip R. (Russ) Fine, PhD, MSPH<br />
Dr. Fine is the founding director and principal<br />
investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC, the UAB Injury<br />
Control Research Center (1988) and The Southern<br />
Consortium for Injury Biomechanics (2000). Dr.<br />
Fine is Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Medicine in the Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> Medicine. He has been on the UAB Faculty <strong>of</strong><br />
Medicine since 1975 and earned, for UAB, more<br />
than $47 million in research grants, contracts or<br />
other types <strong>of</strong> funding awards during his 36 year<br />
career. He is the author or co-author <strong>of</strong> more than<br />
100 contributions to the scientific liter<strong>at</strong>ure and a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> numerous pr<strong>of</strong>essional, scientific<br />
societies and organiz<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Research & Scientific Oversight<br />
Gerald McGwin, Jr., PhD, MS<br />
Dr. McGwin has been associ<strong>at</strong>ed with the UAB<br />
UTC as a Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or and Research<br />
Domain director since 2007. He is the Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Director for the UAB Center <strong>of</strong> Injury Sciences as<br />
well as pr<strong>of</strong>essor and vice-chairman <strong>of</strong> the School<br />
<strong>of</strong> Public Health’s Department <strong>of</strong> Epidemiology.<br />
Dr. McGwin is director <strong>of</strong> the Center for Clinical<br />
and Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Science (CCTS) Design and<br />
Biost<strong>at</strong>istics Program. He is an associ<strong>at</strong>e editor for<br />
the American Journal <strong>of</strong> Epidemiology and regular<br />
reviewer for more than a dozen scientific journals.<br />
He has authored or co-authored more than 330<br />
peer-reviewed manuscripts.<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion & Finance<br />
Jeffrey Foster, MPH<br />
Mr. Foster has worked with the UAB UTC since<br />
its inception. In addition to his key UTC role and<br />
responsibilities, he is an experienced investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
and is rapidly becoming a highly effective scientific<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>or. He serves, also, as the Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the UAB Southern Consortium for Injury<br />
Biomechanics. Mr. Foster earned his MPH in<br />
Epidemiology from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> in 2005. His experience includes transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
research in both heavy and light vehicles,<br />
labor<strong>at</strong>ory and field- d<strong>at</strong>a collection and testing as<br />
well as research project participant recruitment.<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Research<br />
& Scientific Oversight Emeritus<br />
Jay Goldman, DSc, PE<br />
Dr. Goldman has been closely associ<strong>at</strong>ed with the<br />
UAB UTC in a leadership role since its inception.<br />
He has authored or co-authored 75 technical<br />
public<strong>at</strong>ions, presented some 100 technical present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and contributed to numerous monographs<br />
and textbooks during his career. Owing to his comprehensive<br />
knowledge and extensive experience in<br />
the field <strong>of</strong> engineering and biomechanics, he has<br />
been a consultant to 35 local and n<strong>at</strong>ional organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
as well as to the United St<strong>at</strong>es government.<br />
Post-Doctoral Fellow<br />
Despina Stavrinos, PhD<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos obtained a doctor<strong>at</strong>e<br />
in Lifespan Developmental Psychology in<br />
May 2009 from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> and is currently a Postdoctoral<br />
Fellow <strong>at</strong> the UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center (UAB UTC). Her work on<br />
distracted pedestrians, which was fe<strong>at</strong>ured<br />
in Pedi<strong>at</strong>rics in 2009, also earned her the<br />
Society <strong>of</strong> Pedi<strong>at</strong>ric Psychology and CDC<br />
Injury Prevention Student Research Award.<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion & Outreach Advisor<br />
K<strong>at</strong>hleen Bolland, PhD<br />
Dr. Bolland serves as the Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Outreach Advisor to the UAB UTC. In addition<br />
to UTC duties, Dr. Bolland is the Assistant<br />
Dean for Educ<strong>at</strong>ional Programs and<br />
Student Services in the School <strong>of</strong> Social<br />
Work <strong>at</strong> The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>. As a<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional staff member in the Evalu<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Assessment Labor<strong>at</strong>ory in the College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Educ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
Dr. Bolland designed and conducted<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>ions for 15 years before joining the<br />
UA faculty in the School <strong>of</strong> Social Work.<br />
Program Administr<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Crystal Franklin, MPH<br />
Ms. Franklin, a former UTC student intern,<br />
joined the staff full-time this past year. She<br />
provides support to the UTC Leadership in<br />
a variety <strong>of</strong> Center-rel<strong>at</strong>ed activities including<br />
grant writing, administr<strong>at</strong>ive duties,<br />
webinar planning and research assistance.<br />
She works closely with Dr. Stavrinos, on a<br />
day-to-day basis, functioning as a skilled<br />
research associ<strong>at</strong>e, which she has become<br />
since joining the UTC group.<br />
research consultant<br />
Andrea Underhill, PhD<br />
Dr. Underhill has worked with the UAB<br />
UTC since its inception. She has authored<br />
or co-authored two book chapters, 10<br />
manuascripts and 24 present<strong>at</strong>ions. She has<br />
served as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous<br />
scientific journals.<br />
10<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
The Advisory Board<br />
The UAB UTC’s Advisory Board<br />
plays a key role in helping guide<br />
UTC activities, formul<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
research concepts, identifying<br />
emerging research and educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
needs, and in selecting research<br />
projects.<br />
The Advisory Board is made up<br />
<strong>of</strong> leaders from throughout the<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e and N<strong>at</strong>ion representing a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile entities<br />
and organiz<strong>at</strong>ions whose varying<br />
missions contribute positively to<br />
the goals and objectives <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UAB UTC.<br />
Current Members:<br />
(Front row - se<strong>at</strong>ed L to R): Dr. Ray Mundy, Mr. Walter Kulyk, Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku, Dr. Sharif Melouk, Dr. K<strong>at</strong>hleen Bolland.<br />
(Second row - se<strong>at</strong>ed L to R): Mr. Joe Petrolino, Mr. Bill Foisy, Mr. Mark Bartlett, Mr. Russell Griffin, Mr. Jeff Foster.<br />
(Standing L to R): Dr. Russ Fine, Dr. Fouad Fouad, Mr. Andrew Sullivan, Mr. John Campbell, Mr. Jamey Durham, Mr. Peter Behrman,<br />
Mr. Michael Andrews, Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Dr. Gerald McGwin, Mrs. Joy Fleisher, Dr. Richard Gonzalez, Dr. Jay Goldman.<br />
Joe Acker, EMT-P, MPH (ex <strong>of</strong>ficio)<br />
Executive Director<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Regional Emergency Medical Services<br />
System<br />
D. Michael Andrews, JD<br />
Attorney<br />
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC<br />
Mark Bartlett, PE<br />
Division Administr<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Federal Highway Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Peter Behrman<br />
Executive Director<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Jefferson County Transit Authority<br />
David Brown, PhD<br />
Deputy Director, Center for Advanced Public Safety<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
John Campbell, MD<br />
EMS Medical Director<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health<br />
Glenn Cummings, MBA/HCM, RN<br />
Coordin<strong>at</strong>or, Trauma Services<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> South <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Jamey Durham, MBA<br />
Director, Injury Prevention Branch<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health<br />
Frank K. Filgo, CAE<br />
President & CEO<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Trucking Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Bill Foisy<br />
Director, Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Planning<br />
Regional Planning Commission<br />
<strong>of</strong> Gre<strong>at</strong>er <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Fouad Fouad, PhD<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and Chairman<br />
Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Richard Gonzalez, MD<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Department <strong>of</strong> Surgery<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> South <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Michael Howell-Moroney, PhD<br />
Director, Master <strong>of</strong> Public Administr<strong>at</strong>ion Program<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Robert Kimberly, MD<br />
Senior Associ<strong>at</strong>e Dean for Research, UASOM<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Walter Kulyk, PE<br />
Director, Office <strong>of</strong> Mobility Innov<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Federal Transit Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
David Meaney, PhD<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director, Penn Center for Brain Injury & Repair<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Bioengineering<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Pennsylvania<br />
Ray A. Mundy, PhD<br />
– UAB UTC Advisory Board Chairman<br />
Director, Center for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Studies<br />
Barriger Endowed Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion & Logistics<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Missouri, St. Louis<br />
Joseph A. Petrolino, MS<br />
Vice President, Heavy Vehicle R&D<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Center, Inc<br />
Director, <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center<br />
Loring Rue, MD<br />
Senior Associ<strong>at</strong>e Dean for Clinic Affairs, UASOM<br />
Chief, Section <strong>of</strong> Trauma, Burns & Surgical Critical Care<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Virginia Sisiopiku, PhD<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Ordrell Smith<br />
Director<br />
Jefferson County Youth Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Program<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Dan Turner, PhD, PE<br />
Emeritus Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Engineering<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Don Vaughn, PE<br />
Deputy Director & Chief Engineer<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
James Walker, MPA<br />
Director<br />
Homeland Security – <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Henry Wang, MD, MPH, MS<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor & Vice Chairman for Research<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Emergency Medicine<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Save the DATE<br />
May 18th, 2011<br />
UAB UTC<br />
Annual Advisory<br />
Board Meeting<br />
Double Tree Hotel<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL<br />
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE & PRINCIPAL CENTER STAFF 11
developing tomorrows transport<strong>at</strong>ion pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
UAB UTC Recognized<br />
Ozge Cavusoglu as<br />
2009-2010 Student <strong>of</strong> the Year<br />
UAB UTC leadership named Ms. Ozge Cavusoglu, MS,<br />
MSCE, as the UAB UTC 2009-2010 Student <strong>of</strong> the Year.<br />
Ms. Cavusoglu received a $1,000 award along with a trip<br />
to Washington, D.C., in early January, 2010 where she<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ed in the recent CUTC Awards Banquet honoring<br />
Students <strong>of</strong> the Year from UTCs across the country.<br />
Ms. Cavusoglu is a doctoral student in UAB’s Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. In<br />
addition to the Master <strong>of</strong> Science in Civil Engineering and<br />
a Certific<strong>at</strong>e in Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety and Injury Control<br />
Engineering (see story pg. 13) she earned <strong>at</strong> UAB, Ms.<br />
Cavusoglu also holds a Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Science in Urban<br />
and Regional Planning from Mimar Sinan <strong>University</strong><br />
(Istanbul, Turkey) and a Master <strong>of</strong> Science in Urban and<br />
Regional Planning/Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Planning from Gebze<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology (Kocaeli, Turkey). Ms. Cavusoglu<br />
works <strong>at</strong> the UAB Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Labor<strong>at</strong>ory in the<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Engineering and is involved in one <strong>of</strong> the UAB<br />
UTC’s major research projects, Dynamic Traffic Assignment<br />
and Simul<strong>at</strong>ion Model for Incident and Emergency<br />
Management Applic<strong>at</strong>ions in the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Region<br />
(DDTAS).<br />
Ms. Cavusoglu has established a strong record as an<br />
investig<strong>at</strong>or and scholar as a gradu<strong>at</strong>e student. Since<br />
coming to UAB, she has completed major research projects<br />
funded by the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> (UTCA) and has particip<strong>at</strong>ed actively in other<br />
projects, funded by the <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
(ALDOT) and by the Regional Planning Commission<br />
<strong>of</strong> Gre<strong>at</strong>er <strong>Birmingham</strong>. Ms. Cavusoglu’s research<br />
interests mirror and complement the theme and goals <strong>of</strong><br />
the UAB UTC, and her ability to pursue those research<br />
efforts, whether working independently or collabor<strong>at</strong>ively,<br />
demonstr<strong>at</strong>e her commitment to a transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
career.<br />
Currently, Ms. Cavusoglu’s Ph.D. dissert<strong>at</strong>ion research,<br />
funded through the UAB UTC, is examining how traffic<br />
behaves under emergency conditions (ranging from traffic<br />
incidents to large scale n<strong>at</strong>ural disasters). Her research<br />
methodology includes the development <strong>of</strong> a comprehensive<br />
model <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> region to be used as<br />
a training and evalu<strong>at</strong>ion test bed. The comprehensive<br />
Ms. Ozge Cavusoglu,<br />
Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku<br />
(Ms. Cavusoglu’s mentor), and<br />
Dr. Russ Fine founding director<br />
and principal investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UAB UTC <strong>at</strong> the January, 2010<br />
CUTC Awards Banquet in<br />
Washington, DC.<br />
model being developed will allow examin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
impact <strong>of</strong> major incidents and emergencies and modeling<br />
<strong>of</strong> str<strong>at</strong>egies th<strong>at</strong> demonstr<strong>at</strong>e the potential to minimize<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> emergencies on traffic oper<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and the safety <strong>of</strong> the traveling public. This is a highly<br />
visible project th<strong>at</strong> is expected to lead to numerous<br />
public<strong>at</strong>ions and technical present<strong>at</strong>ions within the next<br />
two years. Ms. Cavusoglu’s contribution to the development,<br />
refinement, and testing <strong>of</strong> the model is critical to<br />
the success <strong>of</strong> the overall research effort.<br />
Ms. Cavusoglu’s contribution to the transport<strong>at</strong>ion field<br />
goes beyond academics. Her upbe<strong>at</strong>, energetic personality<br />
has had a positive impact on the entire UAB Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Labor<strong>at</strong>ory. She has motiv<strong>at</strong>ed fellow gradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
students in the transport<strong>at</strong>ion engineering program to<br />
become more involved in pr<strong>of</strong>essional activities and to<br />
work as a team. Her efforts have resulted in a gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />
awareness <strong>of</strong> the diversity <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
careers and <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC. Ms. Cavusoglu devotes<br />
an enormous amount <strong>of</strong> her personal time assisting<br />
classm<strong>at</strong>es with field work assignments and with the<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion and activities <strong>of</strong> the student chapter <strong>of</strong><br />
the Institute <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Engineering (ITE). Her<br />
enthusiasm and ability to mentor students, both in the<br />
lab and in extra-curricular activities, have increased student<br />
interest in transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed careers, increased<br />
student involvement with the DDTAS project, exposed<br />
more students to the UAB UTC and increased student<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ion in UAB UTC activities<br />
12<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
First Student Earns Certific<strong>at</strong>e in<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety & Injury<br />
Control Engineering<br />
On Dec. 12, 2009, Ms. Ozge Cavusoglu became the first<br />
student from the UAB School <strong>of</strong> Engineering to earn a<br />
Certific<strong>at</strong>e in Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety and Injury Control<br />
Engineering. Ms. Cavusoglu, a doctoral student in the<br />
UAB Department <strong>of</strong> Civil, Construction and Environmental<br />
Engineering, is also the 2009-2010 UAB UTC Student<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Year.<br />
Last year, the UAB UTC and the UAB School <strong>of</strong><br />
Engineering’s Department <strong>of</strong> Civil, Construction &<br />
Environmental Engineering established the Certific<strong>at</strong>e in<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety and Injury Control Engineering.<br />
The Certific<strong>at</strong>e program consists <strong>of</strong> one required course<br />
for three semester hours, and an additional four courses,<br />
for 12 semester hours, <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion and transport<strong>at</strong>ion-safety<br />
electives.<br />
Ozge Cavusoglu<br />
The program – a marriage between engineering, public<br />
health and the emerging discipline <strong>of</strong> injury control – is<br />
enabling engineering students and other transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals to acquire advanced training and experience<br />
in the public health and injury control aspects<br />
<strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion research. Specifically, the certific<strong>at</strong>e<br />
program is enabling students, practicing transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and other pr<strong>of</strong>essionals with an interest<br />
in transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed issues (such as urban planners,<br />
transit administr<strong>at</strong>ive personnel or emergency preparedness<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>ors) to focus on transport<strong>at</strong>ion safetyrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
issues, while learning to use the l<strong>at</strong>est tools and<br />
technology available.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion on this Certific<strong>at</strong>e, please visit<br />
www.uab.edu/utc/certific<strong>at</strong>ion .<br />
“UAB UTC helps students realize<br />
the importance <strong>of</strong> safety and injury<br />
control in transport<strong>at</strong>ion engineering.”<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion 13
UAB UTC Partners with Mountain-Plains Consortium<br />
for Expanded Educ<strong>at</strong>ional Opportunities<br />
The UAB UTC and the Mountain-Plains Consortium<br />
(MPC), under the direction <strong>of</strong> Dr. Denver Tolliver and<br />
headquartered <strong>at</strong> North Dakota St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>University</strong> (NDSU),<br />
are linking to expand the educ<strong>at</strong>ional opportunities <strong>of</strong>fered<br />
by both Centers. The two UTCs are finalizing plans<br />
th<strong>at</strong> will enable practicing transport<strong>at</strong>ion pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
and, in some cases, transport<strong>at</strong>ion students in the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
area to particip<strong>at</strong>e in two distance learning transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
certific<strong>at</strong>ion programs provided through this cutting<br />
edge NDSU program. Soon, <strong>Alabama</strong> area transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals will be able to pursue and earn a Certific<strong>at</strong>e<br />
in Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and Urban Systems.<br />
This Certific<strong>at</strong>e can be pursued via online courses and<br />
is targeted <strong>at</strong> practicing pr<strong>of</strong>essionals who are unable to<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>e in traditional coursework. A second option th<strong>at</strong><br />
will be available is the Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Leadership Gradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Certific<strong>at</strong>e which is a n<strong>at</strong>ionwide program sponsored<br />
by the Regional <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Centers.<br />
This Certific<strong>at</strong>e is a distance learning opportunity introducing<br />
participants to the skills needed to be a leader<br />
in the transport<strong>at</strong>ion field. The UAB UTC leadership is<br />
gr<strong>at</strong>eful for the opportunity to establish this important<br />
linkage with the MPC and looks forward to being able to<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer these valuable learning experiences and certific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
opportunities to its core, <strong>Alabama</strong> audience with the<br />
guidance and assistance <strong>of</strong> Dr. Denver Tolliver, Director,<br />
Mountain-Plains Consortium, Director, Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
& Logistics Programs, Assistant Director, Upper<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong> Plains Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Institute North Dakota St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
<strong>University</strong> and Ms. Jody Bohn, Assistant to the Director<br />
for Mountain-Plains Consortium and Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Logistic Programs, Upper Gre<strong>at</strong> Plains Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Institute North Dakota St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>University</strong>.<br />
Dr. Denver Tolliver<br />
Director, Mountain-Plains Consortium<br />
Director, Transport<strong>at</strong>ion & Logistics Programs<br />
Assistant Director, Upper Gre<strong>at</strong> Plains<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Institute<br />
North Dakota St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>University</strong><br />
Ms. Jody Bohn<br />
Assistant to the Director for Mountain-Plains<br />
Consortium and Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
& Logistic Programs<br />
Upper Gre<strong>at</strong> Plains Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Institute<br />
North Dakota St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>University</strong><br />
14<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
In the United St<strong>at</strong>es, motor<br />
vehicle–rel<strong>at</strong>ed injuries are<br />
the leading cause <strong>of</strong> de<strong>at</strong>h for<br />
individuals up to the age <strong>of</strong> 34<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Plays Key Role in SOPH Injury Course<br />
Each Spring semester, the UAB UTC and the UAB Injury<br />
Control Research Center (ICRC) sponsor and conduct<br />
a formal, gradu<strong>at</strong>e course through the UAB School <strong>of</strong><br />
Public Health (SOPH). This elective, EPI 603: Injury<br />
– Epidemiologic Principles and Prevention Str<strong>at</strong>egies,<br />
presents st<strong>at</strong>e-<strong>of</strong>-the-science inform<strong>at</strong>ion and d<strong>at</strong>a<br />
about the causes <strong>of</strong> injury and the best-practices control<br />
measures used to prevent injury or de<strong>at</strong>h resulting from<br />
them. Since motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause<br />
<strong>of</strong> injury and de<strong>at</strong>h in the US for persons under the age<br />
<strong>of</strong> 45, there has always been a transport<strong>at</strong>ion emphasis in<br />
the course. This past year, however, the course has taken<br />
on an even stronger transport<strong>at</strong>ion focus. This shift reflects<br />
the growing importance <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion research<br />
<strong>at</strong> UAB, made possible by the establishment <strong>of</strong> the UAB<br />
UTC.<br />
Examples <strong>of</strong> lectures focusing primarily on transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
include:<br />
• An Epidemiologic Overview <strong>of</strong> the Injury Phenomenon in the<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es with Special Emphasis on The Leading Cause <strong>of</strong><br />
Unintentional Morbidity and Mortality: Motor Vehicle Crashes<br />
[two consecutive introductory lectures spanning three hours by Dr. Russ Fine,<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Medicine and Director <strong>of</strong> the UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center; the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics; and, The UAB<br />
Injury Control Research Center]<br />
• Causes and Prevention <strong>of</strong> Motor Vehicle Crashes (MVCs):<br />
Class Discussion and Deb<strong>at</strong>e [by Dr. John W<strong>at</strong>erbor, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
<strong>of</strong> Epidemiology, UAB UTC and UAB ICRC Senior Scientist]<br />
• Causes and Prevention <strong>of</strong> MVCs Among Elderly Drivers [by Dr.<br />
Cynthia Owsley, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Ophthalmology, Director <strong>of</strong> the Clinical Research<br />
Unit in the Department <strong>of</strong> Ophthalmology, Co-Director <strong>of</strong> the Center<br />
for Research on Applied Gerontology]<br />
• Studies <strong>of</strong> Distracted Drivers [by Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Director <strong>of</strong><br />
the Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Research for Injury Prevention Labor<strong>at</strong>ory, UAB UTC Post-<br />
Doctoral Fellow]<br />
• Public Policy Interventions and Motor Vehicles F<strong>at</strong>alities<br />
[Dr. Michael Morrisey, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Health Care Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion and Policy,<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy]<br />
Dr. Stavrinos’ lecture, Studies <strong>of</strong> Distracted Drivers, is<br />
new this year, reflecting the increased awareness <strong>of</strong> the<br />
enormously increased risk associ<strong>at</strong>ed with distracted<br />
driving.<br />
(NHTSA)<br />
EPI 603 is <strong>of</strong>fered primarily to gradu<strong>at</strong>e students from<br />
the UAB School <strong>of</strong> Public Health, but students are also<br />
<strong>at</strong>tracted from the School <strong>of</strong> Medicine, the School <strong>of</strong><br />
Engineering, the School <strong>of</strong> Nursing and other disciplines<br />
across campus. The injury course has always been immensely<br />
popular with students, due to its unique subject<br />
m<strong>at</strong>ter and novel class style. Also, it is the core course<br />
component required for completion <strong>of</strong> the Certific<strong>at</strong>e in<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety and Injury Control Engineering in<br />
the UAB School <strong>of</strong> Engineering.<br />
Injury epidemiology is a rapidly growing, subspecialty <strong>of</strong><br />
epidemiology. Many students are exposed to injury epidemiology<br />
for the first time by this class. An increasingly<br />
large number subsequently realize they have enormous<br />
interest in the topic. This course and the interest it has<br />
sparked in a large number <strong>of</strong> students have resulted in<br />
many student internships with the UAB UTC or the UAB<br />
ICRC. To ensure th<strong>at</strong> the course presents the most upto-d<strong>at</strong>e<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion, the course masters – Dr. Russ Fine,<br />
