NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

is chartered as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Center of Excellence for large space transportation
propulsion system testing. This charter has led to many unique test facilities, capabilities and advanced technologies provided
through the supporting infrastructure. SSC has conducted projects in support of such diverse activities as liquid, and hybrid
rocket testing and development; material development; non-intrusive plume diagnostics; plume tracking; commercial remote
sensing; test technology and more. On May 30, 1996 NASA designated SSC the lead Center for rocket propulsion testing,
giving the Center total responsibility for conducting and/or managing all NASA rocket engine testing. Test services are now
available not only for NASA but also for the DoD, other government agencies, academia, and industry. This handbook was
developed to provide a summary of the capabilities that exist within SSC. It is intended as a primary resource document, which
will provide the reader with the top-level capabilities and characteristics of the numerous test facilities, test support facilities,
laboratories, and services. Due to the nature of continually evolving programs and test technologies, descriptions of the
Center’s current capabilities are provided. Periodic updates and revisions of this document will be made to maintain is
completeness and accuracy.
Author
Diagnosis; Engine Tests; Handbooks; Large Space Structures; Nonintrusive Measurement; Propulsion; Support Systems; Test
Facilities
20040071042 University Transportation Center for Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, Alabama Dept. of Transportation,
Montgomery, AL, USA
Development of a Statewide Bridge Database and Data Retrieval System
Graettinger, A.; Simmons, S.; May 2003; 30 pp.; In English
Report No.(s): PB2004-105459; UTCA-02403; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has amassed significant quantities of information related to
geotechnical subsurface data, construction drawings, and design information for transportation projects. This data is in a paper
format that makes it difficult to locate and to use in the design of new projects. This research project developed a pilot-scale
agency-specific GIS-based tool for a statewide geotechnical database and data retrieval system that can be expanded to include
virtually all of the geotechnical and subsurface structural information from across the State of Alabama. This new
geotechnical-GIS (Geo-GIS) application is a tool for storing both graphical and attribute geotechnical data that can be accessed
both spatially and through queries. This pilot study collected data from eight projects, which involved 18 bridges across the
State of Alabama. The Geo- GIS was designed with four GIS point layers: project, bridge, foundation, and soil boring. All
layers are linked to attribute database tables that have six to ten columns of object specific data. The layers are also linked
to a HTML page to access pre-construction and construction reports for the projects and bridges respectively. This pilot study
also investigated the level of effort and the file storage requirements for extending the scope of this project to the more than
18,000 bridges statewide, with a total estimated cost of $1.15 million.
NTIS
Data Bases; Data Retrieval; Document Markup Languages
20040071056 Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX
Estimating ITS Benefits: Guidelines for Evaluating ITS Products
Stockton, W. R.; Walton, C. M.; Goodin, G. D.; Turner, S. M.; Martello, M. T.; Mar. 2003; 218 pp.; In English
Report No.(s): PB2004-105024; TTI-0-1790; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A10, Hardcopy
This report summarizes the results of a multi-year research project that looked into the benefits of deploying intelligent
transportation systems (ITS) projects. In this report the researchers: summarize current estimates of the benefits of ITS
deployments, and present detailed guidelines for evaluating existing ITS projects and for estimating potential benefits of
prospective projects. In addition to describing what ITS is, the report addresses the range of benefits that can be expected from
ITS deployments, identifies key sources for updated benefits information in a highly dynamic field, and develops a sound and
consistent approach to setting goals and objectives and to measuring the benefits of ITS deployments. Using the detailed
evaluation guidelines, the report identifies data collection and evaluation methodologies for 28 of the most commonly
deployed market packages. Detailed evaluation ‘trees’ are presented in an appendix. These trees lead the user through a
comprehensive assessment of the goals, objectives, measures of effectiveness, and data requirements for each of the 28 market
packages. Additional appendices present detailed recommendations for analytical approaches to specific analyses associated
with various measures of effectiveness.
NTIS
Data Acquisition; Estimates; Evaluation; Smart Structures
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