From the Director: For the past three years, the Midwest Transportation Consortium (MTC) has focused its efforts in

supporting the development and use of asset management systems in transportation. The MTC’s main

focus is on human capital development—promoting educational and work experience programs that will

help train the next generation of leaders for the transportation industry, particularly in our four-state

region. Asset management concepts have been incorporated into a number of courses at the six MTC

consortium member schools. For example, the Spring Transportation Seminar offered within the region

via Internet-based videoconferencing technology has been focused on asset management topics for the

past several years. A related focus on transportation security (unfortunately needed after September 11,

2001) was also implemented this past year. More than 30 graduate students in five diverse academic

disciplines (including civil and construction engineering, urban planning, transportation logistics, and

geography) now complete their academic programs with an excellent understanding of the state of the

practice of transportation asset management. They will become new leaders in transportation, whether in

government, consulting, or academia.

The MTC’s research program is ending its third year of operation and recently issued its fourth request

for research proposals in Fall 2002. Final reports from the first three years of operation of the program are

now being reviewed, published, and disseminated. Over two hundred thousand dollars in new research

projects are expected be approved during the first half of 2003. The MTC’s long-term research goal is to

build a portfolio of projects involving several million dollars in Federal University Transportation Center

(UTC) and matching funding that will make it easier for government agencies and companies to

implement transportation asset management systems. The MTC’s research focus has been on asset

management tools and techniques. One special area of emphasis at Iowa State University is the use of

remote sensing and other spatial data for asset management. This effort effectively leverages Iowa State

University’s roles as both a University Transportation Center and as a member of the National

Consortium on Remote Sensing (NCRS) in Transportation Infrastructure. The latter consortium is an

effort to commercialize remote sensing technological development from the space program and defense

activities.

The MTC also plays a role in terms of outreach and technology transfer activities related to asset

management and Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34) in our region.

During 2002, the MTC sponsored or co-sponsored several workshops related to access management and

GASB 34. One example workshop held in Kansas City at the end of the MTC’s most recent fiscal year

provided most of the regional planning commissions in Iowa and Missouri with an overview of asset

management concepts and the requirements associated with GASB 34. This workshop was intended to

allow the regional planning commissions to begin to assist their clients (small cities and rural counties)

with asset management-related issues.

As transportation asset management moves into “production mode”, the Midwest Transportation

Consortium strives to be of assistance at both a regional and national level. The MTC is currently

involved in efforts by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO) to create an Asset Management Institute and with planning for the next National

Transportation Asset Management Workshop.