UAB UTC Director, and Dr. John W<strong>at</strong>erbor – have taken<br />
an innov<strong>at</strong>e approach to teaching. Instead <strong>of</strong> having one<br />
individual present all the course inform<strong>at</strong>ion, Drs. Fine<br />
and W<strong>at</strong>erbor engage content area experts in the specific<br />
area <strong>of</strong> injury being covered th<strong>at</strong> day to lead the class and<br />
present the topic-specific lecture. This teaching method<br />
allows the students to be exposed to the most up-to-d<strong>at</strong>e<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion from those actually working in the area being<br />
discussed.<br />
For additional inform<strong>at</strong>ion on EPI 603: Injury – Epidemiologic<br />
Principles and Prevention Str<strong>at</strong>egies and a copy<br />
<strong>of</strong> the most recent syllabus, please contact Dr. Russ Fine<br />
(rfine@uab.edu).<br />
Images;<br />
A.) Dr. Laura Dreer, a School <strong>of</strong> Medicine faculty member who<br />
registered for and took Epi 603 to further her understanding <strong>of</strong><br />
injuries as a leading cause <strong>of</strong> morbidity and mortality.<br />
B.) Students: Beau Hagler and Priya Chandan<br />
C.) Student: Pamela Iyinagoro, MPH Student<br />
D.) Dr. Laura Dreer, UAB faculty member and EPI 603 student, Dr.<br />
Richard S<strong>at</strong>tin, guest lecturer and injury expert, and Dr. John<br />
W<strong>at</strong>erbor, course co-master.<br />
A.) B.) C.) D.)<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion 15
UAB UTC Affili<strong>at</strong>ed TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® Offers Unique Opportunities<br />
for Students in Non-Traditional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Disciplines<br />
“Students working in the lab have diverse career goals<br />
ranging from transport<strong>at</strong>ion science to medicine; however,<br />
the common bond is their desire to enhance their<br />
research skill set and this goal is accomplished through<br />
opportunities to be involved in all stages <strong>of</strong> the research<br />
process – from protocol and driving simul<strong>at</strong>or scenario<br />
development to d<strong>at</strong>a collection, coding and entry.”<br />
Stavrinos says. Once d<strong>at</strong>a collection nears completion,<br />
students are given opportunities for presenting preliminary<br />
findings <strong>at</strong> scientific conferences – an activity<br />
Stavrinos says will be vital for the students’ academic<br />
development.<br />
TRIP Lab ® Staff (from left), LaKeshia Hyndman, Ashley Gentry, Sharon Welburn,<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Jon<strong>at</strong>han Feng, Khushboo Jhala, Annie Garner, and<br />
Gauri Singh. Not pictured: Nishita Baxi, Lindsay Harrison and Michael Schwartz.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> is the best way for students to learn how to design<br />
and conduct a research project? In a classroom with a<br />
book? We think not. R<strong>at</strong>her, our experience has shown<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the best way to learn how to design and carry out a<br />
research project is to actually do one.<br />
Unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely, students <strong>of</strong>ten have limited opportunities<br />
to fully particip<strong>at</strong>e in the research process because <strong>of</strong> the<br />
demands <strong>of</strong> their classes and, sometimes, their extramural<br />
employment. However, students working under the<br />
leadership <strong>of</strong> Dr. Despina Stavrinos director <strong>of</strong> UAB’s<br />
Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Research for Injury Prevention (TRIP)<br />
Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® are getting a unique opportunity not only to<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>e in all stages <strong>of</strong> the research process but also to<br />
earn psychology course credit while doing so.<br />
The TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® , which is headquartered in the<br />
UAB UTC, is committed to helping science acquire a<br />
better understanding <strong>of</strong> the psychological aspects <strong>of</strong> injury<br />
and transl<strong>at</strong>ing those find-ings to the practice <strong>of</strong> injury<br />
prevention and control. In line with the UAB UTC<br />
mission, the TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® is <strong>at</strong>tempting to help the<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ion achieve a significant reduction in the r<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong><br />
injuries and their resulting de<strong>at</strong>hs and disabilities,<br />
especially in the southeastern United St<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
Since its establishment in June 2009, over a dozen<br />
gradu<strong>at</strong>e and undergradu<strong>at</strong>e students have been a part <strong>of</strong><br />
the TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® . Under the supervision <strong>of</strong><br />
Dr. Stavrinos, students assist with the UAB UTC-funded<br />
project Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without<br />
ADHD, co-sponsored by the Children’s Hospital <strong>of</strong> Philadelphia,<br />
as well as with the UTCA-funded project Impact<br />
<strong>of</strong> Distracted Driving on Traffic Congestion. Dr. Stavrinos<br />
is Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> both projects.<br />
This unique learning experience is made possible, in<br />
part, by UAB’s Department <strong>of</strong> Psychology, which allows<br />
students to earn psychology course credits for their work<br />
with actual research projects. This arrangement provides<br />
students with an excellent opportunity for experiential<br />
learning because time for particip<strong>at</strong>ing in research opportunities<br />
is not in competition with time for taking<br />
traditional classes since the two activities are combined.<br />
Working with the Distracted Driving research project,<br />
students not only learn about the research process, but<br />
also about how psychology contributes to the transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
field. Their experiences in the TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory are<br />
an excellent prepar<strong>at</strong>ion as they plan their future studies<br />
in a transport<strong>at</strong>ion context.<br />
Recently, the growth and success <strong>of</strong> the TRIP Lab ® have<br />
allowed for the establishment <strong>of</strong> two new permanent<br />
student positions. This summer, Ms. Jennifer Jones became<br />
the TRIP Lab’s ® first intern and Ms. Annie Artiga<br />
Garner became its first Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Research Assistant. It is<br />
<strong>of</strong> more than casual interest th<strong>at</strong> neither Jenny nor Annie<br />
set out to work in a transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed field. However,<br />
through exposure to the activities <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC, they<br />
both became aware <strong>of</strong> the enormous pr<strong>of</strong>essional opportunities<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered by the field.<br />
“I had not fully appreci<strong>at</strong>ed the importance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ionship between psychology and the process <strong>of</strong><br />
driving until joining the TRIP Lab and working with<br />
Dr. Stavrinos,” says Annie Garner, TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Research Assistant.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion about<br />
the TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® , visit<br />
www.triplabor<strong>at</strong>ory.com.<br />
16<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
“Together, the UAB UTC and the TRIP Lab ® are shaping<br />
the lives <strong>of</strong> future transport<strong>at</strong>ion pr<strong>of</strong>essionals”<br />
Jennifer Jones -<br />
TRIP Lab ® Summer Intern<br />
This summer, Ms.<br />
Jennifer Jones joined<br />
the TRIP lab staff as<br />
its first intern. Jenny, a<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>of</strong> Marietta, GA,<br />
obtained a bachelors<br />
degree in biology from<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Georgia<br />
in 2008 and worked<br />
as a research assistant,<br />
specializing in avian influenza<br />
detection, <strong>at</strong> Georgia Tech Research Institute<br />
in Atlanta, GA after gradu<strong>at</strong>ion. Jenny is a second<br />
year student in UAB’s School <strong>of</strong> Public Health where<br />
she is pursuing a Master <strong>of</strong> Public Health (MPH) in<br />
Epidemiology. Also, she is employed as a d<strong>at</strong>a<br />
analyst in UAB’s Bone Marrow Transplant Center. As<br />
the TRIP Lab Intern, Jenny developed inform<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials for study participants. The brochures stress<br />
the importance <strong>of</strong> refraining from distracted driving by<br />
illustr<strong>at</strong>ing facts regarding the number <strong>of</strong> injuries each<br />
year th<strong>at</strong> are <strong>at</strong>tributed to distracted driving. Jenny,<br />
whose previous work has not been transport<strong>at</strong>ionrel<strong>at</strong>ed,<br />
realized her passion for the field during the<br />
UAB UTC-sponsored Injury course taught in the UAB<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Public Health (See p. X for more inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
on the Injury Course). This internship helped her<br />
fulfill the requirements for her MPH. After completing<br />
her summer internship, Jenny decided to continue her<br />
work <strong>at</strong> the TRIP Lab as a research assistant for the<br />
fall semester.<br />
Annie Artiga Garner -<br />
TRIP Lab ® Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Assistant<br />
In August, Annie<br />
Artiga Garner, a former<br />
TRIP lab research assistant,<br />
assumed a new<br />
role in the UAB UTC<br />
/ TRIP Lab ® group as<br />
a gradu<strong>at</strong>e research<br />
assistant. In her new<br />
role, Annie will retain her<br />
current research assistant<br />
responsibilities, such as<br />
participant recruitment and d<strong>at</strong>abase management,<br />
and add to th<strong>at</strong> list by taking on an increased supervisory<br />
role in the Lab as well as additional administr<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
responsibilities for the UAB UTC. In addition<br />
to these new responsibilities, Annie’s gradu<strong>at</strong>e assistantship<br />
will allow her to design and manage her<br />
dissert<strong>at</strong>ion project, thereby fulfilling the requirements<br />
for her PhD in Psychology. Her UTC-driven dissert<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
research will focus on transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed issues<br />
in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity<br />
Disorder (ADHD). Annie’s previous work had focused<br />
solely on ADHD, but since starting work in the TRIP<br />
Lab, she has become quite interested in risky driving<br />
tendencies and behaviors among teens with ADHD.<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion 17
UAB UTC Welcomes Second<br />
Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Intern<br />
Dominique Foster, UAB UTC Minority Enrichment Student Intern<br />
“The UAB UTC Internship really opened my eyes<br />
to how my career interests are relevant to the<br />
field <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion. While I never might have<br />
even considered such a link before this summer,<br />
now, I am actually thinking about how I can<br />
bring my interests to the field and have a s<strong>at</strong>isfying,<br />
well-paid career.”<br />
Two years ago, the UAB UTC partnered with the<br />
Jefferson County Youth Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Program (JCYTP),<br />
a campus-based minority enrichment effort managed by<br />
UAB’s Office <strong>of</strong> Equity and Diversity and underwritten,<br />
in large part, by the <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
(ALDOT) through the good <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> ALDOT Director,<br />
Mr. Joe McInnes. At the recommend<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> JCYTP<br />
leadership, Mr. Dominique Foster, a 2010 gradu<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong><br />
Bessemer City High School in Bessemer, AL, was selected<br />
for the two-month internship. Dominique enrolled<br />
as a freshman <strong>at</strong> Tuskegee <strong>University</strong> in mid-August.<br />
The Minority Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Internship is unique among<br />
internships. Instead <strong>of</strong> the intern working for the UAB<br />
UTC, the UAB UTC works for the intern. Based on the<br />
student’s interests, UTC leadership secures engagement<br />
opportunities within various summer workshops and<br />
schedules appointments for the intern to meet with practicing<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals from a wide variety <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ionrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
disciplines. The UAB UTC minority enrichment<br />
internship provides hands-on experience as well as a<br />
glimpse <strong>of</strong> wh<strong>at</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals in transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
fields actually do.<br />
Dominique, who is currently planning to study economics<br />
and actuarial science, had a full schedule <strong>of</strong> workshops,<br />
short courses and one-on-one meetings. He met with a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> UAB faculty and staff working in a wide range<br />
A.)<br />
<strong>of</strong> academic disciplines including Medicine, Engineering,<br />
Biost<strong>at</strong>istics, Business, Public Health, Accounting and<br />
Hospital Administr<strong>at</strong>ion. Dominique talked st<strong>at</strong>istics with<br />
Mr. Russell Griffin and Dr. George Howard and Economics/Finance<br />
with Dr. George Munchus, Dr. David Klock,<br />
Dr. Bor-Yi Tsay, Dr. Stephen Mennemeyer and Dr. Deborah<br />
Grimes. He learned about the field Engineering from Mr.<br />
Andrew Sullivan, Dr. Alan Shih, Dr. Alan Eberhardt and Dr.<br />
Fouad Fouad. He even had the opportunity to learn about<br />
behavioral neurobiology from Mr. David White and about<br />
Public Health from Dr. John W<strong>at</strong>erbor. Outside <strong>of</strong> UAB,<br />
Dominique met with <strong>Birmingham</strong>-Jefferson County Regional<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Authority Executive Director Mr. Peter<br />
Behrman and Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Manager Mr. Soloman Wilson.<br />
The highlight <strong>of</strong> Dominique’s internship was his particip<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in the prestigious N<strong>at</strong>ional Science Found<strong>at</strong>ion sponsored<br />
Visualiz<strong>at</strong>ion Workshop <strong>of</strong>fered through the UAB<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Engineering and directed by Dr. Alan Shih. This<br />
two week long workshop provided Dominique with an overview<br />
<strong>of</strong> computer graphics and scientific visualiz<strong>at</strong>ion. He<br />
learned about engineering simul<strong>at</strong>ion s<strong>of</strong>tware and applied<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> he learned to acquire hands-on visualiz<strong>at</strong>ion experience<br />
using 3D imaging and various forms <strong>of</strong> field manipul<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The UAB UTC Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Internship<br />
is proving to be an invaluable resource for students by<br />
providing them with a glimpse <strong>of</strong> real-world transport<strong>at</strong>ionrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
career choices. This internship opportunity represents<br />
another example <strong>of</strong> how the UTC has leveraged local,<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e and federal programs in our effort to help contribute to<br />
the transport<strong>at</strong>ion work force <strong>of</strong> the future.<br />
IMAGES:<br />
A.) Dr. Russ Fine, Mr. Dominique Foster, Dr. Alan Shih<br />
B.) Mr. Dominique Foster presenting a Power Point driven synopsis <strong>of</strong><br />
his experience as a participant in the NSF-sponsored Aladdin summer<br />
camp ”Visualiz<strong>at</strong>ion Camp - 1” to an audience <strong>of</strong> fellow students,<br />
parents, family members and faculty judges.<br />
C.) Visualiz<strong>at</strong>ion Camp 1 Participants<br />
D.) Mr. Joe McInnes, Director, <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
E.) Dr. Louis Dale, UAB Vice President for Equity and Diversity<br />
B.) C.) D.) E.)<br />
18<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
UAB UTC’s First<br />
Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Intern – One Year L<strong>at</strong>er<br />
“The UAB UTC Internship<br />
really helped me<br />
focus my career interests<br />
and better prepared me<br />
for the choices I’d have<br />
to make during freshman<br />
year as well as<br />
long thereafter. Wh<strong>at</strong> a<br />
wonderful experience<br />
my time in the UAB UTC<br />
turned out to be.”<br />
Nichele Cantrell<br />
Just over a year ago, Ms. Nichele Cantrell became the<br />
UAB UTC’s first Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Intern. She had just gradu<strong>at</strong>ed from Ramsay High School<br />
in <strong>Birmingham</strong> and planned to enter Indiana <strong>University</strong><br />
– Purdue <strong>University</strong> Indianapolis (IUPUI) in the Fall.<br />
Instead <strong>of</strong> taking the summer <strong>of</strong>f to relax and spend time<br />
with her friends, Nichele wanted to get a head start on her<br />
college plans.<br />
Showing much more forethought than many people years<br />
her senior, Nichele decided she didn’t want to select an<br />
academic major based solely on a description in a college<br />
c<strong>at</strong>alog. She wanted to find out wh<strong>at</strong> people with various<br />
degrees actually did all day. Th<strong>at</strong>’s where the UAB UTC<br />
came in.<br />
Based on the recommend<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Mr. Ordrell Smith,<br />
Executive Director <strong>of</strong> the Jefferson County Youth<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Program (JCYTP), the UAB UTC invited<br />
Nichele to become its first Minority Enrichment Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Intern and help her explore the transport<strong>at</strong>ionrel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
opportunities in various career fields, particularly<br />
engineering/biomedical engineering. (See 2008-2009<br />
UAB UTC Annual Report for more details.)<br />
Nichele made the most <strong>of</strong> the experiences the UAB UTC<br />
Internship afforded her. This past summer (2010) she<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ed in a research internship <strong>at</strong> Indiana<br />
<strong>University</strong> and is working towards admission to IU-PUI’s<br />
prestigious MD/PhD program. Nichele was first exposed<br />
to the existence <strong>of</strong> MD/PhD programs through her internship<br />
with the UAB UTC. She met <strong>at</strong> length with UAB<br />
faculty who held those degrees and met the leadership <strong>of</strong><br />
UAB’s MD/PhD program. Those introductions and meetings<br />
proved to be time well spent. The encouragement she<br />
received through those mentorship meetings and through<br />
the UAB UTC Internship Program further encouraged<br />
Nichele to set her goals high and work hard to achieve<br />
those goals.<br />
The UAB UTC is enormously proud <strong>of</strong> Nichele’s accomplishments<br />
and we hope you will join us in wishing her<br />
well in her future endeavors. Nichele may be contacted <strong>at</strong><br />
nichelecan@gmail.com.<br />
Dr. Sisiopiku Awarded Excellence in Mentorship Award<br />
Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku was one <strong>of</strong> 22 UAB pr<strong>of</strong>essors recently honored with the 2010<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship during a ceremony on April 12,<br />
2010. Dr. Sisiopiku is an Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor in the Department <strong>of</strong> Civil, Construction,<br />
and Environmental Engineering <strong>at</strong> UAB.<br />
This award recognizes faculty who have been outstanding mentors, advisors, and role<br />
models to the students and trainees with whom they have worked. These faculty honorees<br />
have demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed effective leadership, enthusiasm, an ability to make difficult<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion and concepts understandable, the willingness to serve as a role model, and<br />
a belief in the importance <strong>of</strong> mentoring.<br />
Dr. Sisiopiku was also one <strong>of</strong> 13 faculty members honored with the President’s Award<br />
for Excellence in Teaching in 2007. Dr. Sisiopiku is Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> 3 projects<br />
for the UAB UTC and the faculty advisor <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Engineers<br />
(ITE) Student Chapter <strong>at</strong> UAB.<br />
Dr. Bryan Noe,<br />
Dean <strong>of</strong> the UAB<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>e School, and<br />
Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion 19
finding ways to make the transport<strong>at</strong>ion-network safer, simpler, and smarter<br />
research<br />
Domain 1: Emergency Medical Services and Congestion<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: Gerald McGwin, Jr., MS, PhD<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>)<br />
Co-Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>ors: Jeffrey R. Crandall, ME, PhD &<br />
M<strong>at</strong>thew J. Trowbridge, MD, MPH (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Virginia), and<br />
Andrew Sullivan, PE, MSCE (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>)<br />
Co-Investig<strong>at</strong>ors: Philip R. Fine, PhD, MSPH &<br />
Jay Goldman, DSc (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>)<br />
Traffic congestion, upon first consider<strong>at</strong>ion, would appear<br />
to be a problem primarily <strong>of</strong> interest to those in the fields<br />
<strong>of</strong> engineering and transport<strong>at</strong>ion. While it is true these<br />
disciplines are principally responsible for characterizing and<br />
mitig<strong>at</strong>ing traffic congestion, in the “real world” its impact<br />
extends well beyond these fields. For example, traffic<br />
congestion has important environmental and worker<br />
productivity implic<strong>at</strong>ions. Similarly, congestion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed pollution<br />
has come to be associ<strong>at</strong>ed with certain chronic medical<br />
conditions. Moreover, <strong>of</strong> no small consequence is the reality<br />
th<strong>at</strong> traffic congestion may have an impact on acute health<br />
problems resulting from delays in the provision <strong>of</strong> emergency<br />
medical services (EMS). For example, ambulances are<br />
not always able to avoid traffic congestion chokepoints.<br />
It follows th<strong>at</strong> when there are even short delays in the delivery<br />
<strong>of</strong> care to a p<strong>at</strong>ient or delays in transporting a p<strong>at</strong>ient to<br />
definitive care, such delays can have adverse implic<strong>at</strong>ions on<br />
outcomes. Thus, when viewed from a public health perspective<br />
the rel<strong>at</strong>ionship between congestion and EMS reveals<br />
several important opportunities for multi-disciplinary,<br />
transl<strong>at</strong>ional research.<br />
D1 - Project 1:<br />
Urban Sprawl and Pre-hospital Emergency<br />
Care Time (Project Completed)<br />
The first <strong>of</strong> these opportunities focuses on the issue <strong>of</strong><br />
primary prevention; th<strong>at</strong> is, opportunities to prevent<br />
congestion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed EMS delays and thereby prevent adverse<br />
p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes associ<strong>at</strong>ed with such delays. Research has<br />
suggested th<strong>at</strong> suburban areas have longer average EMS<br />
response times than urban areas. However, the specific<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ionship between urban sprawl and EMS response times<br />
remains unclear. With the rapid growth <strong>of</strong> suburbs, shifts<br />
towards a more elderly popul<strong>at</strong>ion, and the ongoing need for<br />
improved emergency preparedness, there is an urgent need<br />
for system<strong>at</strong>ic evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> sprawl’s impact on EMS delivery<br />
in the United St<strong>at</strong>es to identify opportunities for intervention.<br />
Towards this end, one project <strong>of</strong> the study quantifies<br />
the associ<strong>at</strong>ion between urban sprawl and EMS response<br />
time in the United St<strong>at</strong>es using n<strong>at</strong>ional EMS d<strong>at</strong>a linked to<br />
a widely used county-level sprawl index. This inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
may be useful to policy-makers considering land use<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ives in rapidly growing areas <strong>of</strong> the country.<br />
20<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
In 2008 there were an estim<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
10,111,000 vehicles involved in<br />
police-reported crashes,<br />
94 % (9,538,000) <strong>of</strong> which were<br />
passenger vehicles. (NHTSA)<br />
D1 - Project 2:<br />
Characterize EMS Providers’ Perspectives<br />
and Experiences with Congestion<br />
In addition to primary prevention, the issue <strong>of</strong> congestion<br />
and EMS can also be viewed from a secondary prevention<br />
perspective; th<strong>at</strong> is, identifying early opportunities<br />
for interventions to minimize congestion from impacting<br />
p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes. In contrast to primary prevention,<br />
which in the present case would be focused on preventing<br />
congestion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed delays, secondary prevention assumes<br />
such delays will occur yet <strong>at</strong>tempts to minimize their<br />
impact. To accomplish this task, so as to fully understand<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> congestion on EMS, it is first necessary to<br />
understand EMS providers experience with it. Thus, a<br />
survey <strong>of</strong> EMS providers’ pr<strong>of</strong>essional experience with<br />
congestion in terms <strong>of</strong> educ<strong>at</strong>ion / training, knowledge<br />
regarding role <strong>of</strong> congestion on p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes,<br />
congestion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed driving behaviors, congestion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
decision making is being conducted. This will provide<br />
valuable inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the actual role <strong>of</strong> congestion on<br />
EMS provider behavior.<br />
D1 - Project 3:<br />
The Role <strong>of</strong> Within-Vehicle Technology<br />
for Improving EMS Response Time<br />
Another valuable secondary prevention initi<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
addressed by the study seeks to minimize the impact <strong>of</strong><br />
congestion by evalu<strong>at</strong>ing a str<strong>at</strong>egy to reduce the amount<br />
<strong>of</strong> time occupants <strong>of</strong> motor vehicle collisions (MVCs)<br />
must wait for the arrival <strong>of</strong> EMS. By providing EMS care<br />
in a more timely and informed manner, the potential impact<br />
<strong>of</strong> congestion may be mitig<strong>at</strong>ed. With respect to the<br />
str<strong>at</strong>egy <strong>of</strong> interest, autom<strong>at</strong>ic collision notific<strong>at</strong>ion (ACN)<br />
systems utilize collision sensors and wireless technology<br />
to detect and transmit inform<strong>at</strong>ion regarding the occurrence<br />
<strong>of</strong> a MVC. ACN systems represent a unique opportunity<br />
to potentially extend the Golden Hour by reducing<br />
the time between MVC occurrence and EMS arrival.<br />
While deb<strong>at</strong>e exists regarding the associ<strong>at</strong>ion between<br />
pre-hospital times and subsequent survival, more rapid<br />
EMS arrival reduces time to definitive care and such care<br />
has been shown to reduce mortality. This on-going study<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>es whether the integr<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> OnStar ® technology<br />
into pre-hospital care systems may yield <strong>of</strong> time savings<br />
th<strong>at</strong> (theoretically) improve p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes. Evidence<br />
to support the integr<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> ACN technology into EMS<br />
/ transport<strong>at</strong>ion systems may speed the provision <strong>of</strong> care<br />
and subsequent p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes.<br />
D1 - Project 4: Potential Improvements<br />
in Medical Tre<strong>at</strong>ment and EMS through<br />
