InfraTalk America

24/07/2024

During last fall's American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, InfraTalk Podcast Host and InfraTalk America Publisher Gregory Nadeau spoke with Executive Director of Utah DOT Carlos Braceras as part of our InfraTalk on the Road series.

Executive Director Braceras discussed the importance of using 3-D modeling during the design-build process and the critical role public-private partnerships play in advancing innovation in the transportation infrastructure industry.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3SlJwmM

22/07/2024

Infotech announced last week that it was being acquired by Diversis Capital, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles.

In the press release, the construction and infrastructure software development company stated the acquisition will provide them with the financial resources and expertise to greater expand their digital project delivery solutions. Additionally, they will be able to advance new innovative products that will benefit the thousands of customers who use their wide-ranging software suite.

“We’ve built a great company with great products and services, and Diversis will now help us accelerate our speed to market, enhance our solutions, and increase value to better serve current customers while also reaching a broader audience,” said Tom Rothrock, co-founder of Infotech.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Lx18s6

Acquisition provides Infotech the opportunity to fast-track innovation and offer new products to their customers. Infotech, a construction software development company, announced in a press release late last week that they are being acquired by Diversis Capital, a private equity firm. The acquisitio...

18/07/2024

Earlier this week, Trimble Inc. announced they would be expanding their partnership with Esri to further boost the adoption and integration of geographic information system (GIS) software in the construction and infrastructure management industry.

This initiative, which was announced at the 2024 Esri User Conference in San Diego, CA, is designed to optimize and streamline workflows as well as enable more sustainable processes.

"By more tightly integrating our advanced geospatial technologies and industry solutions with Esri’s market-leading ArcGIS software, we are making it easier for our customers to achieve unparalleled accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability in their projects. Together, we can enhance the way people build and manage infrastructure to create safer, smarter and more resilient communities worldwide,” said Chris Stern, vice president of corporate ventures and partnerships at Trimble.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4bOlQyr

Through this deeper partnership, the two major construction software companies will offer greater technology integrations and more comprehensive asset lifecycle management solutions. Earlier this week, Trimble announced they would be expanding their partnership with Esri to further boost the adoptio...

16/07/2024

A unified voice and dedicated organization working on the shared interests of its members is super important when it comes to advancing innovative solutions. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Keith Platte, director of AASHTOWare®, discusses the incredible impact the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has in working on behalf of its 52 members to move innovation forward in the transportation industry.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3Lx9wYt

11/07/2024

State transportation agencies are already seeing the effects of climate change on their infrastructure and transportation systems. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Secretary of California State Transportation Agency, Toks Omishakin, discusses the impact climate change has had on the state of California and his agency's work. He also shares how important it is for the industry to tackle today’s transportation problems with modern solutions.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4eYacng

10/07/2024

When getting more funding for projects or the implementation of innovation, it is important that elected officials hear from state departments of transportation on their needs. State DOT CEOs do not set policy or appropriate money. That is the job of elected officials. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Secretary of WSDOT, Roger Millar, discusses the important role innovation plays in making our nation's infrastructure safer, resilient, and more efficient. He also touches on the need for elected officials to hear from the DOTs and their partners in the industry when it comes to decisions being made about funding and policy.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3zMeH4b

09/07/2024

Trimble Inc. recently launched a new comprehensive asset lifecycle management software suite titled Trimble Unity. The software package includes several different programs that are designed to help users plan, design, construct, and manage their assets more efficiently.

“Trimble Unity is designed to make it easier for asset owners to achieve core goals — improve asset performance, enhance stakeholder collaboration and optimize capital and operational budgets — as efficiently as possible,” said Cyndee Hoagland, senior vice president, Owner and Public Sector.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3xDyKS0

Friday, June 28th, Trimble announced the launch of Trimble Unity, a new asset lifecycle management software suite. The software package includes several different programs that are designed to help users plan, design, construct, and manage their assets more efficiently. The programs include: Trimble...

02/07/2024

As serious traffic injuries and fatalities continue to be high, it is critically important that we implement innovations that increase safety on our nation's roadways. In this InfraTalk on the Road episode, former Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation and President of Steudle Executive Group, Kirk Steudle, discusses roadway safety and how other countries are ahead of the curve when it comes to implementing traffic cameras.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3W7xgJ6

28/06/2024

Instead of reinventing the wheel and building software from scratch, open API allows state DOTs the opportunity to utilize software that has already been developed. This special episode of the InfraTalk Podcast features a panel discussion that we hosted at the 2024 Trimble Inc. Innovate User Conference. Panelists include Janet Treadway from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Matthew Valle from Infrastructure Ventures, Brian McInnis and Doug Reichard from Trimble, and Chris Engle from the Ohio Contractors Association.

