United States Department of Transportation Technology Research Program

In 1999, while at ASL Consulting Engineers, Bill Lyte was asked by NASA JPL to propose on a transportation research project. The concept was to use satellite imagery (remote sensing) to analyze elements of the $2.5 billion Alameda Corridor freight rail project, then under construction. The proposal was successful, and Mr. Lyte, with JPL, became part of a 13-university, 3-federal laboratory consortium assessing remote sensing.

The program manager for Mr. Lyte’s section was U.C. Santa Barbara, Mr. Lyte’s alma mater (Dr. Val Noronha; Dr. Michael Goodchild). The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were project participants, as was CSU Long Beach. T

he first project, “Assessment of Intermodal Connectors to the Federal Highway System along the Alameda Corridor with Remote Sensing and GIS”, was completed in 2002.

From this first study, as strong working group was built and successfully competed for follow-on federal funding. This team, managed out of U.C. Santa Barbara (Noronha/Goodchild), is in its second year focused on GPS tracking systems for intermodal vehicles. The team includes the USDOT, BNSF, the California Trucking Association, venture capitalist John Glanville, the Port of Seattle, ESRI and other major team members. As the technologies are commercialized, they are being showcased within the emerging port technology cluster in San Pedro and Long Beach, and ultimately through the CALMITSAC technology program nationally.