Real-time Injury Assessment <strong>of</strong><br />
Occupants Involved in Crashes<br />
(Post- Crash Injury Predic<strong>at</strong>ion using Multi-body Modeling<br />
and Advanced Region-Specific Regression Equ<strong>at</strong>ions)<br />
While secondary prevention is interested in the early<br />
detection <strong>of</strong> public health problems, tertiary prevention<br />
focuses on reducing longer term impacts. With respect<br />
to congestion and EMS, research suggests th<strong>at</strong> rapid<br />
transport times m<strong>at</strong>ter for moder<strong>at</strong>e- and high-risk p<strong>at</strong>ients.<br />
Thus, pre-transport inform<strong>at</strong>ion regarding injury<br />
severity may serve to help tailor pre-hospital / hospital<br />
care resources which may result in a more informed EMS<br />
response thereby improving p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes. To address<br />
this need, the fourth project <strong>of</strong> the study is building upon<br />
upon existing post-crash injury assessment techniques by<br />
using AACN-rel<strong>at</strong>ed occupant, collision, and vehicle inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
coupled with advanced regression analysis and<br />
multi-body modeling to estim<strong>at</strong>e the regional and overall<br />
injury likelihood for MVC victims. The results <strong>of</strong> this<br />
research can be used to aid EMS personnel in the making<br />
the following decisions regarding the identific<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong>:<br />
the most appropri<strong>at</strong>e EMS unit(s) required to respond to<br />
specific MVC events (basic versus advanced life support);<br />
the most appropri<strong>at</strong>e mode <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion (e.g., ground<br />
versus air ambulance); the most appropri<strong>at</strong>e medical facility<br />
(closest hospital or regional trauma center); and the<br />
most appropri<strong>at</strong>e group <strong>of</strong> specialized medical/surgical<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals (neurosurgeons, orthopedists, etc.) needed.<br />
The final component <strong>of</strong> this effort will be to transl<strong>at</strong>e the<br />
findings <strong>of</strong> the research tasks into practical congestion<br />
mitig<strong>at</strong>ion techniques for emergency responders, disp<strong>at</strong>chers,<br />
traffic managers, and planners. It is expected the<br />
research program will reveal opportunities to address the<br />
congestion problem from several different perspectives.<br />
The end product <strong>of</strong> this task will be a set <strong>of</strong> techniques<br />
to address congestion along with practical guidelines for<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion coupled with cost projections and costbenefit<br />
specific<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
This multidisciplinary, public-health approach will yield<br />
valuable inform<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> can be subsequently used to<br />
address the congestion problem on multiple fronts.<br />
research 21
Domain 2:<br />
Development <strong>of</strong> a Dynamic Traffic Assignment and Simul<strong>at</strong>ion Model for<br />
Incident and Emergency Management Applic<strong>at</strong>ions in the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Region<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>ors: Virginia Sisiopiku, PhD &<br />
Andrew Sullivan, PE, MSCE (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>)<br />
Co-Investig<strong>at</strong>ors: Fouad H. Fouad, PhD &<br />
Wilbur Hitchcock, PhD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>), Burcu<br />
B. Keskin, PhD, Sharif H. Melouk, PhD & Daniel Turner, PhD<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>), Kyriacos Mouskos, PhD (City <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New<br />
York), Athanasios Ziliaskopoulos, PhD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Thessaly),<br />
Curtis Barret & Tom Vick (Vista Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Group)<br />
Collabor<strong>at</strong>ors: Saiyid Hassan Sikder, PhD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>), David Brown, PhD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>),<br />
Michael Anderson, PhD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> Huntsville),<br />
Neville Parker, PhD (City <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New York)<br />
Traffic incidents and n<strong>at</strong>ural or man-made disasters can<br />
impose significant safety risks and disruptions on traffic<br />
flows. Moreover, congestion resulting from such occurrences<br />
may impede the ability <strong>of</strong> EMS to provide timely<br />
response to those in need <strong>of</strong> medical <strong>at</strong>tention. There is a<br />
need to understand how traffic will be impacted in a large<br />
metro area in such an event for three reasons:<br />
• to manage the traffic so th<strong>at</strong> it does not impede emergency<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
• to manage the evacu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> popul<strong>at</strong>ions under thre<strong>at</strong><br />
and divert pass-through traffic out <strong>of</strong> harm’s way, and<br />
• to manage the flow <strong>of</strong> first responders to the site <strong>of</strong><br />
the incident.<br />
In general, the research community has not studied the<br />
interactions among these three (3) flows gener<strong>at</strong>ed almost<br />
instantly after a major disaster. Traffic engineers seem<br />
to understand fairly well how traffic flow behaves under<br />
normal conditions (usually User Equilibrium behavior<br />
is assumed). Enforcement and emergency management<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ors can route and coordin<strong>at</strong>e first responders to a<br />
emergency site but although they recognize th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
typical background traffic could impede with the emergency<br />
vehicles, they are not in a position to manage this<br />
traffic except when drastic measures (such as closures<br />
<strong>of</strong> access roads) are taken by law enforcement. When,<br />
in addition to the above, there is also a sizeable area or<br />
high density corpor<strong>at</strong>e, educ<strong>at</strong>ional or government campus<br />
th<strong>at</strong> needs to be evacu<strong>at</strong>ed, then this flow gener<strong>at</strong>es<br />
highly complex interactions with the previous two flows<br />
th<strong>at</strong> has not been adequ<strong>at</strong>ely addressed in the liter<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
or practice.<br />
A need has been recognized for models th<strong>at</strong> can capture<br />
the fast evolving dynamic conditions taking into consider<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
the realities <strong>of</strong> the above mentioned three (3)<br />
flows, in addition to the management measures (street<br />
closures, traffic signal control alter<strong>at</strong>ions, inform<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
messages) and infrastructure failures. Needless to say<br />
th<strong>at</strong> a c<strong>at</strong>astrophe is an extraordinary event and the drivers<br />
confronted with it are not expected to behave in the<br />
User Equilibrium and System Optimum behavior (as<br />
commonly accepted in transport<strong>at</strong>ion planning), which<br />
makes existing models not directly applicable. Finally,<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> a major emergency may impact very large<br />
parts <strong>of</strong> the network, which requires the availability<br />
<strong>of</strong> models th<strong>at</strong> can function on large scale regional<br />
networks yet maintain reasonable comput<strong>at</strong>ional time.<br />
Currently, no tools exist in the market th<strong>at</strong> can model<br />
dynamically large network traffic oper<strong>at</strong>ions under<br />
emergency conditions.<br />
We are performing a research program consisting <strong>of</strong><br />
five (5) separ<strong>at</strong>e but interrel<strong>at</strong>ed projects to address<br />
various aspects <strong>of</strong> incident and emergency management<br />
research and training needs.<br />
22<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
D2 - Project 1:<br />
Capacity Building,<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and Technology Transfer.<br />
This project focuses on the development and delivery <strong>of</strong> a<br />
comprehensive research, educ<strong>at</strong>ion, and training plan aiming<br />
<strong>at</strong> advancing the knowledge and practice in incident<br />
and emergency management<br />
D2 - Project 2:<br />
Development, Calibr<strong>at</strong>ion and Testing<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Prototype Model.<br />
This project is charged with the development, calibr<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
and refinement <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> test bed and is a<br />
precondition for the successful execution <strong>of</strong> the following<br />
three research projects as described in Projects 3 through 5<br />
D2 - Project 3:<br />
Development and Testing <strong>of</strong> a Decision<br />
Support Tool for Optimiz<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
EMS Response Time.<br />
This project is utilizing an integr<strong>at</strong>ed simul<strong>at</strong>ion-optimiz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
technique to enhance emergency vehicle response<br />
and transport time<br />
D2 - Project 4:<br />
Evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Incident and Emergency<br />
Management Options in the<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Region.<br />
This project is developing a framework th<strong>at</strong> integr<strong>at</strong>es<br />
physical infrastructure, transport<strong>at</strong>ion demand, and crash<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a and tests incident and emergency management scenarios<br />
and response actions.<br />
D2 - Project 5:<br />
The Role <strong>of</strong> Transit in Safe Evacu<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Elderly and Disabled in Emergencies<br />
and Disasters.<br />
This project is studying issues rel<strong>at</strong>ed to the evacu<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> individuals without personal vehicles and models the<br />
transit evacu<strong>at</strong>ion scenarios during small and large-scale<br />
evacu<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
research 23
Drivers who use hand-held<br />
devices are four times as<br />
likely to get into crashes serious<br />
enough to injure themselves.<br />
Domain 3: Small-Scale Research Projects<br />
(Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)<br />
Distracted Driving in Teens With and<br />
Without ADHD<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: Despina Stavrinos, PhD<br />
(<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>)<br />
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading cause<br />
<strong>of</strong> de<strong>at</strong>h for teenagers, accounting for approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 1<br />
in 3 de<strong>at</strong>hs for this age group. With advancing technology,<br />
the number <strong>of</strong> distractions to which drivers are<br />
exposed continues to increase and such distractions<br />
may especially increase the risk and severity <strong>of</strong> motorvehicle<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ed injury for teens because <strong>of</strong> their lack <strong>of</strong><br />
experience. The purpose <strong>of</strong> the present study was to<br />
examine wh<strong>at</strong> effect two common forms <strong>of</strong> distractions<br />
(cell phone & text messaging) might have on increased<br />
motor-vehicle injury risk in teens with and without<br />
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined<br />
Type (ADHD-C) - a group th<strong>at</strong> has been identified as <strong>at</strong><br />
particular risk for injury. A final report on this project<br />
will be available October 2010.<br />
Assessment <strong>of</strong> Global Positioning System<br />
Utiliz<strong>at</strong>ion in Emergency Medical Services<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>ors: Glenn Cummings, MBA/HCM, RN &<br />
Richard Gonzalez, MD (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> South <strong>Alabama</strong>)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the reasons mortality is higher for rural vehicular<br />
trauma victims than for urban victims is the longer time<br />
required to get a rural trauma victim into a definitive care<br />
facility. Use <strong>of</strong> Global Positioning System (GPS) navig<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
has been shown to reduce this time, but use <strong>of</strong> this technology<br />
by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies is not universally<br />
employed. While the gre<strong>at</strong>est emphasis <strong>of</strong> utilizing<br />
GPS technology in the EMS environment should be placed<br />
on improving p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes by reducing total pre hospital<br />
time, additional benefits for EMS agencies may be seen in<br />
the form <strong>of</strong> reduced expenditures from improved routing <strong>of</strong><br />
ambulances. The purpose <strong>of</strong> the study was to assess the economic<br />
impact on EMS agencies through implementing GPS<br />
technology. EMS agencies may see a return on their capital<br />
investments in GPS systems from reductions <strong>of</strong> mileage,<br />
maintenance, and fuel expenditures. More inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
on this study can be found on page 30 and a Final report on<br />
this project will be available October 2010.<br />
24<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Urban Sprawl Associ<strong>at</strong>ed with Increased Emergency Response Times<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: M<strong>at</strong>thew Trowbridge, MD, MPH<br />
Urban sprawl is an increasingly common development<br />
p<strong>at</strong>tern in the US, characterized by low-density construction,<br />
poor street connectivity, and single-use zoning.<br />
Urban planning and public health research show th<strong>at</strong><br />
urban sprawl increases trip distances and traffic density<br />
for personal automobile travel, which decrease travel<br />
efficiency.<br />
Through a recently completed UAB UTC sponsored<br />
research project, Urban Sprawl and Pre-hospital Emergency<br />
Care Time, M<strong>at</strong>thew Trowbridge, MD, MPH, and<br />
his team measured the rel<strong>at</strong>ionship between county-level<br />
urban sprawl and EMS response times in the US. Through<br />
careful analysis <strong>of</strong> his d<strong>at</strong>a, Dr. Trowbridge demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
how urban sprawl is associ<strong>at</strong>ed with increased EMS<br />
response time and a higher probability <strong>of</strong> delayed EMS<br />
arrival following motor vehicle crashes. In fact, as he<br />
showed, the probability <strong>of</strong> delayed EMS arrival is nearly<br />
twice as high in counties with prominent fe<strong>at</strong>ures <strong>of</strong><br />
sprawl compared to counties with less urban sprawl.<br />
This research project’s confirm<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> sprawl’s associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with increased EMS response times calls for more<br />
intense consider<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> land use and its potential impact<br />
on emergency care. The slower development <strong>of</strong> medical<br />
infrastructure in sprawling suburban areas distances these<br />
communities from major trauma and tertiary care centers.<br />
Moreover, less expensive home prices in sprawling urban<br />
areas tend to <strong>at</strong>tract lower income popul<strong>at</strong>ions, including<br />
the elderly, who <strong>of</strong>ten have limited access to transport<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
D<strong>at</strong>a have confirmed th<strong>at</strong> both demographic groups<br />
are <strong>at</strong> higher risk for emergency medical issues and the<br />
need for EMS services. EMS service is increased per capita<br />
in the same sprawling areas where it is more difficult<br />
and expensive to provide.<br />
Working to reconfigure street networks in existing<br />
suburban areas to reduce their sprawling characteristics<br />
will take time. In the interim, it is reasonable to consider<br />
reorganizing pre-hospital and hospital resources to better<br />
compens<strong>at</strong>e for the impact <strong>of</strong> urban sprawl on emergency<br />
response. The results <strong>of</strong> this research, combined with<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion from other rel<strong>at</strong>ed UAB UTC-sponsored<br />
research projects, are being used to develop land use and<br />
public safety recommend<strong>at</strong>ions. It is expected th<strong>at</strong> these<br />
recommend<strong>at</strong>ions will help change the way communities<br />
are planned and the way hospital and other health care<br />
resources are alloc<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
The UAB UTC is working to help achieve livable, sustainable,<br />
and healthy communities through projects like<br />
Urban Sprawl and Pre-hospital Emergency Care Time<br />
and other complementary research efforts. For more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the UAB UTC’s research portfolio, visit<br />
www.uab.edu/utc.<br />
research 25
Autom<strong>at</strong>ic Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Can Increase Chances <strong>of</strong> Survival<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: Gerald McGwin, Jr., PhD, MS<br />
Autom<strong>at</strong>ic collision notific<strong>at</strong>ion (ACN) systems <strong>of</strong>fer an<br />
opportunity to enhance trauma care and p<strong>at</strong>ient survival,<br />
particularly in the pre-hospital setting. These systems<br />
use collision sensors and wireless technology to detect<br />
and transmit inform<strong>at</strong>ion about the occurrence <strong>of</strong> a motor<br />
vehicle crash (MVC). Moreover, they are being more<br />
commonly acknowledged for their potential contribution<br />
towards preventing MVC-rel<strong>at</strong>ed injury and de<strong>at</strong>h.<br />
Currently, ACN are not integr<strong>at</strong>ed with emergency medical<br />
services (EMS). Instead, the d<strong>at</strong>a they acquire is sent<br />
directly to the ACN service providers (such as OnStar ® )<br />
who, in turn, may contact the EMS in the geographic area<br />
where the MVC occurred. This method, though not direct,<br />
may still be quicker than the traditional 911 call. Prompt<br />
notific<strong>at</strong>ion means th<strong>at</strong> ACN systems have the potential <strong>of</strong><br />
measurably reducing the time from MVC to EMS arrival.<br />
This reduction in time may be especially important in rural<br />
areas where MVCs may go unobserved and undetected<br />
for protracted periods.<br />
The UAB UTC study, The Role <strong>of</strong> Within-Vehicle Technology<br />
for Improving EMS Response Time, quantified the<br />
potential time reductions in crash notific<strong>at</strong>ion associ<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
with ACN systems versus 911 calls based upon real-world<br />
ACN collisions. D<strong>at</strong>a for this study were obtained from<br />
vehicles equipped with OnStar ® th<strong>at</strong> were involved in a<br />
MVC from 2005-2009 in the seven-county region in<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> covered by the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Regional Emergency<br />
Medical Services System (BREMSS). Dr. Gerald<br />
McGwin and his team <strong>of</strong> researchers determined th<strong>at</strong>,<br />
on average, BREMSS received the ACN message 60<br />
seconds after the crash occurred but received the 911<br />
call associ<strong>at</strong>ed with the same crash nearly two minutes<br />
l<strong>at</strong>er (or, three minutes after the crash).<br />
The less than two minute time savings afforded by<br />
ACN may not sound like much, but other research has<br />
suggested th<strong>at</strong> the risk <strong>of</strong> de<strong>at</strong>h increases 5% for every<br />
minute th<strong>at</strong> passes between injury occurrence and arrival<br />
to the hospital. Extrapol<strong>at</strong>ed to this study’s results,<br />
utiliz<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> an ACN system could decrease mortality<br />
risk by 7.5%. ACN can possibly increase changes <strong>of</strong><br />
MVC survival by decreasing the time between injury<br />
occurrence and EMS notific<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Further research on ACN systems and their performance<br />
over the long term is needed but these initial results are<br />
very encouraging. The benefits <strong>of</strong> comprehensive ACN<br />
system coupled with an accur<strong>at</strong>e in-car injury modeling<br />
capabilities are a primary research focus <strong>of</strong> the UAB<br />
UTC and our research partners. For more on the work<br />
<strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC in modeling injuries via ACN systems<br />
please see page40.<br />
Complete results <strong>of</strong> this study will be available on the<br />
UAB UTC website this Fall www.uab.edu/utc.<br />
26<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Traffic Congestion Increases EMS Response Time<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: Gerald McGwin, Jr., PhD, MS<br />
In a medical emergency, the more quickly someone can<br />
be transported to an appropri<strong>at</strong>e medical facility, the more<br />
likely th<strong>at</strong> person is to have a positive medical outcome.<br />
Given this rel<strong>at</strong>ionship, it is important to determine the<br />
impact <strong>of</strong> traffic congestion on p<strong>at</strong>ient outcomes. However,<br />
transl<strong>at</strong>ing such research into str<strong>at</strong>egies to overcome<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> congestion requires input from those faced<br />
with the problem on a daily basis. Gaining insight from<br />
emergency medical service (EMS) providers, specifically<br />
ambulance drivers, regarding their perceptions provides a<br />
key understanding <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> the traffic congestion<br />
issue and the techniques needed to overcome it.<br />
The UAB UTC sponsored project, Characteriz<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
EMS Providers’ Perspectives and Experiences with<br />
Congestion, assessed the impact <strong>of</strong> roadway design and<br />
traffic congestion on emergency response based on the<br />
opinions and experiences <strong>of</strong> the emergency responders.<br />
A survey was designed and distributed to EMS providers<br />
to determine a variety <strong>of</strong> factors associ<strong>at</strong>ed with traffic<br />
congestion’s impact on emergency response time ranging<br />
from the accuracy <strong>of</strong> the inform<strong>at</strong>ion provided by their<br />
disp<strong>at</strong>chers, to cooper<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
(DOT) with emergency services regarding road<br />
design, to the impact <strong>of</strong> in-vehicle technology.<br />
The EMS providers indic<strong>at</strong>ed traffic congestion adds, on<br />
average, 2-3 minutes to the time it takes them to arrive<br />
to a scene and 5-6 minutes to the time it takes them to<br />
get from the scene to the medical facility. In total, traffic<br />
congestion adds almost 10 minutes to the time it takes the<br />
EMS providers to get the individual in need <strong>of</strong> medical<br />
care to the appropri<strong>at</strong>e facility. These 10 minutes could<br />
be critical in certain situ<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Despite this significant time delay, only about 28% <strong>of</strong><br />
EMS providers reported being given traffic inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
by disp<strong>at</strong>chers, but almost 41% have had to call for another<br />
unit to respond because <strong>of</strong> traffic congestion. Most<br />
(88%) EMS providers do not use the traffic web cams<br />
provided by the <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
(ALDOT).<br />
EMS providers do believe th<strong>at</strong> electronic signs warning<br />
motorists <strong>of</strong> traffic problems and high-occupancy vehicle<br />
lanes beneficially impact response time. Additionally, they<br />
thought th<strong>at</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> pre-emptive green devices and<br />
Autom<strong>at</strong>ic Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion (ACN) systems (such as<br />
OnStar ® ) beneficially impact response time. The pre-emptive<br />
green device ensures traffic lights are green enabling<br />
EMS vehicles to travel unimpeded while the ACN system<br />
can send vital motor vehicle crash inform<strong>at</strong>ion to the<br />
disp<strong>at</strong>ch st<strong>at</strong>ion immedi<strong>at</strong>ely after a crash. Unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely,<br />
only 14% <strong>of</strong> EMS providers have pre-emptive green<br />
devices available to them and ACN inform<strong>at</strong>ion is not<br />
widely available.<br />
As previously posited by UAB UTC scientists, any time<br />
savings achieved during th<strong>at</strong> initial hour is critical to<br />
p<strong>at</strong>ient survival This survey illustr<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong> EMS personnel<br />
are not only familiar with but are supportive <strong>of</strong> readily<br />
available tools th<strong>at</strong> can be used to reduce travel time to<br />
and from a crash site. Final results <strong>of</strong> this survey as well<br />
as the project’s final report will be available this Fall on<br />
the UAB UTC website. www.uab.edu/utc<br />
research 27
Traffic Congestion Not a Priority for Emergency Disp<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or: Andrew Sullivan, PE, MSCE<br />
Traffic congestion is a primary concern during major<br />
incident and evacu<strong>at</strong>ion scenarios. It is commonly recognized<br />
th<strong>at</strong> traffic congestion <strong>of</strong>ten cre<strong>at</strong>es difficulties for<br />
emergency vehicles <strong>at</strong>tempting to enter and exit congested<br />
areas. Many disp<strong>at</strong>chers who are responsible for directing<br />
the movement <strong>of</strong> emergency response units have not<br />
been trained to react to the near gridlock-like congestion<br />
th<strong>at</strong> can result in areas th<strong>at</strong> normally suffer from regular<br />
congestion; nor, have they been given tools th<strong>at</strong> would<br />
enable them to consider traffic congestion as a variable in<br />
the overall disp<strong>at</strong>ching process.<br />
However, before such training or tools can be developed,<br />
it is necessary to determine whether emergency disp<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
(1) believe traffic congestion impacts response times<br />
and if so, how does this belief or impression compare with<br />
the actual experiences <strong>of</strong> emergency responders in the<br />
field; (2) consider traffic conditions when selecting a unit<br />
to disp<strong>at</strong>ch; and (3) receive training enabling them to deal<br />
successfully with congested traffic conditions. Additionally,<br />
it is important to find out wh<strong>at</strong> tools the disp<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
think would be most useful to enhance their current<br />
disp<strong>at</strong>ch process. Under the direction <strong>of</strong> Andrew Sullivan,<br />
PE, emergency services disp<strong>at</strong>chers were surveyed to<br />
acquire some insight into these, and other, questions.<br />
Provisional Results: According to the survey, all disp<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
responding received some type <strong>of</strong> training to prepare them<br />
for their positions, but less than 20% received training on<br />
ways to cope with traffic congestion. Approxim<strong>at</strong>ely half<br />
<strong>of</strong> all disp<strong>at</strong>chers believed th<strong>at</strong> congestion “sometimes”<br />
impacts emergency response time, but only 40% <strong>of</strong><br />
urban disp<strong>at</strong>chers and 22% <strong>of</strong> rural disp<strong>at</strong>chers believed<br />
congestion to be a significant problem. Only 38% <strong>of</strong><br />
disp<strong>at</strong>chers consider traffic conditions during disp<strong>at</strong>ch<br />
and only 1 emergency response agency receives real-time<br />
traffic inform<strong>at</strong>ion. Many <strong>of</strong> the disp<strong>at</strong>chers indic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
th<strong>at</strong> real-time d<strong>at</strong>a were either not available or were too<br />
expensive to access.<br />
dents indic<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong> real-time traffic inform<strong>at</strong>ion was important.<br />
The most frequent suggestions included improved<br />
caller loc<strong>at</strong>ion inform<strong>at</strong>ion, install<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> autom<strong>at</strong>ic<br />
vehicle loc<strong>at</strong>ion technology to track emergency units and<br />
a unified/improved 911 disp<strong>at</strong>ch network.<br />
Among responding disp<strong>at</strong>chers, congestion is viewed as<br />
a problem, but not as a priority. As observed, it appears<br />