Listen in as they discuss driving the standardization of digital project delivery throughout the industry, the importance of collaboration between agencies and organizations, and the impact Every Day Counts has had in digitizing the industry: https://bit.ly/4chxyCE

27/06/2024

As climate change continues to intensify, our state transportation agencies are grappling with its negative effects on our nation's infrastructure. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Joyce Taylor, chief engineer for MaineDOT, discusses how many times state DOTs are first responders to climate issues.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3zlXQ8g

25/06/2024

Innovative digital project delivery solutions have been crucial to reducing the industry's use of paper, promoting sustainability, increasing efficiency, and addressing the chronic workforce shortage. In this episode, Russell McMurry, commissioner at Georgia Department of Transportation, discusses the benefits of digitizing the project delivery and construction management processes.

Listen in: https://bit.ly/3zb04Hq

20/06/2024

The rapid development of technology has increased efficiency, as well as the pace of our daily lives. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Carlos Braceras, executive director of Utah DOT, discusses how we as a society have never been busier. As a result, we must figure out how to manage our time and implement innovation.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3KSX3hG

18/06/2024

As the industry continues to adopt and mainstream new, innovative technologies, it is critical that different software systems are communicating with each other. In this InfraTalk on the Road episode, Keith Platte, director of AASHTOWare®, shares how AASHTOWare's Alliance program can play a role in helping members achieve their goals of integrating compatible technology into their systems. He also discusses how through using the AASHTOWare Suite, members can create a seamless flow between their planning, design, bidding, construction, and asset management processes.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3XmYNqW

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

06/06/2024

Every Day Counts (EDC) is an initiative that was started by Federal Highway Administration as a way to identify and deploy proven, yet underutilized innovations. Created by former FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez and former FHWA Deputy Administrator turned ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau, EDC has been extremely successful in mainstreaming innovation across the Federal-Aid Highway Program.

Listen in as Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Roger Millar, shares how his state used the EDC program to convert their street lights to LED: https://spoti.fi/45ccXwS

30/05/2024

When trying to advance innovation throughout the Federal-Aid Highway Program, it is important to be able to point to projects where the technology you are trying to implement has been extremely beneficial. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, former Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation and President of Steudle Executive Group, Kirk Steudle, discusses his passion for technology, the positive impact it is having on our industry, and the role pilot projects play in advancing state of practice.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3VicEgF

23/05/2024

Peer exchanges play an important role in getting innovation implemented across our transportation network. In particular, they provide an opportunity for industry members to learn about the new technologies their peers are utilizing. In this "InfraTalk on the Road" episode, Joyce Taylor, chief engineer for the MaineDOT, speaks with ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau about the impact climate change is having on our transportation projects, Maine DOT's leadership in the use of sustainable composite structures, and the value in listening to your peers when making decisions.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4bscxov

16/05/2024

It is essential that our transportation system is centered around the people it is meant to serve. In honor of , this month's episode of the InfraTalk Podcast features a conversation with Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, Toks Omishakin. Secretary Omishakin and Host Gregory Nadeau discuss the importance of implementing innovation into the project delivery process, CalSTA's four core values (safety, equity, climate action, and economic prosperity), and Omishakin's illustrious career in the transportation industry.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3wBD9Eq

15/05/2024

Implementing innovation is vital to addressing our industry's biggest challenges and improving our nation's infrastructure. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry chats with ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau at the 2023 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting. They discuss the role technology plays in driving down deaths and serious injuries on our country's roadways, addressing the workforce shortage that is affecting state DOTs, and increasing efficiency in project delivery.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/44Ix6uc

08/05/2024

Transportation is the backbone of our country. While InfraTalk America was at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting last fall, ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau interviewed Executive Director of the Utah DOT, Carlos Braceras, as part of our InfraTalk on the Road series. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, they chat about the vital role our transportation network plays in our everyday lives, UDOT's reputation for being innovative, and the importance of both trust and giving space for mistakes when it comes to advancing innovation in our industry.

Listen in: https://spoti.fi/3WxzbHx

30/04/2024

Partnerships and alliances are vital to advancing innovation throughout the Federal-Aid Highway Program. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, InfraTalk America Publisher Gregory Nadeau speaks with AASHTOWare® Director Keith Platte as part of our "InfraTalk on the Road" series. They discuss AASHTOWare's history, the evolution of software development, the program's three different types of alliances, and how new technology is making the industry safer and more efficient.

Listen in: https://spoti.fi/3UExdn3

29/04/2024

Last week, we released 6 podcast episodes as part of our "InfraTalk on the Road" series. These episodes were recorded during the 2023 AASHTO Annual Meeting and include conversations with state DOT CEOs, chief engineers, and private sector leaders. Our first conversation is with immediate past President of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and current Secretary of Washington State Department of Transportation, Roger Millar.

