Representative Project Experience
Rail Corridor Risk Management System –
Developed as a demonstration project to support the freight rail industry in
performing safety and security route risk analyses for security-sensitive
chemicals, the system has grown to nationwide use to meet the federal regulatory
requirements of HM-232E. VRT architected the freight rail industry's technical
solution, including web and desktop applications, and completed data integration
and enhancement, training, and outreach to the system users. In concert with our
business partner ABS Consulting, VRT also facilitates a group of 30 railroad
executives and employees to identify and address industry, system, and user
issues.
GIS Network Dataset Development –
for a Class I railroad, VRT developed, and continues to enhance, a
carrier-specific routable GIS network to support risk analysis and
regulatory-based data needs. This includes geometric editing to ensure
topological integrity, programmatic determination of operationally feasible
movements, development and implementation of risk analysis parameters, and
customization of the risk analysis model to utilize carrier-specific data. |
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Operational Risk Analysis –
VRT developed a risk ranking methodology for transloading hazardous materials.
Addressing the safety of transferring specific hazmat commodities at each
transfer location in the rail network, VRT used GIS analysis of existing
facilities to develop critical supporting data.
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Route Risk Analysis Reports –
VRT supports risk management decision makers (e.g., chemical shippers,
transporters, and insurance underwriters) by conducting route risk assessments
and alternative route evaluation analyses that consider travel time and
distance; accident and conditional release probabilities potential exposure to
people, surface water, and natural hazards; and proximity to special areas of
security or safety concern.
Portfolio Reports –
VRT developed comprehensive analyses that allow corporate decision makers to
compare all hazardous materials movements (the corporate transportation
portfolio) to understand total exposure and compare risks associated with mode,
route, shipping, and packaging alternatives.
Evacuation Planning –
for the National Capital Region, VRT supported a large evacuation modeling
initiative through inventory and analysis of critical infrastructure, at-risk
populations, response resources, transit assets, and dynamic traffic and
population patterns. |
Hazardous Materials Research –
VRT staff have extensive experience in hazmat research, including leading
projects involving incident/crash analysis, motor carrier security plans, safety
and security-based routing guidance, security threat and consequence analysis,
and regulatory evaluation support. VRT is supporting a project for the
Transportation Research Board focused on developing a planning guide for
assessing emergency response needs and capabilities for hazardous materials
releases.
Critical Facility Response Support –
for a nuclear power operator, VRT developed an analysis methodology and
implementation plan to assess coverage areas and population exposure affected by
emergency alert sirens. The analysis was a key element in the successful
approval by FEMA of the emergency siren alert plan.
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Logistics Technology Support –
for the United States
Coast Guard, VRT designed and developed database-driven applications for
management of Reliability Centered Maintenance information. Key activities
included building the web application, developing an integrated data
environment, data management, reliability engineering, and developing and
implementing a process workflow support application.
Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) –
VRT performed software IV&V for FEMA’s HAZUS-MH application, which implements
their methodology for estimating potential losses from disasters (earthquakes,
floods, and hurricanes). VRT performed installation, functional and acceptance
testing, and provided software development life cycle guidance.
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