disp<strong>at</strong>chers have few tools available th<strong>at</strong> are capable <strong>of</strong><br />
helping them deal, effectively and efficiently with traffic<br />
congestion. As a result, most respondents indic<strong>at</strong>ed viewing<br />
mitig<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> response time as something out <strong>of</strong> their<br />
control. Thus, if congestion is going to be addressed by<br />
emergency disp<strong>at</strong>chers, the need/benefit must be clearly<br />
demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed, tools and outreach will be necessary; and,<br />
the cost must be reasonable.<br />
The results from this survey and the EMS Providers<br />
survey are being further analyzed by UAB UTC personnel<br />
with the hope th<strong>at</strong> inform<strong>at</strong>ion gleaned from these<br />
survey responses can play a future role into educ<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
training programs for EMS disp<strong>at</strong>chers and providers. For<br />
work on a dynamic traffic model to be effective, all parties<br />
involved must understand the demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed benefits<br />
<strong>of</strong> taking congestion into consider<strong>at</strong>ion when disp<strong>at</strong>ching<br />
emergency units. The UAB UTC is committed to working<br />
with interested groups to solve this problem and when<br />
possible by providing the tools, training and outreach<br />
necessary to do this.<br />
Full results <strong>of</strong> the survey are available online<br />
(www.uab.edu/utc).<br />
When asked for recommend<strong>at</strong>ions th<strong>at</strong> would help them<br />
improve their disp<strong>at</strong>ching abilities, only 10% <strong>of</strong> respon-<br />
28<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
First Wave <strong>of</strong> UAB UTC<br />
Distracted Driving Research Complete<br />
The UAB UTC’s first, distracted driving research project,<br />
Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without ADHD-C,<br />
has been successfully completed. Under the direction <strong>of</strong><br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, her UTC research team acquired<br />
access to and use <strong>of</strong> a st<strong>at</strong>e-<strong>of</strong>-the-art driving simul<strong>at</strong>or<br />
existing in the labor<strong>at</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> Dr. Karlene Ball, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
and Chair, UAB Department <strong>of</strong> Psychology.<br />
The purpose <strong>of</strong> Dr. Stavrinos’ research was to compare<br />
the driving performance <strong>of</strong> teens with a medical diagnosis<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>at</strong>tention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with<br />
a control group <strong>of</strong> teen drivers not suffering from ADHD<br />
in a variety <strong>of</strong> distraction conditions. Dr. Stavrinos’ work<br />
also compared short-term changes in simul<strong>at</strong>ed driving<br />
behavior <strong>of</strong> teens after a six-week computerized cognitive<br />
training program. Distracted Driving in Teens With and<br />
Without ADHD has significantly increased the understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> the extent to which technology is distracting for<br />
teen drivers, and it facilit<strong>at</strong>ed an objective evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
the usefulness <strong>of</strong> a cognitive intervention as a means to<br />
develop safer driving behaviors among teens with ADHD.<br />
The project’s preliminary results are intriguing. Most <strong>of</strong><br />
the study’s participants had been driving for less than two<br />
years and reported being behind the wheel <strong>at</strong> least 5 days<br />
per week. At fault motor vehicle crashes were reported by<br />
nearly 20% <strong>of</strong> the participants. None admitted to cell phone<br />
use <strong>at</strong> the time <strong>of</strong> the crash. The participants with ADHD<br />
had more traffic tickets than the group without ADHD.<br />
Many teens st<strong>at</strong>ed they talked on the phone and engaged<br />
in texting while driving about 3 days per week. Interestingly,<br />
one-third <strong>of</strong> the participants said they did not talk<br />
on the phone while driving and nearly half reported th<strong>at</strong><br />
they never text while driving. Of those teens who reported<br />
talking on the phone and texting while driving,<br />
approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 20% reported doing so every day.<br />
Many teens reported th<strong>at</strong> they modify their driving behavior<br />
when engaging in distracted driving. Over half <strong>of</strong> the<br />
participants reported th<strong>at</strong> they put the caller on speaker<br />
phone, adjust their driving speed (faster or slower), and<br />
search for the phone without taking their eyes <strong>of</strong>f the road.<br />
Student texting while driving in the st<strong>at</strong>e-<strong>of</strong>-the-art driving simul<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Another form <strong>of</strong> driving modific<strong>at</strong>ion while driving distracted<br />
th<strong>at</strong> teens reported was using only one hand to steer<br />
the wheel; a behavior reported by over half <strong>of</strong> participants.<br />
Nearly 50% <strong>of</strong> the teens reported pulling over and stopping<br />
to engage in distracting activities.<br />
The research team is considering the provisional conclusion<br />
th<strong>at</strong> parents <strong>of</strong> teens may not be setting a good example for<br />
their young drivers. For example, approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 50% <strong>of</strong><br />
parents admitted to talking on the phone while driving <strong>at</strong><br />
least 5 days each week. Interestingly, about one-third <strong>of</strong><br />
the parents <strong>of</strong> teens with ADHD reported engaging in the<br />
most dangerous form <strong>of</strong> distracted driving, texting, which<br />
occurred more frequently than parents <strong>of</strong> non-ADHD teens.<br />
The present study suggests th<strong>at</strong> most teens frequently<br />
engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors, including<br />
talking on a cell phone and texting while driving. The study<br />
is among the first to investig<strong>at</strong>e the potential influence <strong>of</strong><br />
parental distracted driving on the driving behaviors <strong>of</strong> their<br />
teens. These preliminary results suggest th<strong>at</strong> parents may<br />
be a significant source <strong>of</strong> influence on their teens’ distracted<br />
driving behavior. Thus, interventions aimed <strong>at</strong> reducing<br />
distracted driving behaviors in teens might also consider<br />
including a component targeting parental distracted driving;<br />
particularly for teens with ADHD.<br />
While engaging in distracted driving was more common<br />
than not in teens in this study, it is promising th<strong>at</strong> nearly a<br />
third <strong>of</strong> teens did not engage in any form <strong>of</strong> distracted<br />
driving. Future studies should investig<strong>at</strong>e wh<strong>at</strong> factors<br />
might influence some teens from refraining in distracted<br />
driving. This knowledge could be applied to interventions<br />
targeted <strong>at</strong> those who frequently engage in distracted driving.<br />
A final report will be available <strong>at</strong> the end <strong>of</strong> September on<br />
the UAB UTC website www.uab.edu/utc.<br />
research 29
ichard gonzalez, md<br />
Mr. Glenn Cummings,<br />
MBA/HCM, RN<br />
UAB UTC Funded Research Shows GPS Technology<br />
Improves EMS Oper<strong>at</strong>ional Costs<br />
The more quickly the victim <strong>of</strong> a motor vehicle<br />
crash or other emergency can be transported to<br />
an appropri<strong>at</strong>e medical facility, the more likely<br />
th<strong>at</strong> person is to survive. The use <strong>of</strong> global<br />
positioning system (GPS) technology has been<br />
shown to reduce emergency medical service<br />
(EMS) response time and distance to the scene<br />
<strong>of</strong> an emergency (this st<strong>at</strong>ement seems to<br />
demand a reference). Nonetheless, our research<br />
as well as th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong> others indic<strong>at</strong>es th<strong>at</strong> compar<strong>at</strong>ively<br />
few EMS providers use GPS technology<br />
in their ambulances, <strong>of</strong>ten citing the prohibitive<br />
cost <strong>of</strong> the GPS unit.<br />
Under the direction <strong>of</strong> Mr. Glenn Cummings<br />
and Dr. Richard Gonzalez <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
South <strong>Alabama</strong>, the UAB UTC research project,<br />
Enhancement <strong>of</strong> Global Positioning System<br />
Utiliz<strong>at</strong>ion in Emergency Medical Services,<br />
determined the average cost per mile to oper<strong>at</strong>e<br />
EMS vehicles and calcul<strong>at</strong>ed a break-even<br />
point for the purchase <strong>of</strong> a GPS navig<strong>at</strong>ion unit.<br />
Using an online survey, the investig<strong>at</strong>ors queried<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> EMS providers about a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
factors including the number <strong>of</strong> miles driven by<br />
their ambulances, their maintenance and oper<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
costs and the number <strong>of</strong> emergency calls received.<br />
Based on this inform<strong>at</strong>ion and the average<br />
time and distance saved by using GPS technology,<br />
Mr. Cummings and Dr. Gonzalez determined the<br />
cost savings the provider would experience by using<br />
GPS technology and converted th<strong>at</strong> savings to<br />
the time needed to pay <strong>of</strong>f each GPS unit. Actual<br />
financial savings varies depending on the number<br />
<strong>of</strong> emergency calls to which the service responds.<br />
For a service responding to an average <strong>of</strong> 3 calls<br />
per day, utiliz<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> GPS units could save approxim<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
$1600 per year. At about $500 per<br />
GPS unit, this EMS provider could pay for 3 GPS<br />
units with its savings in 1 year. An EMS provider<br />
responding to 8 calls per day could save over<br />
$5,000 per year – or the cost equivalent <strong>of</strong> 10<br />
GPS units – by adopting GPS technology.<br />
This UAB UTC-driven study shows th<strong>at</strong> GPS<br />
technology could significantly improve ambulance<br />
service oper<strong>at</strong>ional costs. Further prospective<br />
investig<strong>at</strong>ion is needed to evalu<strong>at</strong>e the<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ional effectiveness <strong>of</strong> GPS technology in<br />
the provision <strong>of</strong> emergency care by EMS providers.<br />
The full results <strong>of</strong> this study will be available<br />
via a final report on the UAB UTC website by the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> September (www.uab.edu/utc).<br />
30<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Products, Technologies,<br />
and Research Results<br />
UAB UTC has Positive Impact on<br />
Traffic Safety and Injury Control<br />
Although UAB is quite new, being among the<br />
most recent universities to become part <strong>of</strong> the 60<br />
centers comprising RITA’s n<strong>at</strong>ional UTC network;<br />
and, despite the fact UAB is among those with the<br />
smallest amount <strong>of</strong> funding, our efforts are already<br />
having a positive impact on<br />
traffic safety and injury control.<br />
A number <strong>of</strong> important<br />
and illumin<strong>at</strong>ing findings resulting<br />
from research projects<br />
being conducted in both <strong>of</strong> our<br />
major research domains are<br />
described in detail elsewhere<br />
in this document. However, the<br />
UAB UTC’s contributions to<br />
traffic safety and injury control<br />
have not been limited to<br />
findings growing out <strong>of</strong> those<br />
research projects.<br />
Specifically, it is a source <strong>of</strong><br />
significant pride th<strong>at</strong> meaningful<br />
regul<strong>at</strong>ory contributions<br />
have already resulted from<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a analysis and subsequent educ<strong>at</strong>ional / transl<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
efforts following the <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted<br />
Driving Summit. By adopting ordinances to ban<br />
texting while driving within their local police<br />
jurisdictions (after the <strong>Alabama</strong> Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure failed<br />
to pass st<strong>at</strong>e-wide legisl<strong>at</strong>ion), nine municipalities<br />
– including <strong>Alabama</strong>’s largest, second largest and<br />
fourth largest cities – <strong>Birmingham</strong>, Montgomery<br />
and Huntsville – benefitted from the important<br />
role the UAB UTC played in<br />
bringing <strong>at</strong>tention to the magnitude<br />
<strong>of</strong> the distracted driving<br />
problem and by providing irrefutable<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a enabling proponents<br />
to “prove their case.”<br />
In addition, Mobile, <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
the St<strong>at</strong>e’s third largest city<br />
anticip<strong>at</strong>es becoming the tenth<br />
municipality to pass a similar<br />
ordinance by mid-October <strong>of</strong><br />
this year.<br />
Other <strong>Alabama</strong> municipalities<br />
banning texting while<br />
driving include Adamsville,<br />
Lipscomb, Midfield, Springville<br />
and Vestavia Hills. The<br />
City <strong>of</strong> Trussville, in Jefferson<br />
County, went even further by not only banning texting<br />
but by including reading or applying makeup,<br />
all <strong>of</strong> which have been proven to be distracting to<br />
vehicle oper<strong>at</strong>ors.<br />
Products, Technologies, and Research Results 31
ensuring availability <strong>of</strong> uab utc research results to potential users<br />
Technology Transfer Program<br />
Research in Progress Seminars,<br />
Webinars and a St<strong>at</strong>e-wide Summit<br />
This past year, the UAB UTC conducted and co-sponsored<br />
seven transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed Research In Progress Webinars<br />
in conjunction with the UAB Injury Control Research Center<br />
(ICRC), the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
(UTCA) and the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics<br />
(SCIB). These webinars provide a forum for research<br />
scientists and allied pr<strong>of</strong>essionals to describe their activities,<br />
progress, problems, provisional interpret<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> d<strong>at</strong>a as well<br />
as provisional findings and conclusions. Of equal, if not<br />
gre<strong>at</strong>er, importance is the fact th<strong>at</strong> the forums provide opportunities<br />
for the investig<strong>at</strong>ors making the present<strong>at</strong>ions to<br />
acquire feedback, guidance and advice from those in <strong>at</strong>tendance<br />
– whether in person or via the internet. Such persons<br />
typically include faculty, staff, students and other interested<br />
parties who are informed <strong>of</strong> the seminars via email, fliers,<br />
online announcements posted on the UTC’s Web site and<br />
Twitter postings. The transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed Research in<br />
Progress Seminars / Webinars held, thus far in 2009-2010<br />
include:<br />
Pedestrian Safety Initi<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
o Captain Duane Cox and Tonya Webb, Program Coordin<strong>at</strong>or II, UAB<br />
Police Department<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit<br />
o Secretary Ray LaHood, United St<strong>at</strong>es Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
Washington D.C.<br />
o Dr. Rich Hanowski, Director, Center for Truck and Bus Safety, Virginia<br />
Tech Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia<br />
o Dr. John Lee, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Department <strong>of</strong> Industrial and Systems Engineering,<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin, Madison<br />
o Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Post-Doctoral Fellow, UAB UTC, <strong>Birmingham</strong>,<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Melvin Davis, Executive Director, Mississippi Urban Research<br />
Center, Jackson, Mississippi<br />
o Ms. Dee Fine, Founder and Executive Director, Alabamians Against<br />
Distracted Driving; and, former N<strong>at</strong>ional Vice-President, MADD,<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Ms. Ginny MacDonald, Journalist and Assistant Fe<strong>at</strong>ures Editor, The<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> News, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Mr. Clay Ingram, Public Rel<strong>at</strong>ions and Marketing Manager, AAA<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Mr. Fred Gray, Jr., Partner, Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray<br />
& N<strong>at</strong>hanson, Tuskegee, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Mr. Gene Vonderau, Director <strong>of</strong> Safety and Member Services, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Trucking Associ<strong>at</strong>ion, Montgomery, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Bill King, Divisional Director, Southeast Child Safety Institute, The<br />
Children’s Hospital <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Col. J. Christopher Murphy, former Director, <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Public Safety, Montgomery, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Mr. Terry Henderson, St<strong>at</strong>e Coordin<strong>at</strong>or, <strong>Alabama</strong> Office <strong>of</strong> Highway<br />
Safety, <strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Economic and Community<br />
Affairs, Montgomery, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Sen<strong>at</strong>or JT “Jabo” Waggoner, <strong>Alabama</strong> Sen<strong>at</strong>or, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Represent<strong>at</strong>ive Jim McClendon, <strong>Alabama</strong> Represent<strong>at</strong>ive, Springville,<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong><br />
32<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Secretary Ray LaHood,<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es Secretary <strong>of</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Dr. Rich Hanowski,<br />
Director, Center for Truck and<br />
Bus Safety, Virginia Tech<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Institute<br />
From left: Sgt. Brian Fields, Dr. Russ Fine,<br />
Ms. Tonya Webb and Captain Duane Cox<br />
Mr. Fred Gray, Jr.,<br />
Partner, Gray, Langford, Sapp,<br />
McGowan, Gray & N<strong>at</strong>hanson<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit (continued)<br />
o Dr. Daniel Turner, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>, Tuscaloosa,<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Russ Fine, Director, UAB UTC, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Jay Lindly, Director, <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
Tuscaloosa, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Robert Rich, former Senior Vice President for Medicine, UAB, Dean,<br />
UAB School <strong>of</strong> Medicine, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos,<br />
Post-Doctoral Fellow, UAB UTC<br />
Parental Influences on Driving Behavior<br />
o Ms. Annie Garner, doctoral gradu<strong>at</strong>e student, UAB Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Psychology<br />
Transit Practices for Evacu<strong>at</strong>ion Preparedness<br />
and Response for Vulnerable Popul<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
o Ozge Cavusoglu, doctoral gradu<strong>at</strong>e student, UAB School <strong>of</strong> Engineering<br />
UTC Advisory Board Meeting:<br />
Scientific Research-Rel<strong>at</strong>ed Present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
o Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, School <strong>of</strong> Engineering, UAB<br />
o Mr. Andrew Sullivan, Instructor, School <strong>of</strong> Engineering, UAB<br />
o Dr. Sharif Melouk, Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, School <strong>of</strong> Engineering, The <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Despina Stavrinos , Post-Doctoral Fellow, UAB UTC<br />
o Dr. Richard Gonzalez, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, School <strong>of</strong> Medicine, <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> South <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
o Dr. Gerald McGwin, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, School <strong>of</strong> Public Health, UAB<br />
Crash Prediction on Rural Roads<br />
o Cheng Zhong, doctoral gradu<strong>at</strong>e student, UAB School <strong>of</strong> Engineering<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>-Jefferson County Transit<br />
Authority Peer Review Summary<br />
o Peter Behrman, Executive Director, <strong>Birmingham</strong>-Jefferson County Transit<br />
Authority (BJCTA)<br />
Mr. Gene Vonderau,<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> Safety and Member<br />
Services, <strong>Alabama</strong> Trucking<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Peter Behrman<br />
Executive Director,<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>-Jefferson<br />
County Transit Authority (BJCTA )<br />
Technology Transfer Program 33
2009 – 2010 Public<strong>at</strong>ions and Present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
UTC-affili<strong>at</strong>ed researchers have produced a number <strong>of</strong> peer-reviewed public<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and have presented research results <strong>at</strong> local, regional, n<strong>at</strong>ional and intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
venues. These include but are not limited to:<br />
Cell phone use is rampant among all ages.<br />
Specifically, two out <strong>of</strong> three drivers aged<br />
18-34 reported using a cell phone while<br />
driving, but 53% <strong>of</strong> drivers aged 45-54 also<br />
admitted using a cell phone while driving.<br />
AAA Found<strong>at</strong>ion 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index<br />
Public<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Bose D, Crandall J, Griffin R, McGwin G, Foster J, Goldman J, Fine R,<br />
O’Connor R. Predicted Effect <strong>of</strong> an Autom<strong>at</strong>ic Injury Notific<strong>at</strong>ion System<br />
on Reducing Traffic F<strong>at</strong>alities. Italian J Pub Health 2010. In Press.<br />
Sisiopiku VP, Cavusoglu O, Sikder S. High occupancy vehicle lane<br />
performance assessment through oper<strong>at</strong>ional, environmental impacts and<br />
cost-benefit analyses. EAIA 2010. In Press.<br />
Aekbote K, Zhao L, Maltarich M, Cheng J, Chou CC, Yang KH. A door<br />
sub-system sled test methodology for simul<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> occupant responses<br />
in FMVSS 214 side impact oblique pole test. Int J Vehicle Safety 2009;<br />
4:230–256.<br />
Aekbote K, Chou CC, Cheng J, Yang KH, Cavanaugh JM, Rouhana<br />
SW, Belwafa J. Development <strong>of</strong> transfer functions between ES-2re and<br />
SID-IIs dummies using rigid wall sled tests. INFATS 2009; Paper #<br />
AAI3369657:7:303-310.<br />
Aekbote1, K.; Cheng, J.; Zhao, L.; Chou, C.C.; Yang, K.H. and Maltarich,<br />
M. Development <strong>of</strong> sub-system sled test methodologies for evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
side impact countermeasures. INFATS 2009; 7:314-323.<br />
Chen HB, Yang KH, Wang ZG. Biomechanics <strong>of</strong> whiplash injury. Chin J<br />
Traum<strong>at</strong>ol 2009; 12:305-314.<br />
Chou CC, Wagner C, Yang KH, King AI. A review <strong>of</strong> tripped rollover test<br />
methodologies. Int J Vehicle Safety 2009; 4:185–229.<br />
Guan F, Belwadi A, Han X, Yang KH. Applic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> optimiz<strong>at</strong>ion methodology<br />
on vehicular crash reconstruction. ASME IMECE 2009.<br />
Hu J, Chou C, Yang K, King A. Occupant injury mechanism in rollover<br />
crashes - diving or ro<strong>of</strong> crush. SAE 2010 World Congress and Expo.<br />
2010.<br />
Hy<strong>at</strong>t E, Griffin R, Rue LW 3rd, McGwin G Jr. The associ<strong>at</strong>ion between<br />
price <strong>of</strong> regular-grade gasoline and injury and mortality r<strong>at</strong>es among<br />
occupants involved in motorcycle- and automobile-rel<strong>at</strong>ed motor vehicle<br />
collisions. Accid Anal Prev 2009; 41:1075-9.<br />
Kimpara H, Lee JB, Yang KH, King AI. Effects <strong>of</strong> body weight, height, and<br />
ribcage area moment <strong>of</strong> inertia on blunt chest impact response. J Traffic Inj<br />
Prev 2010; 11:207-214.<br />
Segui-Gomez M, Lopez-Valdes F J, Crandall J. Characterizing the distribution<br />
<strong>of</strong> injury and injury severity for belted front-se<strong>at</strong> occupants involved in<br />
frontal crashes. Annual Intl Res Council on the Biomechan Inj Conf, York,<br />
UK. 2009; 155.<br />
Sisiopiku VP, Germin F. Analysis <strong>of</strong> impacts from temporary left- and rightshoulder<br />
lane use as an active traffic management str<strong>at</strong>egy. Huntsville<br />
Simul<strong>at</strong>ion Conference 2009.<br />
Sisiopiku VP, Acharya A, Anderson M, Turner D. Evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> traffic signal<br />
performance under overs<strong>at</strong>ur<strong>at</strong>ed conditions using VISTA. Trans Simul<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Symp 2009; 165.<br />
Sisiopiku VP, Cavusoglu O, Fadel G. Active traffic management opportunities<br />
and challenges for implement<strong>at</strong>ion. 2009 ITE Technical Conference<br />
and Exhibit Compendium <strong>of</strong> Technical Papers, Phoenix, AZ.<br />
Sisiopiku VP, Chemmannur J, Brown J. Conversion <strong>of</strong> one- to two-way<br />
streets in birmingham downtown: A feasibility study. SimAUD 2010.<br />
Stavrinos D, Byington KW, Schwebel DC. The effect <strong>of</strong> cellphone distraction<br />
on pedi<strong>at</strong>ric pedestrian injury risk. Pedi<strong>at</strong>rics 2009; 123: e179-185.<br />
Trowbridge MJ, Gurka MJ, O’Connor R. Urban sprawl and delayed ambulance<br />
arrival in the United St<strong>at</strong>es. Amer J Prev Med 2009; 37:428-32.<br />
Trowbridge MJ, Kent R. Rear se<strong>at</strong> motor vehicle travel: Using n<strong>at</strong>ional d<strong>at</strong>a<br />
to define a popul<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong>-risk. Amer J Prev Med 2009; 37:321-323.<br />
Turner D, Wolshon B, Dixit V, Evans W, Sisiopiku VP, Islam S, Anderson<br />
M, Teklewold M. Transport<strong>at</strong>ion-oriented communic<strong>at</strong>ions with vulnerable<br />
popul<strong>at</strong>ions during major emergencies: Current challenges and best<br />
practices. J Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Res Board. 2010.<br />
Wood JM, McGwin G, Elgin J, Vaphiades MS, Braswell RA, Decarlo D,<br />
Kline LB, Meek C, Searcey K, Owsley C. On-road driving performance by<br />
persons with hemianopia and quadrantanopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.<br />
2009; 50: 577-85.<br />
Zhang L, Franklyn M, Yang KH. Head injury prediction: Accident<br />
reconstruction <strong>of</strong> real-world crash cases. WACBE World Congress on<br />
Bioengineering 2009; 330.<br />
McGwin G, Nunn AM, Mann JC, Griffin R, Davis GG, MacLennan PA,<br />
Kerby JD, Acker JE, Rue LW. Reassessment <strong>of</strong> the tri-modal mortality distribution<br />
in the presence <strong>of</strong> a regional trauma system. J Trauma 2009; 18:<br />
184-186.<br />
Schwebel DC, McClure LA. Using virtual reality to train children in safe<br />
street-crossing skills. Inj Prev 16:e1-e5.<br />
Schwebel DC, Pitts D, Stavrinos D. The Influence <strong>of</strong> carrying a backpack<br />
on college student pedestrian safety. Accid Anal Prev 2009; 41: 352-356.<br />
Schwebel DC, Stavrinos D, Kongable EK. Attentional control, high intensity<br />
pleasure, and risky pedestrian behavior in college students. Accid Anal<br />
Prev. 2009; 41: 658-661.<br />
Jennifer Jones and Dr. Despina Stavrinos <strong>at</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> Public<br />
Health Intern Present<strong>at</strong>ion Day, May 2010<br />
34<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Bose D, Crandall J, Trowbridge M, McGwin G, Foster J, Goldman J, Fine<br />
R, O’Connor R. Multibody modeling method for predicting occupant injury<br />
risk: a framework for autom<strong>at</strong>ic injury notific<strong>at</strong>ion system. Presented for a<br />
joint symposium titled “Wh<strong>at</strong> is the best way to implement an Accident<br />
Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion System (ACNS) in Japan?” organized by the JAST<br />
(Japanese Associ<strong>at</strong>ion for the surgery <strong>of</strong> Trauma), JSAE (Japan Society <strong>of</strong><br />
Automotive Engineers), JARI (Japan Automobile Research Institute), ITARDA<br />
(Institute for Traffic Accident Research and D<strong>at</strong>a Analysis), and GIAJ (General<br />
Insurance <strong>of</strong> Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Japan), May 2010.<br />