Listen in as Millar talks with ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau about WSDOT's major infrastructure projects including the 520 floating bridge, the longest floating bridge in the world, his time as AASHTO president, and the importance of building resilient infrastructure: https://bit.ly/3wdzbS3

18/04/2024

A lot of progress has been made in creating a more diverse and equitable industry. However, there is still much work that needs to be done. In our latest podcast episode, Shawn Wilson, national agency coordination leader for transportation and infrastructure at WSP in the U.S., reflects on the historic moment in which he became the first African American president in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)'s 107-year history. He also discusses the importance of investing in transportation infrastructure projects that create pathways to equity, his tenure at Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's role in ensuring that our transportation system serves every American.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3vZJvNC

15/04/2024

A key initiative funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act is the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program. This U.S. Department of Transportation initiative seeks to bridge neighborhoods that were intentionally divided during the Interstate Era. In a recent podcast episode, Executive Director of the Federal Highway Administration, Gloria Shepherd, talks about the importance of bringing communities back together and ensuring that these community members are able to access vital resources. Through innovative solutions, like freeway caps, individuals in disenfranchised neighborhoods can walk over busy interstates. This allows for better access to jobs, grocery stores, healthcare centers, and more.

Listen to Executive Director Shepherd speak about this first-of-its-kind program, here: https://bit.ly/4a3TNLf

04/04/2024

Collaboration between Federal Highway Administration, state DOTs, and the private sector is instrumental in advancing innovation throughout the Federal-Aid Highway Program. In a recent episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, FHWA Executive Director Gloria Shepherd discusses how she is working to ensure the agency becomes more proactive when it comes to innovation and technology. She also iterates that while the universities and private sector have come up with these transformative solutions, the application lies with FHWA and the states.

"That's the nice marriage that comes from working with the private sector and the universities," said Shepherd. "You have to have that complete connectivity between the actual technology and the implementation."

Stream the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4a3TNLf

03/04/2024

As the industry transitions to digital and there is an influx of data, transportation agencies are trying to figure out how to set data standards. In "Fast Forward Your Digital Roadmap," a virtual webinar hosted by Federal Highway Administration last month, an expert panel of state DOT leaders gave tips on how the industry can set data standards for digital construction. They include:

1. Define What’s Important to Know
2. Ensure the Accuracy of the Data
3. Ensure Conformity Across Divisions
4. Make the Standards Legible
5. Develop a Data Dictionary
6. Seek Other Perspectives

For the full article, go to: https://bit.ly/49hTBa8

The top six organizational suggestions from FHWA’s Expert Panel to build the framework to achieve digital project delivery When it comes to digital construction, everyone is trying to answer the same questions: What data is important to retain? In what format? According to an expert panel, includi...

28/03/2024

The future of the transportation infrastructure industry is digital. In this special episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Melissa Batula, P.E., principal program manager for HDR and former executive deputy secretary for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), sits down with Publisher Gregory Nadeau. They discuss PennDOT's Digital Delivery Directive 2025, which Batula spearheaded when she was at the agency; the role the private sector plays in advancing innovation throughout the Federal Aid Highway Program; why it is important for transportation agencies to take more risks when it comes to adopting new technologies; and how the workforce shortage presents an opportunity to rethink how we, as an industry, have been doing things.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3IWpWbL

27/03/2024

As digital construction technologies become more mainstreamed in the transportation infrastructure industry, proper data collection and governance are essential. In "Fast Forward Your Digital Roadmap," a two-day virtual conference hosted by Federal Highway Administration last week, industry leaders discussed the importance of identifying what data points are important for agencies to track, organizing the collected data, and determining user needs.

“Who is the steward of the data? What is our retention policy?” Those are the kinds of questions that needed to be resolved, said Stefanski, MnDOT’s Asset Management Program Office Director. “We know what the cost is to get the data and we know there’s value in it.”

Learn more about how leading DOTs are working toward functional data libraries, here: https://bit.ly/43y1BCH

How Leading DOTs are Working Toward Functional Data Libraries Agencies that are digitizing their construction process can generate an overwhelming amount of data. “We can get a lot of data and very overwhelmed,” said WSP’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director Jag Mallela, during the sec...

21/03/2024

Federal Highway Administration's 11th Executive Director, Gloria Shepherd, made history when she assumed the role in October 2022. In the 53 years since the agency's founding, Gloria is the first woman and African American to hold the position. In our most recent episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, she reflects on her inspiring professional journey, the importance of extending the ladder for the next generation of transportation professionals, and the current administration's mission to build a more sustainable and climate resilient transportation network.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4a3TNLf

14/03/2024

Paula Hammond has broken numerous glass ceilings. In addition to being the first woman to be appointed secretary of WSDOT, she is also the first woman and former state DOT CEO to serve as board chair of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). We recently had the incredible opportunity to interview Paula as part of our InfraTalk on the Road series at the 2023 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. During their conversation, Paula and ITA Publisher Gregory Nadeau discussed the importance of a diverse and equitable workforce, the role innovation plays in addressing the industry's chronic workforce shortage, and the importance of representation.

“Civil engineering has struggled over the years to get more diverse and to grow," says Hammond. "The computer engineering world that I live in in Seattle. You know, they take people away from the kinds of dirty boots engineering that we grew up to do. And so that’s a challenge. But the opportunity, the upside, is there is space and room for women and minorities to join the ranks of DOTs; and, to really, truly represent the populations that we are serving.”

Stream the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3Tz0YFv