CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB
http://www.chattanooga.net/engineers/CEC.htm
Volume LI           October 2, 2000     12:00 noon
                            The Cellar at Union Square

THIS WEEK_______________________________________________________________

Gene Shatlock, Tennessee Area Vice President, Mike Davis, Area Product 
Development Manager, and Lamar Pearson, Operation Manager, of Comcast 
Communications, will discuss residential high-speed data services.
Comcast@Home is a broadband network.  It is an interactive online service 
brought to personal computer via a high speed cable modem, and existing cable 
infrastructure. 
The data transmission speed of the cable modem is hundreds of times faster 
than a traditional phone modem. Faster speed allows subscribers to enjoy 
multimedia content such as video and audio clips and 3-D virtual reality 
images. Graphics and multimedia download in seconds. 
Cable modem can download up to 100 times faster than the average 28.8 modem, 
which means you can download a 10mb file in 27 seconds, or 47 minutes via 
28.8 phone modem.
LAST WEEK_______________________________________________________________
Bill Allen, Transportation Planner with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County 
Regional Planning Agency informed the members on Intelligent Traffic System 
(ITS), TDOT's HELP program - Incident Management System, and the proposed 
I-75 interchange that would provide access to the 940 acre Volunteer Army 
Ammunition Plant site.
ITS is the use of technology to improve the efficiency of transportation 
system.  Technology has impacted the transportation industry and its 
planning.  Cellular phones have improved communication.  Electronic message 
boards such as the fog detection system and traffic alert on I 75 are used 
extensively.  Information kiosks are in every welcome station.  Home 
computers with access to the Internet, and map software are used in trip 
planning.  Traffic cameras are being installed to track violations.  Loop 
detectors are used to collect data.  Traffic signal controls are updated with 
current data.  Weight stations for commercial vehicles may have cameras and 
electronic equipment to eliminate stops.  TDOT's HELP programs are in place 
to shorten congestion caused by immobilized vehicles.
The HELP program, or the Incident Management System, is the free service 
provided to assist stranded motorists, clear the roadway following crashes, 
and promote highway safety.  More than 60% of all congestion are caused by 
crashes, disable vehicles, and debris in the roadway.  25% of freeway crashes 
in Tennessee are secondary, a result of an earlier incident that had not been 
cleared.
HELP trucks are authorized Emergency Vehicles that patrol the most heavily 
travelled freeways.  Currently, TDOT has installed the program in Nashville, 
Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga.  In Chattanooga, they operate between 6 
a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.  There are 3 to 4 vehicles on our 
freeways depending on the shift.  They average 65 stops per day.  Bob 
Vanhorn, a HELP supervisor, presented some slides, and talked about some of 
the recent incidents.
Mr. Allen, as promised, showed the map of the Volunteer Site, and its yellow 
brick road, the possible access to I 75.  The proposed access will be a 
multiple phase construction.  The first project may involve providing access 
to Apison Pike for Collegedale traffic.  The volunteer site access will 
connect to the same point at I-75, providing a link to Highway 58.  
For more information on all of today's topics, visit www.tdot.state.tn.us
 
COMING PROGRAM________________________________________________________

October 9 - Dr. Craig A. Depken, PE of Design Associates, Inc.,  "How 
Technologies can be used in the presentation of facts in courtroom 
litigation".
October 16 - Shannon Boss, Tennessee Donor Services.
October 23 - Steve Leach,   "Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant site, its 
history, and its road access to the community."




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