Cavusoglu O. Transit practices for evacu<strong>at</strong>ion preparedness and response<br />
for vulnerable popul<strong>at</strong>ions. Presented <strong>at</strong> UAB ICRC and UAB UTC Research<br />
in Progress Seminar, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. February 2010.<br />
Cummings G. Center for the study <strong>of</strong> rural vehicular trauma. Presented<br />
<strong>at</strong> the 2010 UAB UTC Annual Advisory Board Meeting, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL.<br />
May 2010.<br />
Garner A. Parental influences on driving behavior. Presented <strong>at</strong> the UAB<br />
<strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. February 2010.<br />
Garner AG, Stavrinos D. Influence <strong>of</strong> parental distracted driving on teens<br />
with and without ADHD. Poster presented <strong>at</strong> the 2010 Simpson Ramsey<br />
Symposium, Civitan Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Research Center, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. First<br />
Place Prize. April 2010.<br />
Guan F, Belwadi A, Han X, Yang KH. Applic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> optimiz<strong>at</strong>ion methodology<br />
on vehicular crash reconstruction. Presented <strong>at</strong> the ASME 2009<br />
Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, IMECE2009,<br />
Lake Buena Vista, Florida. November 2009.<br />
JoTurner D, Wolshon B, Dixit V, Evans W, Sisiopiku VP, Islam S, Anderson<br />
M, Teklewold M. Transport<strong>at</strong>ion-oriented communic<strong>at</strong>ions with vulnerable<br />
popul<strong>at</strong>ions during major emergencies: Current challenges and best<br />
practices. Presented <strong>at</strong> the Journal <strong>of</strong> the Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Board,<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Record (TRR). January 2010.<br />
King R, O’Neal EE, Schwebel DC. Safety <strong>of</strong> using hands-free headsets<br />
while driving. Poster submitted for present<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the annual meeting <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Psychological Associ<strong>at</strong>ion, San Diego, CA. August 2010.<br />
Luck JF, Nightingale RW, Bass CD, Song Y, Kait J, Myers BS. Pedi<strong>at</strong>ric<br />
PMHS neck Biomechanics. Presented <strong>at</strong> the N<strong>at</strong>ional Highway Traffic<br />
Safety Administr<strong>at</strong>ion Yearly Briefing. September 2009.<br />
Mizzell J, Byington KW, Renfroe M, O’Neal E, Schwebel DC. Text-messaging<br />
and driving: Epidemiological d<strong>at</strong>a and implic<strong>at</strong>ions for prevention.<br />
Poster accepted for present<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the annual meeting <strong>of</strong> the Society for<br />
Behavioral Medicine, Se<strong>at</strong>tle, WA. April 2010.<br />
O’Neal E, Schwebel DC, Davis T. College-aged drivers: Internet technology<br />
on phones may pose new driving risks. Poster accepted for present<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>at</strong> the annual meeting <strong>of</strong> the Southeastern Psychological Associ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
Ch<strong>at</strong>tanooga, TN. March 2010.<br />
Renfroe M, Stavrinos D, Mizzell J, de Jong D, Schwebel DC. Pedestrian<br />
safety while listening to music. Poster accepted for present<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the annual<br />
meeting <strong>of</strong> the Society for Behavioral Medicine, Se<strong>at</strong>tle, WA. April 2010.<br />
Schwebel D. Teaching young children pedestrian safety skills in virtual<br />
reality. Presented <strong>at</strong> the 2010 UAB UTC Annual Advisory Board Meeting,<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. May 2010.<br />
Sisiopiku V. Contra flow oper<strong>at</strong>ions for hurricane evacu<strong>at</strong>ion: Lessons<br />
learned from an <strong>Alabama</strong> case study. N<strong>at</strong>ional Evacu<strong>at</strong>ion Conference,<br />
New Orleans, LA. 2010.<br />
Dr. Jeff Crandall (third presenter from the left) <strong>at</strong> the Joint Symposium<br />
entitled “Wh<strong>at</strong> is the Best Way to Implement an Accident Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
System (ACNS) in Japan?” (page 40)<br />
Siegel JH, Belwadi A, Smith JA, Shah C, Yang KH. Analysis <strong>of</strong> the mechanism<br />
<strong>of</strong> l<strong>at</strong>eral impact aortic isthmus disruption in real-life motor vehicle<br />
crashes using a computer-based finite element numeric model with simul<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> prevention str<strong>at</strong>egies. Presented <strong>at</strong> the Eastern Associ<strong>at</strong>ion for the<br />
Surgery <strong>of</strong> Trauma (EAST), 23rd Annual Scientific Assembly in Collabor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with the Society <strong>of</strong> Trauma Nurses (STN), Phoenix, AZ. January 2010.<br />
Sisiopiku V. A holistic approach to incident management. Presented <strong>at</strong> the<br />
INFORMS 2010 Southern Regional Conference, Huntsville, AL. 2010.<br />
Sisiopiku V. Emergency response and traffic congestion: Disp<strong>at</strong>chers’<br />
perspectives. Presented <strong>at</strong> the N<strong>at</strong>ional Evacu<strong>at</strong>ion Conference, New<br />
Orleans, LA. 2010.<br />
Sisiopiku V. Development <strong>of</strong> a dynamic traffic assignment and<br />
simul<strong>at</strong>ion model for incident and emergency management applic<strong>at</strong>ions in<br />
the <strong>Birmingham</strong> region. Presented <strong>at</strong> the 2010 UAB UTC Annual Advisory<br />
Board Meeting, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. May 2010.<br />
Sisiopiku V. Analysis <strong>of</strong> impacts from temporary left- and right- shoulder<br />
lane use as an active traffic management str<strong>at</strong>egy. Presented <strong>at</strong> the Huntsville<br />
Simul<strong>at</strong>ion Conference, Huntsville, AL. 2009.<br />
Sisiopiku V. Active traffic management opportunities and challenges for<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion. Presented <strong>at</strong> the 2009 ITE Technical Conference and<br />
Exhibit, Phoenix, AZ. 2009.<br />
Stavrinos D. Distracted driving in teens. Presented <strong>at</strong> the 2010 UAB UTC<br />
Annual Advisory Board Meeting, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. May 2010.<br />
Stavrinos D. Individual differences in perception <strong>of</strong> distracted driving ability<br />
in teenage drivers. Poster presented <strong>at</strong> the 26th Annual UAB Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Medicine Trainee Symposium, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. March 2010.<br />
Stavrinos D. Definitions, d<strong>at</strong>a and research results. Panel moder<strong>at</strong>or <strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. December 2009.<br />
Trowbridge MJ. Building healthier streets for healthier neighborhoods<br />
(expert panelist, emergency response planning & built environment).<br />
Presented <strong>at</strong> the Congress for New Urbanism Annual Conference. Atlanta,<br />
GA. May 2010.<br />
Trowbridge MJ, Gurka MJ, O’Connor RO. Emergency response and the<br />
built environment: does urban sprawl delay ambulance arrival? Presented<br />
<strong>at</strong> the American Public Health Associ<strong>at</strong>ion (APHA) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia,<br />
PA. November 2009.<br />
Turner D, Wolshon B, Dixit V, Evans W, Sisiopiku VP, Islam S, Anderson M.<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion-oriented communic<strong>at</strong>ions with vulnerable popul<strong>at</strong>ions during<br />
major emergencies: Current challenges and best practices. Proceedings<br />
<strong>of</strong> the 89th Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington,<br />
D.C. 2010.<br />
Welburn SC, Garner AG, Schwartz M, Stavrinos D. Developing a selfreport<br />
measure <strong>of</strong> distracted driving in young adults. Poster presented <strong>at</strong> the<br />
2010 UAB Expo, <strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. April 2010.<br />
Technology Transfer Program 35
UTC sponsors BJCTA Executive Director Present<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Public Forum for UAB Community<br />
The UAB UTC sponsored a present<strong>at</strong>ion and public forum<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>uring Mr. Peter Behrman, recently appointed Executive<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Jefferson County Transit<br />
Authority (BJCTA) in mid-July. The purpose <strong>of</strong> this<br />
important present<strong>at</strong>ion was to upd<strong>at</strong>e the UAB community<br />
about the st<strong>at</strong>us <strong>of</strong> the public transport<strong>at</strong>ion system in<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> and the remainder <strong>of</strong> Jefferson County, <strong>Alabama</strong>.<br />
As the basis <strong>of</strong> his present<strong>at</strong>ion, Mr. Behrman used<br />
a comprehensive evalu<strong>at</strong>ion report prepared by a n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
transit peer review group. The meeting was well-<strong>at</strong>tended<br />
and provided an opportunity for an audience comprised<br />
mostly <strong>of</strong> persons who do not use the BJCTA system for<br />
conveyance to increase their familiarity with the system<br />
and the seemingly insurmountable problems it is facing.<br />
Dr. Russ Fine (l),<br />
Director, UAB UTC and<br />
Mr. Peter Behrman (r),<br />
Executive Director, BJCTA<br />
Approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 60<br />
people <strong>at</strong>tended<br />
BJCTA Executive<br />
Director Peter<br />
Behrman’s UAB UTC<br />
sponsored<br />
present<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
UAB UTC Sponsored Research Fe<strong>at</strong>ured <strong>at</strong> New Urban Congress<br />
In May, Dr. M<strong>at</strong>thew Trowbridge presented the results<br />
<strong>of</strong> his UAB UTC sponsored research project addressing<br />
urban sprawl <strong>at</strong> the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU)<br />
18’s New Urbanism: Rx for Healthy Places, in Atlanta,<br />
GA. In addition to presenting his research findings, Dr.<br />
Trowbridge was part <strong>of</strong> an expert panel focusing on<br />
Building Safer Streets for Healthier Neigh-borhoods. The<br />
annual CNU is a leading venue for new urbanist educ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
collabor<strong>at</strong>ion, and networking. New Urbanism is an<br />
urban design movement promoting walkable neighborhoods<br />
th<strong>at</strong> contain a range <strong>of</strong> housing and job types. Dr.<br />
Trowbridge’s UAB UTC sponsored research illustr<strong>at</strong>es<br />
how Emergency Medical Services plays a vital role in<br />
the development <strong>of</strong> livable, sustainable communities. By<br />
way <strong>of</strong> background, Dr. Trowbridge is a board-certified<br />
pedi<strong>at</strong>rician and medical epidemiologist with joint appointments<br />
in the Department <strong>of</strong> Emergency Medicine<br />
(School <strong>of</strong> Medicine) and the School <strong>of</strong> Engineering <strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Virginia (UVA).<br />
A video <strong>of</strong> Dr. Trowbridge discussing urban sprawl and<br />
his UAB UTC sponsored research is available <strong>at</strong><br />
http://www.uab.edu/utc/Final.Reports.html .<br />
36<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
TRIP ® Lab Students Present Research Findings<br />
The UAB UTC and the Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Research for Injury<br />
Prevention (TRIP) ® Labor<strong>at</strong>ory continually encourage<br />
student researchers to present their research results in<br />
any appropri<strong>at</strong>e venue available to them. Present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
provide the students with valuable public speaking experience,<br />
help them acquire experience interacting with others<br />
in their field while receiving one-on-one feedback about<br />
their work.<br />
In March, Annie Artiga Garner, the TRIP ® Lab research<br />
assistant, won First Place for her poster present<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong><br />
UAB’s Neurodevelopment/Simpson-Ramsey Symposium;<br />
a scientific g<strong>at</strong>hering on the UAB campus th<strong>at</strong> brings<br />
together researchers from throughout Central <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
to discuss recent progress in the field <strong>of</strong> brain development<br />
and neuro-developmental disorders and to provide a<br />
forum for those working in the field to interact with other<br />
investig<strong>at</strong>ors. Annie’s poster, The Influence <strong>of</strong> Parental<br />
Distracted Driving on Teens With and Without ADHD,<br />
described results from Annie’s TRIP Lab research revealing<br />
th<strong>at</strong> parents influence their teens’ perceptions <strong>of</strong> their<br />
ability and willingness to engage in distracted driving<br />
and th<strong>at</strong> refraining from engaging in the riskiest form <strong>of</strong><br />
distracted driving can have a protective effect even among<br />
teens who are <strong>at</strong> increased risk for such behaviors, ADHD<br />
teens. Annie’s research also suggests th<strong>at</strong> interventions<br />
aimed <strong>at</strong> reducing distracted driving behaviors in teens<br />
might consider including an interventional component<br />
targeting parental distracted driving.<br />
Sharon Welburn <strong>at</strong> the UAB Expo<br />
This past February, TRIP ® Labor<strong>at</strong>ory group member Ms.<br />
Sharon Welburn presented a research poster <strong>at</strong> the UAB<br />
Expo; a campus-wide pl<strong>at</strong>form enabling UAB undergradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
students to gain valuable present<strong>at</strong>ion experience and<br />
to network with peers, faculty and staff. Sharon’s poster,<br />
Developing a Self-Report Measure <strong>of</strong> Distracted Driving<br />
in Young Adults, presented the preliminary results <strong>of</strong> a<br />
project on which she has been working for the past semester.<br />
Her goal is to develop a questionnaire to obtain inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
on distracted driving behavior in young adults.<br />
Sharon’s research addresses a very significant problem<br />
faced by distracted driving researchers. N<strong>at</strong>uralistic studies<br />
<strong>of</strong> distracted driving via in-vehicle technology have<br />
provided some insight into the magnitude <strong>of</strong> the distracted<br />
driving problem, but this method <strong>of</strong> d<strong>at</strong>a collection is<br />
time-consuming and can be very expensive. Sharon’s<br />
questionnaire, once fine-tuned and valid<strong>at</strong>ed, promises to<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer a convenient, inexpensive and compar<strong>at</strong>ively quick<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ive to acquiring d<strong>at</strong>a on distracted driving habits.<br />
Annie Artiga Garner <strong>at</strong> UAB’s Neurodevelopment/<br />
Simpson-Ramsey Symposium<br />
Both Sharon and Annie have proven to be highly<br />
innov<strong>at</strong>ive thinkers who show gre<strong>at</strong> promise and potential<br />
as future transport<strong>at</strong>ion workforce pr<strong>of</strong>essionals. Their<br />
research is already making a positive contribution to the<br />
UAB UTC’s efforts to reduce distracted driving. Future<br />
mentoring by the UAB UTC and their TRIP lab experiences<br />
will only enhance their already cre<strong>at</strong>ive and impressive<br />
skills. Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions Sharon and Annie!<br />
Technology Transfer Program 37
UAB UTC Hosts Fourth Annual Advisory Board Meeting<br />
The UAB UTC hosted its fourth annual Advisory Board<br />
Meeting on May 20, 2010 <strong>at</strong> the DoubleTree Hotel in<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL. In addition to the UTC Advisory Board<br />
Members, <strong>at</strong>tendees included represent<strong>at</strong>ives from the<br />
academic sector, as well as numerous transport<strong>at</strong>ion pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
who turned out to network, trade ideas, make<br />
recommend<strong>at</strong>ions and learn more about the activities <strong>of</strong><br />
the UAB UTC.<br />
After welcoming remarks by Dr. Robert Kimberly (UAB<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Medicine’s Senior Associ<strong>at</strong>e Dean for Research)<br />
and a call to order by Advisory Board Chairman<br />
Dr. Ray Mundy, the Director <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC, Dr. Russ<br />
Fine, provided a comprehensive report on the Center’s<br />
accomplishments and future plans. Following Dr. Fine’s<br />
present<strong>at</strong>ion, meeting participants were provided upd<strong>at</strong>es<br />
on the progress <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC’s research projects by<br />
UTC investig<strong>at</strong>ors, Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku, Mr. Andrew<br />
Sullivan, Dr. Sharif Melouk, Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Dr.<br />
Richard Gonzalez, and Dr. Gerald McGwin. (For more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the UAB UTC’s research project see pages<br />
20-30 or visit our website www.uab.edu/utc.)<br />
During lunch, Advisory Board members were tre<strong>at</strong>ed to<br />
a special keynote address from <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s Mayor,<br />
the Honorable William Bell. Mayor Bell discussed mass<br />
transit as a tool for public health and emergency management,<br />
not just as means for the disadvantaged to<br />
travel from Point A to Point B. The Mayor emphasized<br />
how important the work <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC is for not<br />
only <strong>Birmingham</strong>, but also for the entire Southeastern<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es. Mayor Bell underscored his appreci<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
for the fact th<strong>at</strong> improved congestion management will<br />
lead to reduced EMS response times. He noted th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
UAB UTC’s work in this area could easily be used by<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> city engineers to synchronize stop lights<br />
and adjust road design and layout. The final session <strong>of</strong><br />
the day was dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to the Advisory Board’s discussion<br />
<strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC’s future plans. This portion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
meeting was led by UTC Advisory Board Chairman Dr.<br />
Ray Mundy Director, Center for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Studies,<br />
and Barriger Endowed Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Logistics <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Missouri, St. Louis, and<br />
Advisory Board Member Joe Petrolino, Vice President,<br />
Heavy Vehicles, N<strong>at</strong>ional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Center<br />
Incorpor<strong>at</strong>ed and Center Director, <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center, Knoxville, Tennessee. Much <strong>of</strong> the<br />
discussion focused on future UTC funding as it rel<strong>at</strong>es<br />
to the current uncertain st<strong>at</strong>us <strong>of</strong> the Federal Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
bill – presently pending in Congress and potential<br />
areas for research. Members eagerly discussed the need<br />
to continue to <strong>at</strong>tempt to grow and nurture all aspects <strong>of</strong><br />
the research portfolio including the newly implemented<br />
Distracted Driving initi<strong>at</strong>ives, with specific recommend<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
for Dr. Stavrinos to look into incorpor<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
other transport<strong>at</strong>ion modalities such as heavy trucks and<br />
transit into her research.<br />
White Papers were presented to the board members<br />
during the meeting. The first focused on and highlighted<br />
the capabilities <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC to support and further<br />
Sec. LaHood’s Distracted Driving priority. The second<br />
described plans for The UAB Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety,<br />
Trauma Care, and Injury Research Institute and sought<br />
the Advisory Board’s conceptual support for establishment<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Institute. As envisioned, the proposed Institute<br />
will bring together a constell<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> UAB research,<br />
resources and programs in an organized, system<strong>at</strong>ic<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Mayor William Bell and<br />
UAB UTC Advisory Board Chairman<br />
Dr. Ray Mundy<br />
A.) Andrew Sullivan, PE B.) <strong>Birmingham</strong> C.) Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku,<br />
Mayor William Bell Dr. Despina Stavrinos,<br />
gives Keynote Address and Dr. Sharif Melouk<br />
38<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
effort to address and resolve pressing transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
safety and trauma research questions associ<strong>at</strong>ed with<br />
vehicular, air, w<strong>at</strong>er, and rail travel. The third White<br />
Paper described the possible establishment <strong>of</strong> an entity<br />
The N<strong>at</strong>ional Center for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and Healthcare<br />
Delivery. This idea grew out <strong>of</strong> a recommend<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
suggested to UAB UTC leadership in December 2008,<br />
when Dr. Curt Tompkins, Director <strong>of</strong> RITA’s UTC<br />
program, site visited the UAB UTC. Based on<br />
Dr. Tompkins observ<strong>at</strong>ions and assessment <strong>of</strong> the Center<br />
and its unique potential he encouraged leadership to<br />
consider <strong>at</strong>tempting to expand the scope <strong>of</strong> its program<br />
and capacity to th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong> a N<strong>at</strong>ional UTC. In keeping with<br />
this recommend<strong>at</strong>ion, UAB UTC leadership developed<br />
a concept paper for th<strong>at</strong> which is presently referred to as<br />
the N<strong>at</strong>ional Center for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and Healthcare<br />
Delivery. The mission <strong>of</strong> the proposed N<strong>at</strong>ional Center<br />
would be to examine and address the neglected intersection<br />
between transport<strong>at</strong>ion and healthcare delivery<br />
systems. Following present<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the whitepapers,<br />
Dr. Mundy and Mr. Petrolino recommended th<strong>at</strong> all<br />
Advisory Board members read them carefully and<br />
provide UTC leadership with comments and critiques.<br />
The fourth annual meeting <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC Advisory<br />
Board was well-received and described as “highly successful.”<br />
It <strong>at</strong>tracted and engaged a wide range <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals from a variety <strong>of</strong> disciplines, all<br />
equally committed to improving the transport<strong>at</strong>ion field<br />
through research, open discussion, collabor<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
innov<strong>at</strong>ive problem-solving.<br />
Save the DATE<br />
May 18th, 2011<br />
UAB UTC<br />
Annual Advisory<br />
Board Meeting<br />
Double Tree Hotel<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL<br />
Technology Transfer Program 39
UAB UTC Sponsored Scientist Helps Japanese Implement<br />
Accident Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion System<br />
This past May, UAB UTC funded researcher,<br />
Dr. Jeff Crandall, traveled to Toyko, Japan to present<br />
research findings and recommend<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>at</strong> a Joint Symposium<br />
entitled “Wh<strong>at</strong> is the Best Way to Implement<br />
an Accident Crash Notific<strong>at</strong>ion System (ACNS) in Japan?”<br />
Dr. Crandall’s present<strong>at</strong>ion, Predicting Occupant<br />
Injury Risk: A Framework for Autom<strong>at</strong>ic Injury Notific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Systems, described his UAB UTC sponsored<br />
research project and results, Potential Improvements in<br />
Medical Tre<strong>at</strong>ment and EMS through Real-time Injury<br />
Assessment <strong>of</strong> Occupants Involved in<br />
Crashes. Dr. Crandall’s present<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
was enthusiastically received<br />
and spurred a productive<br />
panel discussion among experts from<br />
Japan, Europe, South Korea, the<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es and other countries.<br />
Dr. Jeff Crandall<br />
Nancy and Neal Wade Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
<strong>of</strong> Engineering and Applied<br />
Science, Mechanical and<br />
Aerospace Engineering<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor & Director, Center for<br />
Applied Biomechanics<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Virginia<br />
The Tokyo Joint Symposium was<br />
organized by the Japanese Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
for the Surgery <strong>of</strong> Trauma, the Japan<br />
Society <strong>of</strong> Automotive Engineers, the Japan Automobile<br />
Research Institute, the Institute for Traffic Accident<br />
Research and D<strong>at</strong>a Analysis and the General Insurance<br />
<strong>of</strong> Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Japan.<br />
Dr. Jeff Crandall <strong>at</strong> the Symposium (third presenter from the left)<br />
40<br />
UAB UTC Leaders Named to <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s<br />
Blue Ribbon Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Advisory Panel<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s Mayor, the Honorable William Bell, is<br />
committed to providing safe, effective transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
for residents and to enhancing <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s livability<br />
through viable transport<strong>at</strong>ion solutions. To help him<br />
obtain these goals, Mayor Bell has established the Blue<br />
Ribbon Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Advisory Panel. This group is an<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion g<strong>at</strong>hering and advisory committee made up <strong>of</strong><br />
transit advoc<strong>at</strong>es, business leaders, financial experts and<br />
now, significantly, represent<strong>at</strong>ives from the health care<br />
delivery research community. The panel is charged with<br />
providing the Mayor with best practices-rel<strong>at</strong>ed inform<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
research findings and <strong>of</strong>fering recommend<strong>at</strong>ions for<br />
possible ways to improve the various transport<strong>at</strong>ion modalities<br />
about which <strong>Birmingham</strong> proper and the gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> area must be concerned. The goal is for this<br />
panel to <strong>of</strong>fer realistic solutions to existing problems th<strong>at</strong><br />
will lead to measurable reductions in travel times, improved<br />
transit services leading<br />
to increased transit usage, etc.,<br />
in a manner th<strong>at</strong> will maximize<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>’s limited transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
funds and resources.<br />
(L to R) Mr. Jeffrey Foster,<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos,<br />
Mayor William Bell, and Dr. Russ<br />
Fine.<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010<br />
In May <strong>of</strong> this year, UAB UTC leaders, Dr. Russ Fine,<br />
Director and Mr. Jeff Foster, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director were<br />
honored to be invited to represent the UAB UTC as<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Advisory Panel. Mayor Bell, recognizing transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
as a public health issue and praising the UAB UTC’s past<br />
and present work in th<strong>at</strong> area The Mayor has charged<br />
this panel with examining all aspects <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Network. The Blue Ribbon Commission is<br />
to review findings from around the country to determine<br />
best practices for the City on a wide variety <strong>of</strong> topics<br />
such as evalu<strong>at</strong>ing the timing <strong>of</strong> lights to mitig<strong>at</strong>e gridlock<br />
to the use <strong>of</strong> transit vehicles in a mass evacu<strong>at</strong>ion or<br />
mass arrival scenario (as with K<strong>at</strong>rina). The UAB UTC is<br />
well equipped to provide such a service to the City.<br />
“To be asked by Mayor William Bell to serve on this important<br />
panel speaks volume about the work we are doing<br />
here <strong>at</strong> the UAB UTC. Our Center is uniquely capable<br />
to aid the panel in addressing many <strong>of</strong> the important<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed challenges our City faces.”<br />
– Russ Fine on behalf <strong>of</strong> himself, Jeff Foster and all those<br />
affili<strong>at</strong>ed with the UAB UTC.
