Approved Minutes of Committee Meeting: January 1998

 Statistical Methodology and Statistical Computer Software in Transportation Research, A5011 

Holmes Room, Marriott Hotel

January 18, 1998

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Olga Pendleton, followed by self-introduction of members and friends.

1. Attendance

A attendance roster of members and friends who attended the meeting is attached. 

2.  Agenda

The agenda is attached.

3. General Items for the Record

 An announcement (attached) was prepared and distributed to all TRB committees at the annual 1999 meeting notifying them again about the activities of our committee.  This same annoucement was distributed at the 1998 annual meeting.  The purpose of the announcement was to gain the attention of TRB committees in declaring our interest in participating in professional activities of mutual interest which includes the annual paper review process.   A couple of committee members strongly expressed the need for the committee to assign individuals (member or friends) to certain committees and have these individuals coordinate directly with the paper review chairs of these committees in forwarding papers to our committee requiring a statistical review.  It was recommended that this announcement should be sent again to all TRB committees right before the paper review process for the 1999 annual TRB meeting to maintain awareness of the services our committee can provide.  The announcement could be a part of the second edition of the newsletter discussed later in the minutes. 

4. Committee Program 

a) Sessions 

The committee sponsored four sessions at the 1998 annual meeting:

 1)         Session #181 (Statistical Methods for Transportation: Recent Research)

2)         Session #215 (Statistical Methodology in Transportation Research)

3)         Session #377 (Statistical Applications in the Evaluation of Benefits and Costs of ITS technologies)

4)         Meet the Author session with Dr. Ezra Hauer

b) Papers

Eight papers were reviewed by the committee with seven of them being safety related.

5. Committee Business 

(a) Subcommittee reports

 Newsletter - An overview of an outline for a committee newsletter was presented \by Gary Spring.   A draft layout sheet for the newsletter is attached.  Robert Scopatz volunteered to be the editor of the newsletter and will receive input from several members and friends.  Dick Weed volunteered to write a statistical article for the newsletter.  It was decided that the first edition of the newsletter will be prepared and completed within a reasonable period of time after the annual meeting.  The second edition will be prepared and completed by the 1998 TRB paper review period which starts in early September.  Editions of the newsletter will be distributed to committee members, friends, chairpersons of other TRB committees, Rick Pain of TRB, and other interested parties. 

Web Page  - Jennifer Ogle presented the committee’s Web page.  Jennifer is our Web Master.  The new and improved Web page can be found at: http://san-antonio.tamu.edu/TRB/statistics.htm 

Members should go to Web page to complete or update their profile when they get a chance.

Survey of Statistical Software Packages - David Hunt presented a draft survey of statistical software packages (survey is attached) used by transportation professionals.  The objective of the survey is to provide a reference for transportation professionals when selecting a statistical software package.  There was significant discussion regarding the use of the survey and several suggestions for improvement were provided.  One suggestion made was to get review results of statistical software from Chance and American Statistical Association (ASA) publications.  Another suggestion made was to get the statistical computing section of ASA to provide input on a draft version of the survey.  There are still many questions remaining on who will fill out the survey and who is the intended audience.  Additional comments on the survey are encouraged and should be directed to David Hunt.  One final note is the language of the survey’s disclaimer needs to be reviewed by TRB’s attorneys before the survey is circulated.

Problem Statements - Dick Weed briefed the committee on the status of problem statement “Optimal Acceptance Procedures for Statistical Construction Specifications”.  This problem statement is being sponsored by our committee and A2F03 committee.  The problem statement received the #1 ranking out of 46 problem statements balloted by 39 state highway agencies.  A funding commitment in excess of the targeted value of $200,000 has been received and the project has been approved as pooled-fund study SPR-2 (199).  Dick Weed indicated he could provide updates on the progress of this problem statement in the committee newsletter.   

Human Factors Workshop - Ted Chira-Chavala presented an idea for the 1999 Human Factors Workshop.  This idea includes: (1) how to collect and analyze data concerning road-user knowledge and behaviors affecting traffic safety, and (2) how to acquire and analyze data concerning some performance aspects of transit vehicle drivers.  Ted spoke to some individuals in California who would like to conduct the workshop but who do not usually attend the TRB annual meeting.  These individuals will not come to do the workshop in Washington, D.C. if their travel and per diem expenses are not covered.  TRB does not cover their expenses for individuals leading workshops.  The issue facing the committee now is whether we can find other individuals that will conduct the workshop based on Ted’s ideas without the need for financial support or generate suggestions for alternative workshop ideas.  Michael Griffith is willing to represent the committee at TRB’s planning meeting for the 1999 Human Factors workshop if there are committee ideas for a workshop with some good candidates to lead a workshop.  

Mid-Year Meeting - Carolee Bush agreed to lead the coordination of the mid-year meeting (time and location of mid-year meeting is shown below under “Other Business”).  She will be responsible for keeping committee members and friends informed about registration and arrangements for the meeting. 

Paper Review Process - Robert Hanson agreed to lead the coordination of the                paper review process for the 1999 annual TRB meeting.

Video Theater - Ed Milton is willing to get the videotape series “Against All Odds” to show at the 1999 annual TRB meeting if the committee thinks it is a good idea.  We need to reserve a room at the TRB meeting by October 1, 1998.

6. Other Business