UAB UTC Provides Distracted Driving<br />
Technical Guidance for Alabamians<br />
The UTC has provided technical assistance and guidance<br />
to a citizen-driven, grass roots, anti-texting while driving<br />
movement known as Alabamians Against Distracted<br />
Driving. Th<strong>at</strong> group has partnered with the st<strong>at</strong>e’s largest<br />
ABC Television affili<strong>at</strong>e, ABC 33/40, which broadcasts<br />
throughout north and north-central <strong>Alabama</strong> in an effort to<br />
spread its educ<strong>at</strong>ional messages. In the Sunday, August 8,<br />
2010 edition <strong>of</strong> The <strong>Birmingham</strong> News, a front page story<br />
about distracted driving appeared. The UAB UTC’s lead<br />
distracted driving researcher, Dr. Despina Stavrinos, was a<br />
primary inform<strong>at</strong>ion source for the journalist responsible<br />
for the story. Additionally, Mrs. Dee Fine, wife <strong>of</strong> UAB<br />
UTC Director Dr. Russ Fine, who established Alabamians<br />
Against Distracted Driving was also interviewed for the<br />
article.<br />
distracted driving include the critical technical advisory<br />
role the UTC subsequently assumed after the previously<br />
described field demonstr<strong>at</strong>ion. The UAB UTC provided<br />
the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Mayor and City Councilors with scientific<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a about distracted driving. This resulted in the <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> City Council passing, without opposition,<br />
a new ordinance banning texting while driving for all<br />
city workers as well as all other licensed drivers. A recent<br />
front page news story appeared in the UAB campus newspaper<br />
with a headline reading “UAB P.D. to enforce city’s<br />
ban on texting.” The entire story may be viewed, online <strong>at</strong><br />
http://images.main.uab.edu/uabreporter/080910color.pdf .<br />
Our distracted driving-rel<strong>at</strong>ed educ<strong>at</strong>ional and community<br />
service activities have provided much needed d<strong>at</strong>a and<br />
direction to several municipalities throughout the Gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Region, as well as elsewhere in <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
th<strong>at</strong> have lead to the adoption <strong>of</strong> the local ordinances<br />
banning texting while driving. Among these <strong>of</strong> which we<br />
are most proud is the City <strong>of</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>, whose texting<br />
ban includes the UAB Campus.<br />
In addition, to increase awareness among elected<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials, the UTC helped organize and<br />
sponsor a distracted driving performance demonstr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in which <strong>Birmingham</strong> Mayor William Bell was a highpr<strong>of</strong>ile<br />
participant.<br />
Another, closely rel<strong>at</strong>ed, example <strong>of</strong> recent UAB UTC<br />
driven initi<strong>at</strong>ives th<strong>at</strong> are resulting in significantly heightened<br />
awareness <strong>of</strong> the hazards and risks associ<strong>at</strong>ed with<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Mayor William Bell<br />
navig<strong>at</strong>ing obstacles while distracted<br />
Drivers engage in potentiallydistracting<br />
secondary tasks<br />
during more than half <strong>of</strong> the<br />
time spent driving.<br />
D<br />
n’t text & Drive<br />
Alabamians Against Distracted Driving<br />
205.934.7845<br />
Technology Transfer Program 41
Noteworthy activities from the past year th<strong>at</strong> support n<strong>at</strong>ional transport<strong>at</strong>ion priorities<br />
Specific Accomplishments<br />
Director’s Note :<br />
When preparing the UAB UTC’s Annual Report, the Specific Accomplishments Section is always the most challenging.<br />
As we formul<strong>at</strong>e our list <strong>of</strong> items for inclusion and c<strong>at</strong>egorize them as Research, Educ<strong>at</strong>ion, Technology Transfer or<br />
Specific Accomplishment, we tend to put many <strong>of</strong> the year’s undertakings in the Specific Accomplishments Section.<br />
We are proud <strong>of</strong> the activities <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC and strive for all our actions to strongly support st<strong>at</strong>e and n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion goals. However, we realize th<strong>at</strong> not everything we do can go in the Specific Accomplishment Section.<br />
With th<strong>at</strong> in mind, we would like to begin this section with a disclaimer, <strong>of</strong> sorts. The items included herein are those<br />
<strong>of</strong> which we are most proud or are otherwise close to our hearts. We hope th<strong>at</strong> you, the reader, will not neglect the<br />
other sections <strong>of</strong> our Annual Report, as you will find noteworthy accomplishments throughout the document.<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit Hosted by UAB UTC and UTCA<br />
On Dec. 3, 2009, the UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center (www.uab.edu/utc) joined forces with the<br />
<strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
(http://utca.eng.ua.edu) to sponsor the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Distracted Driving Summit. This first (and to our<br />
knowledge still the only) st<strong>at</strong>ewide summit on distracted<br />
driving was conducted a mere 61 days after Secretary <strong>of</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Ray LaHood’s Washington, D.C., summit.<br />
The purpose <strong>of</strong> this one-day event was:<br />
(1) to bring together researchers, educ<strong>at</strong>ors, public policy<br />
and decision makers, and priv<strong>at</strong>e citizens from across<br />
our st<strong>at</strong>e to describe the scope and n<strong>at</strong>ure <strong>of</strong> the<br />
distracted driving problem;<br />
(2) to identify meaningful ways to increase public<br />
awareness <strong>of</strong> the safety issues associ<strong>at</strong>ed with<br />
distracted driving; and<br />
(3) to identify and review legisl<strong>at</strong>ive and regul<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
approaches/options for addressing distracted driving<br />
in <strong>Alabama</strong>.<br />
Modeled after the US Secretary <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion’s<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Distracted Driving Summit, the <strong>Alabama</strong>’s<br />
summit brought together more than 300 transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
leaders, elected <strong>of</strong>ficials, safety advoc<strong>at</strong>es, law enforcement<br />
represent<strong>at</strong>ives and priv<strong>at</strong>e sector represent<strong>at</strong>ives, as<br />
well as transport<strong>at</strong>ion and public health scientists to<br />
discuss how to reduce motor-vehicle crashes resulting<br />
from distracted driving through legisl<strong>at</strong>ion, enforcement,<br />
public awareness and educ<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The <strong>Alabama</strong> Summit was especially significant due to<br />
the presence <strong>of</strong> Secretary LaHood, who in his keynote<br />
address praised both <strong>Alabama</strong> UTCs for their initi<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
and leadership in hosting the event: “The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s Summit – the first <strong>of</strong> its kind<br />
outside Washington – helps continue the n<strong>at</strong>ional convers<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
on distracted driving and will put more good<br />
ideas on the table to prevent needless de<strong>at</strong>hs. I hope other<br />
st<strong>at</strong>es will follow its lead.” Traffic safety experts from<br />
around the st<strong>at</strong>e and n<strong>at</strong>ion made concise present<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and particip<strong>at</strong>ed in interactive audience-panel discussions<br />
throughout the day-long meeting. Key topics describing<br />
the extent and impact <strong>of</strong> distracted driving, current research,<br />
regul<strong>at</strong>ions and best practices were presented and<br />
discussed. Additional inform<strong>at</strong>ion about the panelists and<br />
their topics appears elsewhere in this newsletter.<br />
We are gr<strong>at</strong>ified and honored th<strong>at</strong> the UAB UTC/UTCAsponsored<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit served to<br />
re-energize the somewh<strong>at</strong> sc<strong>at</strong>tered and poorly organized<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ewide anti-distracted-driving activities th<strong>at</strong> were previously<br />
underway in various places throughout <strong>Alabama</strong>.<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC sponsored Summit, many<br />
more people and priv<strong>at</strong>e-sector entities, as well as other<br />
government agencies, have become better informed about<br />
the distracted driving problem and involved in efforts to<br />
reduce if not elimin<strong>at</strong>e this problem. Moreover, there is<br />
no question the Summit measurably increased awareness<br />
<strong>of</strong> the distracted driving efforts outlined by <strong>Alabama</strong>’s<br />
Str<strong>at</strong>egic Highway Safety Plan and executed by<br />
(L to R)<br />
Dr. Melvin Davis, Dr. Rich Hanowski, Dr. John Lee<br />
42<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
“The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>’s<br />
Summit – the first <strong>of</strong> its kind outside Washington<br />
– helps continue the n<strong>at</strong>ional convers<strong>at</strong>ion on<br />
distracted driving and will put more good ideas<br />
on the table to prevent needless de<strong>at</strong>hs.<br />
I hope other st<strong>at</strong>es will follow its lead.“<br />
– Ray LaHood<br />
Mr. Terry Henderson,<br />
ADECA<br />
Mr. Terry Henderson, the distracted<br />
driving point man for the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Economic and<br />
Community Affairs (ADECA).<br />
Because <strong>of</strong> Mr. Henderson’s<br />
important role, he was a key<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Summit panelist. Also,<br />
the Str<strong>at</strong>egic Highway Safety Plan<br />
outlines a legisl<strong>at</strong>ive approach for reducing distracted<br />
driving th<strong>at</strong> is chaired by Rep. David Grimes <strong>of</strong><br />
Montgomery.<br />
Both <strong>Alabama</strong> UTCs are interested only in advancing<br />
the common cause <strong>of</strong> elimin<strong>at</strong>ing distracted driving in<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>. Consistent with the UAB UTC’s intentions are<br />
activities th<strong>at</strong> are two-fold in intent: First, to be fully<br />
supportive <strong>of</strong> efforts currently underway or in place; and<br />
secondly, to <strong>of</strong>fer ourselves as a unifier, perhaps the primary<br />
unifier <strong>of</strong> the many and varied contributors and prospective<br />
contributors to the anti-distracted-driving effort.<br />
Because UTCs are forbidden, by law, to lobby on behalf<br />
<strong>of</strong> any specific piece <strong>of</strong> legisl<strong>at</strong>ion, we have assumed a<br />
prominent (and allowable) role devoted to increasing<br />
awareness about the hazards and risks <strong>of</strong> distracted driving<br />
among policy and decision makers, as well as among<br />
the general public. For example, because the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Distracted Driving Summit was so poorly <strong>at</strong>tended by<br />
the overwhelming majority <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Alabama</strong> Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
(only three members were present, in spite <strong>of</strong> all members<br />
having received invit<strong>at</strong>ions), we provided each member <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Alabama</strong> Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure with individual DVD copies <strong>of</strong><br />
all present<strong>at</strong>ions made and all panel discussions occurring<br />
during the recent <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit.<br />
Also, we have embedded the recorded version <strong>of</strong> the<br />
entire <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit on the UAB<br />
UTC Web site (www.uab.edu/utc).<br />
images:<br />
A.) More than 300 transport<strong>at</strong>ion leaders, elected <strong>of</strong>ficials, safety<br />
advoc<strong>at</strong>es, law enforcement <strong>of</strong>ficers and priv<strong>at</strong>e sector represent<strong>at</strong>ives<br />
g<strong>at</strong>hered for the <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit<br />
B.) Ms. Dee Fine and <strong>Alabama</strong> St<strong>at</strong>e Sen<strong>at</strong>or Rodger Smitherman<br />
C.) (L to R) Sen<strong>at</strong>or Jabo Waggoner, Mr. Terry Henderson,<br />
Col. J. Christopher Murphy, Dr. Bill King<br />
D.) (L to R) Sec. Ray LaHood, Jeff Foster, Dr. Robert Rich, and<br />
UAB President Dr. Carol Garrison<br />
A.) B.) C.) D.)<br />
Specific Accomplishments 43
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted Driving Summit Panels & Speakers<br />
The Honorable Ray LaHood<br />
Ray LaHood became the 16th Secretary<br />
<strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion on Jan. 23,<br />
2009. In nomin<strong>at</strong>ing him, President<br />
Obama said, “Few understand our<br />
infrastructure challenge better than<br />
the outstanding public servant th<strong>at</strong><br />
I’m asking to lead the Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion.”<br />
Secretary LaHood’s primary goals<br />
in implementing President Obama’s<br />
priorities for transport<strong>at</strong>ion include<br />
safety across all modes, restoring<br />
economic health and cre<strong>at</strong>ing jobs,<br />
sustainability – shaping the economy<br />
<strong>of</strong> the coming decades by building<br />
new transport<strong>at</strong>ion infrastructure – and<br />
assuring th<strong>at</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion policies focus<br />
on people who use the transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
system and their communities.<br />
As Secretary <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion, LaHood leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees<br />
and a $70 billion budget th<strong>at</strong> oversees air, maritime and surface transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
missions.<br />
Secretary LaHood said he would bring President Obama’s priorities to the Department and<br />
see them effectively implemented with a commitment to fairness across regional and party<br />
lines and between people who come to the issues with different perspectives.<br />
Before becoming Secretary <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion, LaHood served for 14 years in the U.S.<br />
House <strong>of</strong> Represent<strong>at</strong>ives from the 18th District <strong>of</strong> Illinois (1995-2009). During th<strong>at</strong> time, he<br />
served on the House Transport<strong>at</strong>ion and Infrastructure Committee and, after th<strong>at</strong>, on the<br />
House Appropri<strong>at</strong>ions Committee.<br />
Prior to his election to the House, he served as Chief <strong>of</strong> Staff to U.S. Congressman Robert<br />
Michel, whom he succeeded in representing the 18th District, and as District Administr<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
Assistant to Congressman Thomas Railsback. He also served in the Illinois St<strong>at</strong>e Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure.<br />
Before his career in government, Secretary LaHood was a junior high school teacher, having<br />
received his degree from Bradley <strong>University</strong> in Peoria, Ill. He was also director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau and Chief planner for the Bi-St<strong>at</strong>es Metropolitan<br />
Planning Commission in Illinois.<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, US Secretary <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Ray LaHood, and Dr. Russ Fine <strong>at</strong> the<br />
2009 Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC<br />
Dr. Russ Fine and<br />
Dr. Despina Stavrinos<br />
were recently invited by<br />
Sec. LaHood to return to<br />
Washington, DC in September<br />
to <strong>at</strong>tend the 2010<br />
Distracted Driving Summit.<br />
Drs. Fine and Stavrinos are<br />
honored by this distinction<br />
and look forward to<br />
<strong>at</strong>tending the Summit.<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted<br />
Driving Summit<br />
Co-Sponsors<br />
AAA <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Broadcaster’s Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Economic and<br />
Community Affairs<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Safety<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Parent Teacher Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Trucking Associ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
BioInjury, LLC, Alexandria, VA<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong> Regional Emergency<br />
Medical Services System<br />
Center for Advanced Public Safety,<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Federal Highway Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
D. Michael Andrews, Attorney <strong>at</strong> Law,<br />
UAB UTC Advisory Board<br />
Member, Montgomery, AL<br />
Dr. Andrea Underhill<br />
Drs. Jay Goldman and<br />
Renitta Goldman<br />
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis &<br />
Miles, PC, Montgomery, AL<br />
Jefferson County Youth<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Program<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research<br />
Center, Inc.<br />
Regional Planning Commission <strong>of</strong><br />
Gre<strong>at</strong>er <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
Safety Research & Str<strong>at</strong>egies, Inc.<br />
Rehoboth, MA<br />
Southeast Child Safety Institute<br />
Southern Consortium for Injury<br />
Biomechanics<br />
Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Research for Injury<br />
Prevention Labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
UAB Center for Aging<br />
UAB Center for Injury Sciences<br />
UAB Center for Research in Applied<br />
Gerontology<br />
UAB Department <strong>of</strong> Civil, Construction<br />
and Environmental Engineering<br />
UAB Department <strong>of</strong> Emergency<br />
Medicine<br />
UAB Department <strong>of</strong> Ophthalmology,<br />
Clinical Research Unit<br />
UAB Injury Control Research Center<br />
UAB Master <strong>of</strong> Public Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Program<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Missouri-St. Louis Center<br />
for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Studies<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Pennsylvania Center for<br />
Brain Injury and Repair<br />
44<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
UTC Leadership and Special Guests<br />
1.) Dr. Robert Rich<br />
Robert Rich is Senior Vice President for Medicine <strong>of</strong> UAB<br />
and Dean <strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> Medicine <strong>at</strong> UAB. He received<br />
his M.D. from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Kansas. In 1973,<br />
Rich joined the faculty <strong>of</strong> Baylor College <strong>of</strong> Medicine as<br />
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Microbiology and Immunology and<br />
Medicine. In 1978, he was promoted to Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and<br />
in 1995 was named Distinguished Service Pr<strong>of</strong>essor.<br />
He was an Investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> the Howard Hughes Medical<br />
Institute from 1977 to 1991. From 1990 to 1998,<br />
he served as Vice President and Dean <strong>of</strong> Research <strong>at</strong><br />
Baylor. From 1998 to 2004, he was Executive Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Dean for Research and Str<strong>at</strong>egic Initi<strong>at</strong>ives <strong>at</strong> Emory<br />
<strong>University</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Medicine. From 2003 to 2008 he<br />
served as Editor-in-Chief <strong>of</strong> The Journal <strong>of</strong> Immunology.<br />
He is also Editor-in-Chief <strong>of</strong> a comprehensive textbook<br />
Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice. Currently<br />
Rich is Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong> the Centre<br />
for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia, Vice-Chairman<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong> the UAB Health System<br />
and a member <strong>of</strong> the Advisory Panel on Research <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> American Medical Colleges. In 2008, he<br />
received the Lifetime Achievement Award <strong>of</strong> the American<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Immunologists.<br />
2.) Dr. Russ Fine<br />
Russ Fine gradu<strong>at</strong>ed from Southern Illinois <strong>University</strong> (BA,<br />
1966), the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Missouri (MSPH, 1967) and<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Oklahoma (PhD, 1970). Prior to being<br />
recruited by UAB, he conducted research <strong>at</strong> the FAA’s<br />
Civil Aeromedical Research Institute, served as Research<br />
Director for the Chicago Board <strong>of</strong> Health, as an aide<br />
to the Governor <strong>of</strong> Illinois, and was VP <strong>of</strong> Mediclinic,<br />
Corp. From 1975-1987, Fine was a faculty member in<br />
UAB’s Department <strong>of</strong> Physical Medicine and Rehabilit<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
achieving rank <strong>of</strong> full pr<strong>of</strong>essor in 1983. He was<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> Research for the Medical Rehabilit<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Research and Training Center in Spinal Cord Dysfunction<br />
and Co-Director <strong>of</strong> the UAB SCI Care System as well as<br />
the N<strong>at</strong>ional SCI St<strong>at</strong>istical Center. In 1988, Fine moved<br />
to UAB’s Department <strong>of</strong> Medicine. He is Principal<br />
Investig<strong>at</strong>or/Director <strong>of</strong> the UAB Injury Control Research<br />
Center, the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics<br />
and the UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center. He<br />
chaired the <strong>Alabama</strong> Governor’s Task Force on Drunk<br />
Driving, and serves on the <strong>Alabama</strong> Impaired Drivers<br />
Trust Fund board. He has published extensively in scientific<br />
journals and textbooks, and has presented expert<br />
testimony before various Congressional Committees and<br />
sub-committees.<br />
3.) Dr. Jay Lindly<br />
Jay Lindly received his first two degrees in Civil Engineering<br />
and then began a five-year stint with Exxon<br />
Research & Engineering Company. While <strong>at</strong> Exxon,<br />
the company was strongly engaged in converting<br />
solids such as coal and oil shale into synthetic fuels.<br />
At th<strong>at</strong> time, Lindly performed research and design<br />
work for the “solids handling” group th<strong>at</strong> planned how<br />
large quantities <strong>of</strong> solids could be transported, stacked,<br />
reclaimed, fed into reactors, and removed and landfilled.<br />
After leaving Exxon, Dr. Lindly <strong>at</strong>tended Purdue<br />
<strong>University</strong>, gradu<strong>at</strong>ing with a Ph.D. in transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
engineering in 1987. His dissert<strong>at</strong>ion work concerned<br />
using falling weight deflectometers to design the thickness<br />
<strong>of</strong> flexible overlays <strong>of</strong> flexible pavements. Since<br />
th<strong>at</strong> time, he has been employed <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>, where he is now a Civil Engineering pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
and the Director <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center for <strong>Alabama</strong>. Current research interests include<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion safety, rural transit, the highway/utility<br />
interface and transport<strong>at</strong>ion funding methods.<br />
4.) Dr. Daniel Turner<br />
Daniel Turner holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M.<br />
During his 30 years <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>,<br />
Turner has served as the Director <strong>of</strong> the Engineering<br />
Technology Programs, Head <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Civil<br />
& Environmental Engineering and founding Director<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong>.<br />
Turner’s specialties are teaching, research and service<br />
in traffic oper<strong>at</strong>ions and safety; highway design; transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
management, finance and policy; and homeland<br />
security. He has conducted 110 research and<br />
training projects for more than $25 million; published<br />
more than 300 articles, reports and books; made<br />
more than 500 present<strong>at</strong>ions; and developed or taught<br />
70 short courses. Turner has been an engaged leader<br />
<strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>ession, having been elected President <strong>of</strong><br />
the American Society <strong>of</strong> Civil Engineers and President<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Council <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Centers. In<br />
addition, he has served on the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong><br />
ABET (the engineering accredit<strong>at</strong>ion organiz<strong>at</strong>ion) and<br />
the American Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Engineering Societies, and<br />
currently is poised to serve on the Executive Committee<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Board <strong>of</strong> the N<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Academies.<br />
1.)<br />
2.)<br />
3.)<br />
4.)<br />
Specific Accomplishments 45
1.)<br />
2.)<br />
3.)<br />
4.)<br />
PANEL 1: Definitions, D<strong>at</strong>a and Research Results<br />
A context setting panel th<strong>at</strong> discussed the definition <strong>of</strong> distracted driving, d<strong>at</strong>a on the extent <strong>of</strong> the issue, types <strong>of</strong> distraction, research and research results.<br />
1.) Dr. Despina Stavrinos<br />
Despina Stavrinos obtained a doctor<strong>at</strong>e in Lifespan<br />
Developmental Psychology in May 2009 from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> and is currently a<br />
Postdoctoral Fellow <strong>at</strong> the UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center (UAB UTC). Her research program primarily focuses<br />
on child cognitive development issues, particularly<br />
as they rel<strong>at</strong>e to transport<strong>at</strong>ion-rel<strong>at</strong>ed injuries. Stavrinos<br />
is Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> a study funded by the UAB<br />
UTC and the Children’s Hospital <strong>of</strong> Philadelphia Center<br />
for Child Injury Prevention Studies th<strong>at</strong> is examining the<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> cell phone convers<strong>at</strong>ion and text messaging<br />
distraction on motor vehicle crash-rel<strong>at</strong>ed injury risk in<br />
teens with (and without) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity<br />
Disorder. Stavrinos has authored or co-authored six manuscripts<br />
and three book chapters, and has made more<br />
than 25 scientific present<strong>at</strong>ions throughout the U.S. She<br />
has received a number <strong>of</strong> awards, including a Dwight<br />
D. Eisenhower Fellowship through the U.S. Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion, the 2007 Lizette Peterson-Homer Memorial<br />
Injury Research Grant Award and the 2008 UAB<br />
UTC Student <strong>of</strong> the Year Award. Her work on distracted<br />
pedestrians, which was fe<strong>at</strong>ured in Pedi<strong>at</strong>rics in 2009,<br />
also earned her the Society <strong>of</strong> Pedi<strong>at</strong>ric Psychology and<br />
CDC Injury Prevention Student Research Award.<br />
2.) Dr. John Lee<br />
John D. Lee is a pr<strong>of</strong>essor in the Department <strong>of</strong> Industrial<br />
and Systems Engineering <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin,<br />
Madison. Previously with the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Iowa, he was<br />
the director <strong>of</strong> human factors research <strong>at</strong> the N<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Advanced Driving Simul<strong>at</strong>or. He also was a research<br />
scientist <strong>at</strong> the B<strong>at</strong>telle Human Factors Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center for six years. He is a co-author <strong>of</strong> the textbook<br />
An Introduction to Human Factors Engineering and is<br />
the author or coauthor <strong>of</strong> more than 170 articles. He<br />
has served as a member <strong>of</strong> the N<strong>at</strong>ional Academy <strong>of</strong><br />
Sciences committee on human system integr<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
several other committees for the N<strong>at</strong>ional Academy<br />
<strong>of</strong> Sciences. Dr. Lee serves on the editorial board <strong>of</strong><br />
Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making; Cognition,<br />
Technology and Work; Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Journal <strong>of</strong> Human<br />
Factors Modeling and Simul<strong>at</strong>ion; and is the associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
editor for the journals Human Factors and IEEE-Systems,<br />
Man, and Cybernetics. His research focuses on the<br />
safety and acceptance <strong>of</strong> complex human-machine<br />
systems by considering how technology<br />
medi<strong>at</strong>es <strong>at</strong>tention.<br />
3.) Dr. Richard J. Hanowski<br />
Richard J. Hanowski is the Director <strong>of</strong> the Center for<br />
Truck and Bus Safety <strong>at</strong> the Virginia Tech Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Institute. He has formal training in human factors<br />
engineering, systems design, safety, research methods,<br />
experimental design, st<strong>at</strong>istics, training and humancomputer<br />
interaction. His experience includes transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
human factors with both heavy and light vehicles,<br />
labor<strong>at</strong>ory and field testing, real-time automobile and<br />
heavy vehicle simul<strong>at</strong>ion, advanced system development<br />
and testing, design guideline development and<br />
human performance evalu<strong>at</strong>ion. Hanowski is the<br />
author <strong>of</strong> more than 150 public<strong>at</strong>ions and has received<br />
numerous research awards. His research, which has<br />
had an impact on n<strong>at</strong>ional transport<strong>at</strong>ion policy (e.g.,<br />
Hours-<strong>of</strong>-Service for truck drivers, driver distraction/<br />
texting), has been fe<strong>at</strong>ured in many areas <strong>of</strong> the media<br />
including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN,<br />
the Discovery Channel and the We<strong>at</strong>her Channel. He<br />
currently serves as the F<strong>at</strong>igue Subject M<strong>at</strong>ter Expert for<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Surface Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Safety Center for Excellence.<br />
Dr. Hanowski has served as Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
or Co-PI on approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 50 projects, managing over<br />
$22 million in contract research. He currently serves as<br />
the Project Manager for an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite<br />
Quantity contract for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety<br />
Administr<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
4.) Dr. Melvin Davis<br />
Melvin Davis has 31 years <strong>of</strong> experience in higher<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion administr<strong>at</strong>ion, teaching and research. He<br />
has presented n<strong>at</strong>ionally and intern<strong>at</strong>ionally in Australia<br />
and Canada. Since returning to full-time teaching and<br />
research five years ago, he has directed eight dissert<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
written 10 articles and directed several research<br />
projects. Early in his career, he completed a research<br />
study for Spain Rehabilit<strong>at</strong>ion Center on spinal cord<br />
injury, a popul<strong>at</strong>ion in need study for the U.S. Army<br />
Corps <strong>of</strong> Engineers <strong>of</strong> 41 counties along the Tennessee-<br />
Tombigee W<strong>at</strong>erway Corridor, and adapted the Bruns-<br />
Lens Model to understanding rural mental health among<br />
African-Americans. Having grown up in a southern<br />
rural African-American community, Davis is close to the<br />
African-American culture. Since becoming executive<br />
director <strong>of</strong> Mississippi Urban Research Center two years<br />
ago, he has been using this connection to investig<strong>at</strong>e urban<br />
problems. He will tell you th<strong>at</strong> cell phone use ranks<br />
high on the list <strong>of</strong> urban problems. Davis is married with<br />
two adult daughters, three grandchildren, and one sonin-law.<br />
46<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
PANEL 2: Public Awareness and Educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
This panel reviewed various initi<strong>at</strong>ives to increase public awareness <strong>of</strong> the safety issues associ<strong>at</strong>ed with distracted driving.<br />
1.) Ms. Dee Fine<br />
Dee Fine is a familiar figure in <strong>Alabama</strong>, on radio,<br />
television and in newspapers, as well as in the<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e Capitol. Dee and her husband, Russ, founded<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>’s first MADD Chapter during the 1980s. Dee<br />
quickly became MADD’s N<strong>at</strong>ional Vice President and<br />
was among MADD N<strong>at</strong>ional’s leaders responsible for<br />
its gre<strong>at</strong>est success, the N<strong>at</strong>ional Minimum Drinking Age<br />
Act <strong>of</strong> 1984. After leaving MADD, Dee conceptualized,<br />
planned and implemented the Attorney General’s<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> Victims Assistance. She served three years as<br />
the executive director <strong>of</strong> th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice. Upon leaving st<strong>at</strong>e<br />
government, Dee began her broadcasting career. Along<br />
with her husband Russ, Dee enjoyed a 20-year radio<br />
career which included nearly five years on both radio<br />
and television simultaneously. Dee has made numerous<br />
guest appearances on major television shows including<br />
NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America<br />
and CBS’s Early Morning, The Montel Williams Show,<br />
Hannity and Colmes, The O’Reilly Factor, Neil Cavuto<br />
and The Lou Dobbs Show. Dee earned a Decided Black<br />
Belt in Taekwondo Kar<strong>at</strong>e and is the mother <strong>of</strong> two,<br />
grandmother <strong>of</strong> two and “Mommy” to three Rhodesian<br />
Ridgebacks, with whom Dee and Russ share their home.<br />
4.) Mr. Fred Gray, Jr.<br />
Fred D. Gray, Jr., Esq., is a Partner in the Law Firm <strong>of</strong><br />
Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray & N<strong>at</strong>hanson,<br />
where he has been an <strong>at</strong>torney for the past 21<br />
years. Born in Montgomery, Ala., he is the child <strong>of</strong><br />
famed civil rights <strong>at</strong>torney Fred D. Gray and the l<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Bernice H. Gray. Gray <strong>at</strong>tended public schools in<br />
Macon County, Ala., and gradu<strong>at</strong>ed from <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Christian High School in Montgomery. He gradu<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
with the Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Arts Degree in Political<br />
Science from Morehouse College, <strong>at</strong>tained the Juris<br />
Doctor<strong>at</strong>e Degree from Howard <strong>University</strong> School <strong>of</strong><br />
Law and is licensed to practice law in <strong>Alabama</strong> and<br />
Washington, D.C. Gray is an Elder <strong>at</strong> the Tuskegee<br />
Church <strong>of</strong> Christ, where he teaches young adult bible<br />
classes, among other responsibilities. He is a member<br />
<strong>of</strong> many pr<strong>of</strong>essional, political and civic organiz<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
including, but not limited to N<strong>at</strong>ional Bar Associ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Democr<strong>at</strong>ic Conference, Tuskegee Civic Associ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
NAACP, PTA and Omega Psi Phi Fr<strong>at</strong>ernity,<br />
Inc. He serves as Vice President for Legisl<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Advocacy with the <strong>Alabama</strong> PTA and Vice President<br />
for the St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> Omega Psi Phi Fr<strong>at</strong>ernity. He<br />
and his wife, Bridgett, have two children.<br />
1.)<br />
2.)<br />
3.)<br />
2.) Ms. Ginny MacDonald<br />
Ginny MacDonald has worked with The <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
News for 19 years as a reporter and assistant fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
editor; she began writing the Driver’s Side column in<br />
1999. The column <strong>at</strong>tracts between 20 and 25 written<br />
questions and comments each week, plus numerous<br />
phone calls and “hey yous” on the street. A n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>of</strong><br />
south <strong>Alabama</strong>, Ms. MacDonald moved from Pensacola,<br />
Fla., to <strong>Birmingham</strong> in 1990. She has previous<br />
journalism experience as a magazine editor, newspaper<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ures editor and metro editor. Ms. MacDonald previously<br />
worked with the now-defunct <strong>Alabama</strong> Journal.<br />
Her husband, John, is assistant internet editor <strong>at</strong> the<br />
News. She has two children, Brad and John M<strong>at</strong>thew,<br />
as well as two grandchildren.<br />
3.) Mr. Clay Ingram<br />
Clay Ingram has served as the Public Rel<strong>at</strong>ions and Marketing<br />
Manager for AAA <strong>Alabama</strong> for over five years.<br />
His current responsibilities include st<strong>at</strong>e-wide media rel<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
traffic safety coordin<strong>at</strong>ion and legisl<strong>at</strong>ive initi<strong>at</strong>ives.<br />
He formerly served as Marketing Director for SouthWare<br />
Innov<strong>at</strong>ions, Inc. in Auburn, Ala. He also has served as<br />
the General Manager <strong>of</strong> the Durham Braves Baseball<br />
Club in Durham, N.C. He has worked as the Communic<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Director for a U.S. Congressional Campaign<br />
and as the Sports Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Director <strong>at</strong> Auburn <strong>University</strong><br />
- Montgomery. Clay is a Gulf War veteran, having<br />
served five years in the U.S. Air Force. He is a n<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
<strong>of</strong> Ashland, Ala., and a gradu<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Auburn <strong>University</strong>.<br />
He also volunteers as a youth baseball and basketball<br />
coach. He and his wife, K<strong>at</strong>ie, have two sons, Jake and<br />
Zack.<br />
5.) Mr. Gene Vonderau<br />
Gene Vonderau has served as the Director <strong>of</strong> Safety<br />
and Member Services for the <strong>Alabama</strong> Trucking<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>ion since 1999. The associ<strong>at</strong>ion is made<br />
up <strong>of</strong> large and medium-sized trucking companies<br />
and allied firms, the majority <strong>of</strong> which are based in<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>. Vonderau is a gradu<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Fort Wayne<br />
Commercial College and holds the Certified Director<br />
<strong>of</strong> Safety design<strong>at</strong>ion from the North American<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Management Institute. He serves on the<br />
board <strong>of</strong> directors <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> Oper<strong>at</strong>ion Lifesaver,<br />
and the advisory boards <strong>of</strong> the truck technician<br />
programs for Lurleen B. Wallace Community College<br />
in Opp, Ala., and Lawson St<strong>at</strong>e Community College<br />
in Bessemer, Ala. He also sits on several committees<br />
for the American Trucking Associ<strong>at</strong>ion Safety Council.<br />
He has been in the trucking business for nearly 40<br />
years and has directed the safety programs for three<br />
trucking companies, ranging in size from 450 to 1100<br />
trucks, oper<strong>at</strong>ing in the 48 continental st<strong>at</strong>es and five<br />
provinces <strong>of</strong> Canada.<br />
4.)<br />
5.)<br />
Specific Accomplishments 47
1.)<br />
2.)<br />
3.)<br />
4.)<br />
5.)<br />
PANEL 3: LEGISLATION, REGULATION & ENFORCEMENT<br />
This panel reviewed legisl<strong>at</strong>ive and regul<strong>at</strong>ory approaches for addressing distracted driving, enforcement issues and public <strong>at</strong>titudes.<br />
1.) Dr. Bill King<br />
Bill King is Divisional Director <strong>of</strong> the Southeast Child<br />
Safety Institute, a child injury prevention program <strong>of</strong><br />
Children’s Hospital <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>. His Division includes the<br />
Regional Poison Control Center, the Pedi<strong>at</strong>ric Telephone<br />
Triage program, the <strong>Alabama</strong> Safe Kids Campaign, the<br />
Think First program, and the Children’s Connection Line.<br />
Bill has practiced <strong>at</strong> Children’s Hospital since 1978. King<br />
received his BS in Pharmacy from Samford <strong>University</strong><br />
and his Masters and Doctor<strong>at</strong>e from the UAB School <strong>of</strong><br />
Public Health. King is Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Pedi<strong>at</strong>rics in the UAB<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Medicine and Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Epidemiology<br />
in the UAB School <strong>of</strong> Public Health. He has authored<br />
numerous works in the peer reviewed liter<strong>at</strong>ure. King has<br />
served on the <strong>Alabama</strong> Child De<strong>at</strong>h Review Team, the<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Safe Kids Campaign Technical Advisory Committee<br />
and in other st<strong>at</strong>e and local advisory committees.<br />
He has received several recognitions and awards for his<br />
work in childhood injury prevention including two U.S.<br />
Consumer Product Safety Commission awards <strong>of</strong> service,<br />
Outstanding Service Award to Child Injury Prevention by<br />
the American Academy <strong>of</strong> Pedi<strong>at</strong>rics and the William<br />
Henry Sanders Award in recognition <strong>of</strong> service to the<br />
public health by the Medical Associ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the St<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Alabama</strong>.<br />
2.) Col. J. Christopher Murphy<br />
J. Christopher Murphy was sworn in as director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Safety in December<br />
2006, upon his appointment by Gov. Bob Riley. Col.<br />
Murphy’s focus for public safety is improved effectiveness<br />
and efficiency, and his leadership has sparked adultbased<br />
trooper training, increased traffic safety, improved<br />
Driver’s License services, construction <strong>of</strong> a new academy<br />
in partnership with Postsecondary Educ<strong>at</strong>ion, and<br />
leadership development. The colonel commands almost<br />
1,500 employees who staff the Administr<strong>at</strong>ive, <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Bureau <strong>of</strong> Investig<strong>at</strong>ion, Driver’s License, Highway P<strong>at</strong>rol,<br />
Protective Services, and Service divisions. A 30-year<br />
law enforcement veteran, Col. Murphy began his career<br />
with the Auburn Police Department. He then served as a<br />
special agent with the Tennessee Bureau <strong>of</strong> Investig<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
before joining the U.S. Secret Service. Col. Murphy’s tenure<br />
with the Secret Service included protective details for<br />
presidents, vice presidents and foreign heads-<strong>of</strong>-st<strong>at</strong>e; and<br />
criminal investig<strong>at</strong>ions, including financial and computer<br />
crimes. Upon retirement from the service in 2006, Col.<br />
Murphy was special agent in charge <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />
District, managing <strong>of</strong>fices in <strong>Alabama</strong> and Mississippi. A<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>of</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>, Col. Murphy earned an undergradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
degree <strong>at</strong> Auburn <strong>University</strong> and a master’s degree<br />
<strong>at</strong> Troy <strong>University</strong>. Col. Murphy and his wife have three<br />
sons.<br />
3.) Mr. Terry Henderson<br />
Terry Henderson is the St<strong>at</strong>e Coordin<strong>at</strong>or – <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Office <strong>of</strong> Highway Safety (AOHS) <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)<br />
– Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division (LETS).<br />
The <strong>Alabama</strong> Office <strong>of</strong> Highway Safety manages all<br />
grant funding received from the N<strong>at</strong>ional Highway Traffic<br />
Safety Administr<strong>at</strong>ion (NHTSA). Mr. Henderson coordin<strong>at</strong>es<br />
the activities <strong>of</strong> the nine <strong>Alabama</strong> Community Traffic<br />
Safety Program Coordin<strong>at</strong>ors, the Child Passenger Safety<br />
Coordin<strong>at</strong>or and the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor<br />
and Department Program Managers. The major goal for<br />
the AOHS is to reduce Traffic F<strong>at</strong>alities and major injuries<br />
resulting from Highway Traffic Crashes. Mr. Henderson is<br />
a member and Co- Chairman <strong>of</strong> the St<strong>at</strong>e Safety Coordin<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
Committee, Chairman <strong>of</strong> the St<strong>at</strong>e Traffic Records<br />
Coordin<strong>at</strong>ing Committee, and serves as the <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
Senior Law Enforcement Liaison. He is also a member <strong>of</strong><br />
the St<strong>at</strong>e Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board<br />
and Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory<br />
Board. Mr Henderson is a n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>of</strong> Chambers County,<br />
a gradu<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Auburn <strong>University</strong>, and currently resides in<br />
Ashland, Ala.<br />
4.) Sen. JT “Jabo” Waggoner<br />
J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner, a <strong>Birmingham</strong> n<strong>at</strong>ive, is serving<br />
his fifth term in the <strong>Alabama</strong> Sen<strong>at</strong>e after serving 1966-<br />
1983 in the House <strong>of</strong> Represent<strong>at</strong>ives. Sen. Waggoner<br />
is president <strong>of</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> Business Consultants, LLC. He<br />
received his B.A. degree from <strong>Birmingham</strong> Southern College<br />
and his J.D. degree from <strong>Birmingham</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Law.<br />
He and his wife, Marilyn are the parents <strong>of</strong> four children:<br />
Scott (deceased), Mark, Lyn Waggoner Kilp<strong>at</strong>rick, and<br />
Jay. He serves on the following boards: United Cerebral<br />
Palsy, Metropolitan Development Board, Better Business<br />
Bureau, Gre<strong>at</strong>er <strong>Birmingham</strong> Convention and Visitors Bureau,<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Sports Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame, and Pinnacle Bank.<br />
He served as head coach <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Touchdown<br />
Club and was president <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Birmingham</strong> Tip-Off<br />
Club. Pursuant to Sen<strong>at</strong>e Rule 47(i), Sen. Waggoner<br />
was elected Sen<strong>at</strong>e Minority Leader in the 2002-2006<br />
quadrennium, and re-elected for the current quadrennium<br />
on Jan. 16, 2007. Under the provisions <strong>of</strong> Rule 47(j),<br />
Sen. Waggoner, as Sen<strong>at</strong>e Minority Leader, is a voting<br />
member <strong>of</strong> all Sen<strong>at</strong>e Standing Committees, except the<br />
local legisl<strong>at</strong>ion committees and the Rules Committee.<br />
Sen. Waggoner has the longest record <strong>of</strong> service <strong>of</strong> any<br />
legisl<strong>at</strong>or from Jefferson County in <strong>Alabama</strong> history.<br />
5.) Rep. Jim McClendon<br />
Jim McClendon retired from his priv<strong>at</strong>e optometry practice<br />
upon beginning his first term in the <strong>Alabama</strong> Legisl<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
in 2002. He currently is serving his second term. McClendon<br />
did his undergradu<strong>at</strong>e work <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> Southern<br />
College and received his Doctor <strong>of</strong> Optometry from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Houston. He served in the Navy Medical<br />
Service Corps in Vietnam and afterwards taught clinical<br />
optometry <strong>at</strong> UAB. He was in priv<strong>at</strong>e practice in Leeds<br />
and Moody, Ala., for many years. He is a past president<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Alabama</strong> Optometric Associ<strong>at</strong>ion and a former<br />
board member <strong>of</strong> St. Anne’s Home and the Jefferson<br />
County Health Planning Commission. He was a founding<br />
director <strong>of</strong> the Davis Lake Fire Department and serves<br />
on several committees <strong>at</strong> First United Methodist Church<br />
<strong>of</strong> Springville. McClendon also serves on several House<br />
standing committees and joint House-Sen<strong>at</strong>e committees.<br />
He is chairman <strong>of</strong> the St<strong>at</strong>e Safety Coordin<strong>at</strong>ing Committee<br />
and member <strong>of</strong> the Joint Prison Oversight Committee,<br />
Joint Sunset Committee, House Health Committee and the<br />
House County and Municipal Government Committee.<br />
48<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
UAB UTC Fe<strong>at</strong>ured in RITA Spotlight Newsletter<br />
Each month, RITA’s <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Centers<br />
Program publishes a much anticip<strong>at</strong>ed, widely dissemin<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
newsletter highlighting noteworthy findings or<br />
other significant accomplishments reported by one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Centers in its n<strong>at</strong>ional network.<br />
This past June, 2010, the UTC Spotlight Newsletter fe<strong>at</strong>ured<br />
findings from the UAB UTC study which examined<br />
and analyzed the impact <strong>of</strong> urban sprawl on delays emergency<br />
service providers are likely to experience while<br />
traveling to an emergency site as well as from such sites<br />
to appropri<strong>at</strong>e hospitals or trauma centers.<br />
By way <strong>of</strong> background, urban sprawl is an increasingly<br />
common development p<strong>at</strong>tern in the US, characterized<br />
by low-density construction, poor street connectivity,<br />
and single-use zoning. Urban planning and public health<br />
research show th<strong>at</strong> urban sprawl increases trip distances<br />
and traffic density for personal automobile travel, which<br />
decrease travel efficiency. These findings led researchers<br />
to hypothesize th<strong>at</strong> urban sprawl may also be associ<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
with delays in the movement <strong>of</strong> emergency medical<br />
service (EMS) personnel and equipment to a site and<br />
subsequently to a tertiary care facility such as a trauma<br />
center.<br />
As described in his recently completed research project<br />
report, Urban Sprawl and Pre-hospital Emergency Care<br />
Time, M<strong>at</strong>thew Trowbridge, MD, MPH, and his team<br />
measured the rel<strong>at</strong>ionship between county-level urban<br />
sprawl and EMS response times in the US. Dr. Trowbridge<br />
determined urban sprawl to be associ<strong>at</strong>ed with<br />
increased EMS response time and a higher probability <strong>of</strong><br />
delayed EMS arrival following motor vehicle crashes. The<br />
probability <strong>of</strong> delayed EMS arrival is nearly twice as high<br />
in counties with prominent sprawl characteristics compared<br />
to counties with less urban sprawl.<br />
UAB UTC’s research confirm<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> urban sprawl’s<br />
associ<strong>at</strong>ion with increased EMS response times underscores<br />
the importance <strong>of</strong> considering future land use and<br />
its potential impact on the delivery <strong>of</strong> emergency care<br />
services. Moreover, we know the lagging <strong>of</strong> medical<br />
infrastructure behind residential development in sprawling<br />
suburban areas distances such communities from<br />
major trauma and tertiary care centers. Less expensive<br />
home prices in sprawling urban areas tend to <strong>at</strong>tract lower<br />
income popul<strong>at</strong>ions, including the elderly, who <strong>of</strong>ten have<br />
limited access to transport<strong>at</strong>ion. D<strong>at</strong>a have confirmed th<strong>at</strong><br />
both demographic groups are <strong>at</strong> higher risk for emergency<br />
medical issues and the need for EMS services. EMS<br />
service is increased per capita in the same sprawling areas<br />
where it is more difficult and expensive to provide.<br />
Working to reconfigure street networks in existing<br />
suburban areas to reduce their sprawling characteristics<br />
will take time. In the interim, it is reasonable to consider<br />
reorganizing pre-hospital and hospital resources to better<br />
compens<strong>at</strong>e for the impact <strong>of</strong> urban sprawl on emergency<br />
response. The results <strong>of</strong> this research, combined with<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion from other rel<strong>at</strong>ed UAB UTC-sponsored<br />
research projects, are being used to help develop land<br />
use and public safety recommend<strong>at</strong>ions. It is hoped these<br />
recommend<strong>at</strong>ions will help change the way communities<br />
are planned and the way hospital and other health care<br />
resources are alloc<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
The UAB UTC is working to help achieve livable, sustainable,<br />
and healthy communities through projects like<br />
Urban Sprawl and Pre-hospital Emergency Care Time<br />
and other complementary research efforts. For a copy <strong>of</strong><br />
the UTC Spotlight Newsletter fe<strong>at</strong>uring this UAB UTC<br />
research project or for additional inform<strong>at</strong>ion about this<br />
project or the other UAB UTC-sponsored projects, we<br />
invited you to visit the UAB UTC website,<br />
www.uab.edu/utc.<br />
Specific Accomplishments 49
50<br />
New Research Labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
Targeting Distracted Driving<br />
Established by UAB UTC<br />
When UAB UTC Leadership selected Dr. Despina<br />
(Dessie) Stavrinos to become the UTC’s first Post-<br />
Doctoral Fellow in the Spring <strong>of</strong> 2009 and Dr. Russ Fine<br />
agreed to be her mentor, leadership already knew Dessie<br />
was an energetic, intellectually honest young investig<strong>at</strong>or.<br />
They also knew she would use the multiple skill-sets she<br />
acquired and honed during her post-gradu<strong>at</strong>e fellowship<br />
<strong>at</strong> the UAB UTC to become a highly successful transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
research scientist and educ<strong>at</strong>or. Wh<strong>at</strong> they didn’t<br />
know was how quickly Dr. Stavrinos would make the<br />
most <strong>of</strong> the opportunities provided through her affili<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with the UAB UTC.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> her prepar<strong>at</strong>ion for post-doctoral training, Dr.<br />
Stavrinos conceptualized and designed a research project<br />
th<strong>at</strong> had been approved by UAB UTC Leadership and selected<br />
for funding by the UAB UTC Advisory Board. Her<br />
position provided a salary consistent with UAB guidelines<br />
for post-doctoral students, <strong>of</strong>fice space and the opportunity<br />
to conduct her research project. Many people would<br />
have been happy to stop right here – not Dr. Stavrinos.<br />
Before her first <strong>of</strong>ficial day as the UTC’s post-doctoral<br />
trainee, Dr. Stavrinos expanded her original, UAB UTC<br />
sponsored research award and acquired supplemental<br />
funding by securing a modest grant award from Children’s<br />
Hospital <strong>of</strong> Philadelphia (CHOP). The CHOP award<br />
enabled her to add a component to her existing UAB UTC<br />
research project, something th<strong>at</strong> would not have been possible<br />
without the initial UAB UTC award. Dr. Stavrinos<br />
now had two sources <strong>of</strong> funding, an expanded research<br />
project, a salary and an <strong>of</strong>fice. Once again, many people<br />
would have been happy to stop there, but not Dr. Stavrinos.<br />
Soon after beginning her Post-Doctoral training on June 1,<br />
2009, Dr. Stavrinos established the Transl<strong>at</strong>ional Research<br />
for Injury Prevention (TRIP) Labor<strong>at</strong>ory ® <strong>at</strong> the UAB<br />
UTC (www.triplabor<strong>at</strong>ory.com). The TRIP ® Lab’s mission<br />
is to provide a scientific environment th<strong>at</strong> promotes the<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> knowledge intended to increase our understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> the behavioral aspects <strong>of</strong> distracted driving<br />
among teens and young adults and then transl<strong>at</strong>e those<br />
findings into injury prevention and control practice. Since<br />
its establishment less than a year ago, well over a dozen<br />
gradu<strong>at</strong>e and undergradu<strong>at</strong>e students have been a part <strong>of</strong><br />
the TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory research group. Working in the TRIP<br />
Lab <strong>of</strong>fers a unique opportunity for students to learn about<br />
research and something about how non-traditional<br />
disciplines can actually have important roles in the<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010<br />
“As a psychologist by<br />
training, it’s deeply<br />
rewarding to see<br />
traditional transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
disciplines demonstr<strong>at</strong>e a<br />
keen appreci<strong>at</strong>ion for behavioral research’s role<br />
solving critical transport<strong>at</strong>ion issues.”<br />
Dr. Despina (Dessie) Stavrinos<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion field. Some students are earning course<br />
credit for their work in the TRIP Lab. (See Winter 2009<br />
UAB UTC UPDATE for more details www.uab.edu/utc.)<br />
Work being conducted in the TRIP Lab is not going<br />
unnoticed. Within the past year, Dr. Stavrinos has been<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ured numerous times in print, electronic and television<br />
media, both n<strong>at</strong>ionally and intern<strong>at</strong>ionally, explaining and<br />
discussing the impact <strong>of</strong> distracted driving. She served as<br />
the Research Panel moder<strong>at</strong>or <strong>at</strong> the <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted<br />
Driving Summit and, along with UAB UTC Director Dr.<br />
Russ Fine, was one <strong>of</strong> only two individuals from the St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> invited to <strong>at</strong>tend and particip<strong>at</strong>e in the US-<br />
DOT Secretary’s first N<strong>at</strong>ional Distracted Driving Summit<br />
in Washington, DC in l<strong>at</strong>e 2009.<br />
So, in the year since beginning her Post-Doctoral Fellowship<br />
with the UAB UTC, Dr. Despina Stavrinos has<br />
secured outside funding to supplement her research, established<br />
the novel, highly successful TRIP Labor<strong>at</strong>ory, been<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ured n<strong>at</strong>ionally and intern<strong>at</strong>ionally as a distracted driving<br />
expert, and is mentor to over a dozen students. Once<br />
again, most people would have been content to stop right<br />
here – but, you guessed it – not Dr. Stavrinos.<br />
In February 2010, Dr. Stavrinos obtained funding from the<br />
<strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong> (UTCA) to<br />
further expand her distracted driving research. This new<br />
project, Impact <strong>of</strong> Distracted Driving on Traffic Congestion,<br />
examines driver behavior in a virtual driving simul<strong>at</strong>or<br />
in different levels <strong>of</strong> traffic flow while engaging in<br />
various distracting activities. It also examines the factors<br />
th<strong>at</strong> predict risky driving behavior in the varying traffic<br />
and distraction conditions. Dr. Stavrinos and the TRIP<br />
Lab group are in the process <strong>of</strong> recruiting participants for<br />
this study.<br />
As she is quick to point out, “Without the research experience<br />
and the resources made possible by the support <strong>of</strong><br />
the UAB UTC, I would not have been able to achieve as<br />
much as I have in such a short period <strong>of</strong> time.”<br />
Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008<br />
in crashes involving a distracted<br />
driver, and more than half a<br />
million were injured. (NHTSA)
UAB UTC Welcomes New UTC Scientist and<br />
Forges New Partnership with UAB School <strong>of</strong> Nursing<br />
UAB UTC leadership is pleased and gr<strong>at</strong>ified to be able<br />
to announce the affili<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Karen He<strong>at</strong>on, RN, PhD,<br />
an Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Nursing in the UAB School <strong>of</strong><br />
Nursing’s Department <strong>of</strong> Community Health, Outcomes,<br />
and Systems. Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on serves also as the Occup<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Health Nursing Program Director for the N<strong>at</strong>ional Institute<br />
<strong>of</strong> Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Safety and Health (NIOSH) funded<br />
Deep South Center for Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Safety and Health.<br />
In her faculty practice role, Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on serves as a Nurse<br />
Practitioner <strong>at</strong> the City <strong>of</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong> Occup<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Health Clinic, and has experience as a staff nurse and<br />
nurse practitioner in emergency nursing and as a nurse<br />
practitioner in a facility providing occup<strong>at</strong>ional health<br />
services to more than 20 businesses in the Louisville,<br />
KY area.<br />
Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on received her BSN from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong><br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>, an MSN degree from the <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Louisville, a post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner<br />
certific<strong>at</strong>e from George Washington <strong>University</strong>, and a PhD<br />
degree in nursing from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Kentucky.<br />
Between 2004 and 2007 Dr.<br />
He<strong>at</strong>on was recipient <strong>of</strong> a Dr. Karen He<strong>at</strong>on<br />
predoctoral fellowship known<br />
as the Ruth Kirchenstein N<strong>at</strong>ional Research Service<br />
Award for dissert<strong>at</strong>ion research from the N<strong>at</strong>ional Institute<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nursing Research. Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on used this research award<br />
to complete an important study focusing on performance<br />
actigraphy and sleep in long-haul truck drivers. She was<br />
also named as an Honors Scholar when she received the<br />
2009 Health Disparities Research Training Award from<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>.<br />
Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on’s appointment as a UTC Scientist coupled<br />
with her current involvement as Co-Principal Investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
on a UTC-driven grant proposal, along with Dr. Despina<br />
Stavrinos, holds gre<strong>at</strong> promise for the UTC’s linkage with<br />
scientists from UAB’s highly regarded School <strong>of</strong> Nursing.<br />
Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on’s program <strong>of</strong> research on obstructive sleep<br />
apnea indic<strong>at</strong>ors and risk factors for injury and cardiovascular<br />
disease in workers has resulted in opportunities as<br />
invited participant to NIOSH’s Public Meeting on Survey<br />
<strong>of</strong> Truck Driver Injury and Health, and as Consultant for<br />
the American College <strong>of</strong> Chest Physicians’ Sleep Educ<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Program.<br />
Dr. He<strong>at</strong>on’s research interests focus on rel<strong>at</strong>ionships<br />
between sleep restriction and injury risk in long haul truck<br />
drivers; obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular risk<br />
in workers; evalu<strong>at</strong>ing interventions th<strong>at</strong> may reduce the<br />
risks <strong>of</strong> injury and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. <br />
She has written and published on topics such as sleep and<br />
motor vehicle crashes, identifying variables th<strong>at</strong> predict<br />
falling asleep <strong>at</strong> the wheel in long-haul truck drivers and<br />
truck driver hours <strong>of</strong> service regul<strong>at</strong>ions: the collision <strong>of</strong><br />
policy and public health.<br />
Specific Accomplishments 51
UAB UTC Assists Fellow UTCs in Research Selection<br />
UAB UTC leaders have as a core value, the belief th<strong>at</strong><br />
leaders <strong>of</strong> all federally funded research centers must be<br />
ever-mindful th<strong>at</strong> the money they are privileged to spend<br />
on behalf <strong>of</strong> their centers and the research, educ<strong>at</strong>iontraining<br />
and service projects conducted therein comes<br />
from and belongs to the American taxpayers.<br />
At the UAB UTC, our fundamental, underlying oper<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
principle is th<strong>at</strong> the taxpayers deserve to have their money<br />
spent in a judicious, efficient and effective manner. Part<br />
<strong>of</strong> being a good steward <strong>of</strong> taxpayer money is making<br />
sure th<strong>at</strong> funded research projects meet or exceed a high<br />
standard <strong>of</strong> excellence. This includes assuring th<strong>at</strong> high<br />
standards <strong>of</strong> excellence in research are not only pursued<br />
but also met by UAB UTC scientists. In other words, a<br />
thorough research project review process is essential to<br />
selecting first-r<strong>at</strong>e project proposals th<strong>at</strong> will best serve<br />
the taxpayers who underwrite them.<br />
Being a responsible steward <strong>of</strong> taxpayer money is a<br />
defining characteristic <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC. The UAB UTC<br />
Leadership not only embraces a sense <strong>of</strong> responsibility for<br />
the f<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the money awarded to its UTC, but also for the<br />
f<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the money awarded to other UTCs. In support <strong>of</strong><br />
this commitment, the UAB UTC Leadership makes every<br />
<strong>at</strong>tempt to avail an appropri<strong>at</strong>e staff member as a research<br />
project reviewer for other UTCs whenever possible.<br />
This year, Dr. Russ Fine and Dr. Andrea Underhill volunteered<br />
to review, critique, score and make “fund / do not<br />
fund” recommend<strong>at</strong>ions for several research proposals<br />
submitted to Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Northwest <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Washington. TransNow, as the Center is most commonly<br />
referred, is a Regional <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Center (UTC) administered by the USDOT through RITA.<br />
Similarly, Dr. Despina Stavrinos volunteered to review,<br />
critique, score and make “fund / do not fund” recommend<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
for the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research Center<br />
(UTRC) <strong>at</strong> the City College <strong>of</strong> New York.<br />
UAB UTC Exploring<br />
Partnership with Volvo<br />
In early August, Dr. Russ Fine, Mr. Jeffrey Foster and Dr.<br />
Despina Stavrinos traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina<br />
to meet with Dr. Karin Svensson and Dr. Jan Hellager <strong>of</strong><br />
Volvo Technology – North America (VTEC). The meeting’s<br />
purpose was to explore a potential partnership with<br />
Volvo to conduct a new line <strong>of</strong> research examining<br />
distracted driving and heavy truck oper<strong>at</strong>ors. We are<br />
pleased to report the exchange was very positive and the<br />
UAB UTC’s present<strong>at</strong>ion well-received by VTEC<br />
represent<strong>at</strong>ives.<br />
Subsequent to the early August meeting, Drs. Svensson<br />
and Hellager presented the UAB UTC collabor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
concept to other Volvo Truck scientists in Sweden. Subsequently,<br />
UAB was advised th<strong>at</strong> VTEC was “positive”<br />
about the concept <strong>of</strong> merging the two projects; and, th<strong>at</strong><br />
VTEC represent<strong>at</strong>ives would notify NTRCI <strong>of</strong>ficials about<br />
the important conceptual accord th<strong>at</strong> had been reached.<br />
As this is written, UAB UTC represent<strong>at</strong>ives and VTEC<br />
leadership from the Greensboro, NC <strong>of</strong>fice are continuing<br />
the partnership discussions to determine whether the two<br />
independent proposals can, in fact, be merged <strong>at</strong> this l<strong>at</strong>e<br />
stage <strong>of</strong> the NTRCI award process.<br />
52<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
UAB UTC Exploring Partnership with Auburn <strong>University</strong><br />
The UAB UTC and Auburn <strong>University</strong> have joined forces<br />
to help improve transport<strong>at</strong>ion safety. UAB UTC Director,<br />
Dr. Russ Fine, and Dr. Jay Goldman, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director<br />
Emeritus <strong>of</strong> Research and Scientific Oversight along with<br />
Mr. Jeff Foster, Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
Finance are working with Auburn <strong>University</strong>’s Dr. Robert<br />
Thomas, Dr. Jerry Davis, Dr. Rich Sesek, and Dr. Woojin<br />
Park to explore the most efficient and effective ways to<br />
integr<strong>at</strong>e UAB’s epidemiology, medical and modeling<br />
capabilities with Auburn’s Industrial and Systems (INSY)<br />
Engineering Department’s Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Safety, Ergonomics,<br />
and Injury Prevention research group (http://www.<br />
eng.auburn.edu/ie/ose/index.htm).<br />
Following an initial meeting this past May in <strong>Birmingham</strong>,<br />
Jeff Foster met with Auburn <strong>of</strong>ficials and toured<br />
their facilities near the <strong>University</strong>. Subsequently, Mr. Foster,<br />
Dr. Seseck, and Dr. Park toured the N<strong>at</strong>ional Center<br />
for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) with Dr. Buzz Powell,<br />
Assistant Director and Test Track Manager (http://www.<br />
nc<strong>at</strong>.us). The NCAT facility is a one <strong>of</strong> a kind facility.<br />
While the vast majority <strong>of</strong> research <strong>at</strong> the track is focused<br />
on asphalt performance, the entire facility has been fully<br />
instrumented and provides the ideal loc<strong>at</strong>ion for a variety<br />
<strong>of</strong> research efforts.<br />
Following the tour <strong>of</strong> the test track facilities, Mr. Foster<br />
was shown the Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Safety, Ergonomics and Injury<br />
Prevention (OSE/IP) facilities <strong>at</strong> the recently completed<br />
Shelby Center for Engineering Technology on the campus<br />
<strong>of</strong> Auburn <strong>University</strong>. This st<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the art building houses<br />
the OSE/IP group’s labor<strong>at</strong>ory facilities and <strong>of</strong>fices. The<br />
Auburn OSE/IP group is unique. They combine traditional<br />
occup<strong>at</strong>ional safety and ergonomics research with<br />
biomechanics and modeling. These capabilities are <strong>of</strong><br />
gre<strong>at</strong> interest to UAB UTC leadership who have expertise<br />
with impact biomechanics and finite element modeling.<br />
Bringing together all <strong>of</strong> this research expertise under one<br />
umbrella is critical to the UAB UTC’s goal <strong>of</strong> improving<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion safety. Current discussions between the<br />
Auburn OSE/IP group and the UAB UTC have centered<br />
on mass transit, EMS, pedestrian safety, and distracted<br />
driving research projects, as well transport<strong>at</strong>ion work zone<br />
health and safety projects.<br />
Additionally, another collabor<strong>at</strong>ive research effort addressing<br />
distracted driving risks and sleep disorders<br />
among commercial truckers is being mounted by UAB<br />
UTC faculty researchers Dr. Despina Stavrinos and<br />
Dr.Karen He<strong>at</strong>on with the NCAT test track facilities.<br />
This proposed project, if funded, will <strong>at</strong>tempt to evalu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
the impact <strong>of</strong> visual and cognitive distraction, sleep,<br />
medic<strong>at</strong>ion use, age and cognition<br />
on driving performance.<br />
On average, 102 people died<br />
each day in motor vehicle<br />
crashes in 2008<br />
— one every 14 minutes.<br />
Specific Accomplishments 53
UTC Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director Particip<strong>at</strong>es in Regional Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Workforce Development Conference<br />
As the “Baby Boomers” race toward retirement, the transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
field finds itself facing a serious shortage in both<br />
its current and future workforces. Due to the emphasis<br />
being placed on the problem by the Secretary <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
Ray LaHood, the UAB UTC has redirected some<br />
<strong>of</strong> its resources and time to try to help increase the size<br />
and capacity <strong>of</strong> the transport<strong>at</strong>ion workforce both current<br />
and future.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> UAB’s commitment to help address this problem,<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster, UAB UTC Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director,<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ed in the May 11, 2010 Workforce Development<br />
Conference in Nashville, TN. The conference, hosted<br />
by The Center for Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Research (CTR) <strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Tennessee, Knoxville, was a day-long event<br />
th<strong>at</strong> brought together individuals and entities th<strong>at</strong> need<br />
and rely on a spectrum <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion workers and the<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ions th<strong>at</strong> educ<strong>at</strong>e and train this workforce component.<br />
The primary focus <strong>of</strong> the discussion was on the<br />
high school, community college and technical school<br />
sectors in the southeastern<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es. Conference<br />
participants included represent<strong>at</strong>ives<br />
from transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
agencies <strong>at</strong> the federal, st<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
and local levels; educ<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
institutions and rel<strong>at</strong>ed government<br />
agencies; transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
carriers, contractors and<br />
suppliers; and elected decision<br />
makers.<br />
Mr. Jeffrey Foster<br />
Coming SOON<br />
AL Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Workforce<br />
Development<br />
Conference.<br />
UAB UTC Planning<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Workforce<br />
Development Conference<br />
In response to the rapidly escal<strong>at</strong>ing need for qualified<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion workers in all fields (engineers, oper<strong>at</strong>ors,<br />
lawyers, accountants, etc), the UAB UTC will sponsor a<br />
workforce development conference. As currently envisioned,<br />
the <strong>Alabama</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Workforce Development<br />
Conference will be conducted before the end <strong>of</strong><br />
2010 or in the first quarter <strong>of</strong> 2011.<br />
The UAB UTC is currently engaged in the early phases<br />
<strong>of</strong> the planning effort with plans to expand particip<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to other stakeholders in the near future. When additional<br />
conference details are available they will be posted on the<br />
UAB UTC website (www.uab.edu/utc) and on the UAB<br />
UTC’s Twitter account (UABUTC).<br />
54<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
Workforce Development in Real Time:<br />
Crystal Franklin Joins UTC Staff<br />
Former UTC student intern, Crystal Franklin, has returned to the<br />
UTC as a full-time staff member. Crystal, the UTC’s 2009 Summer<br />
Intern, supports UTC Leadership in a variety <strong>of</strong> Center-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
activities including grant writing, administr<strong>at</strong>ive duties, webinar<br />
planning and by providing invaluable assistance with various<br />
research projects. Crystal is a gradu<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Huntingdon College in<br />
Montgomery, AL, and received her Master <strong>of</strong> Public Health, with<br />
a concentr<strong>at</strong>ion in Epidemiology, in August 2009. Crystal can be<br />
reached <strong>at</strong> crynklin@uab.edu.<br />
Crystal is not the first former student employee/intern to return<br />
to the UTC, or to its sister Center, the Injury Control Research<br />
Center (ICRC), in a full-time capacity. Jeff Foster, who has risen<br />
through the ranks to th<strong>at</strong> <strong>of</strong> the UAB UTC’s current Associ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion and Finance, came to the ICRC as an<br />
intern approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 6 years ago. Dr. Despina Stavrinos, the UAB<br />
UTC’s Second Post-Doctoral Fellow, started her pr<strong>of</strong>essional career<br />
with the Center as a Gradu<strong>at</strong>e Research Assistant. Dr. Andrea<br />
Underhill, former UAB UTC Associ<strong>at</strong>e Director for Administr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Finance, began her pr<strong>of</strong>essional UAB career as an ICRC<br />
Student Assistant, as did Ms. Carrie Connolly, MPH and Ms.<br />
K<strong>at</strong>herine Terry Harper, MPH , both <strong>of</strong> whom were former UAB<br />
UTC educ<strong>at</strong>ional liaisons, coming, originally to the Center as<br />
student workers.<br />
The UAB UTC has established, as a priority, the early identific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and nurturing <strong>of</strong> students (high school through post-doctoral<br />
studies) for possible pr<strong>of</strong>essional careers in the vast field <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The priority is being pursued through several distinct<br />
but rel<strong>at</strong>ed p<strong>at</strong>hways. Our Minority Enrichment Summer Internship<br />
targets exceptional high school students during the summer<br />
following their gradu<strong>at</strong>ion and their first m<strong>at</strong>ricul<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> a college<br />
or university. This program being oper<strong>at</strong>ed by the UAB UTC in<br />
conjunction with the Jefferson County (<strong>Alabama</strong>) Youth Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Program (described elsewhere in this document) and UAB’s<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> the Vice President for Equity and Diversity is assuring<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the brightest and the best high school gradu<strong>at</strong>es are being<br />
exposed to a broad constell<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional opportunities in<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion. Further, undergradu<strong>at</strong>e students as well as masters<br />
and doctoral students from a variety <strong>of</strong> disciplines are working as<br />
part time research assistants on various transport<strong>at</strong>ion research,<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion and training projects across the center. The Center is<br />
also providing annual one to three year post-doctoral fellowship<br />
positions to qualified individuals holding doctoral degrees who<br />
are focusing or re-focusing their pr<strong>of</strong>essional career aspir<strong>at</strong>ions on<br />
some relevant aspect <strong>of</strong> transport<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Crystal Franklin, MPH<br />
Jeff Foster, MPH<br />
Despina Stavrinos, PhD<br />
Andrea Underhill, PhD<br />
Carrie Connolly, MPH<br />
K<strong>at</strong>herine Terry Harper, MPH<br />
Specific Accomplishments 55
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Dr. David Brown<br />
On Dec. 3, 2009, as part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Alabama</strong> Distracted<br />
Driving Summit luncheon, the UAB UTC, along with<br />
the <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center for <strong>Alabama</strong> and<br />
the Center for Advanced Public Safety (both <strong>of</strong> which are<br />
headquartered <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> in Tuscaloosa),<br />
presented Dr. David Brown with the inaugural Lifetime<br />
Achievement Award th<strong>at</strong> was established and named<br />
in Dr. Brown’s honor. This award which will be presented<br />
to deserving recipients on an annual basis was presented<br />
to Dr. Brown in recognition <strong>of</strong> his “unparalleled vision<br />
in pushing science to new limits in the advancement <strong>of</strong><br />
traffic safety.”<br />
The proclam<strong>at</strong>ion inscribed on the award read:<br />
“Dr. Brown has made invaluable contributions to highway<br />
and traffic safety, including the cre<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> unique<br />
traffic safety s<strong>of</strong>tware used by federal, st<strong>at</strong>e and local<br />
agencies throughout America. The importance<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dr. Brown’s lifelong work to reduce injuries<br />
and de<strong>at</strong>hs resulting from motor vehicle crashes is<br />
incalculable, and the goodness and decency <strong>of</strong> this<br />
kind, generous and humble man is incomparable.<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> and the World are better places because<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dr. Brown’s commitment to excellence.”<br />
Center; and a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UAB UTC Advisory Board.<br />
Dr. Brown has worked on behalf<br />
<strong>of</strong> traffic safety in the st<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> Dr. David Brown<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> since the 1970s, having<br />
now amassed more than 35 years experience in the design<br />
and development <strong>of</strong> computerized systems to facilit<strong>at</strong>e<br />
traffic safety and law enforcement oper<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Accepting the award on Dr. Brown’s behalf were his<br />
children, Ms. Lesley Brown Garland <strong>of</strong> Sacramento,<br />
California and Dr. Jon<strong>at</strong>han Brown <strong>of</strong> Silver Springs,<br />
Maryland.<br />
Dr. Brown is Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Computer Science <strong>at</strong><br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong>; Deputy Director <strong>of</strong><br />
the Center for Advanced Public Safety; a Senior<br />
Scientist <strong>at</strong> the UAB Injury Control Research<br />
Dr. Dan Turner,retired, former director <strong>of</strong> the UTCA presents the Lifetime Achievement<br />
Award established in his honor to Dr. Brown’s children, Dr. Jon<strong>at</strong>han<br />
Brown and Ms. Lesley Brown Garland, both <strong>of</strong> whom traveled across the<br />
country to accept the award on behalf <strong>of</strong> their f<strong>at</strong>her, Dr. David Brown, whose<br />
recent illness prevented him from being in <strong>at</strong>tendance.<br />
56<br />
uab utc annual report 2009-2010
funding, sources & expenditures<br />
2009-2010<br />
expenditures for UAB UTC<br />
Research 39.65%<br />
Other* 33.08%<br />
Administr<strong>at</strong>ion 18.52%<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion 5.29%<br />
Technology Transfer 3.46%<br />
TOTAL 100.00%<br />
Other*<br />
Travel 7.30%<br />
Supplies 3.64%<br />
Memberships 0.26%<br />
F&A 88.80%<br />
TOTAL 100.00%<br />
NOTE: The UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center is fully-funded by the U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion, and is not required to m<strong>at</strong>ch DOT funding.<br />
funding, sources section & expenditures heading 57
UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center<br />
CH19 401 • 933 19th Street South<br />
1530 3rd Avenue South<br />
<strong>Birmingham</strong>, AL 35294-2041<br />
205.934.7845<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion visit us on-line or<br />
Follow the UAB UTC on Twitter!<br />
www.uab.edu/utc<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> our continuing efforts to provide and receive the most up-to-d<strong>at</strong>e traffic safety and injury control inform<strong>at</strong>ion, the UAB UTC<br />
has established a Twitter account. To follow us on Twitter, search for UABUTC or click the link on our website (www.uab.edu/utc).<br />
The UAB <strong>University</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Center is supported in part by Grant No. DTRT06-G-0048, U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Transport<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
Research and Innov<strong>at</strong>ive Technology Administr<strong>at</strong>ion to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Birmingham</strong>.