The Driving Force

On this episode, Todd and Garrett continue highlighting LTRC's innovative geotechnical research efforts by welcoming Senior Geotechnical Research Engineer Nick Ferguson and Engineering Technician Consultant Chris Mertz to the show. Nick and Chris highlight how the team's engineers and lab personnel partner to plan and perform groundbreaking research across Louisiana. Louisiana Transportati...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett launch a new series highlighting the groundbreaking work of LTRC's Pavement & Geotechnical Research group. Research Administrator Gavin Gautreau joins us for an introduction to the content, scope, process, and everyday impact of his team's pavement and geotechnical investigations. Louisiana Transportation Research Center LTRC Pavement & Geotechnical Resear...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett wrap up our series with Louisiana DOTD's Structures Maintenance and Inspection Group by welcoming Group Administrator Haylye Brown and Bridge Engineer Jason Michiels to the show to discuss one of the most unique aspects of Louisiana's transportation infrastructure: our 100 movable bridges. Louisiana Transportation Research Center Louisiana DOTD Structures...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett continue to explore the inner workings of Louisiana DOTD's Bridge Maintenance Group by welcoming Bridge Maintenance Administrator Haylye Brown and Load Rating Engineer Billy Metcalf. This conversation focuses on their team's creative problem-solving approach to ensuring Louisiana's bridges remain safe for all of the state's road users, including he...

On this unique episode, Todd and Garrett are joined by Bridge Maintenance Administrator Haylye Brown and Louisiana Roadside Development Manager Ryan Duhon . They discuss Ryan and his team's impressive and extensive work to manage vegetation, control litter, and beautify Louisiana's roadsides- and how all of this work supports DOTD's maintenance and safety efforts. Louisiana Transportat...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett continue our series with Louisiana's DOTD Bridge Maintenance Group with a focus on structural bridge repair and rehabilitation across the state. Bridge Maintenance Administrator Haylye Brown and Maintenance Repair Engineer Bradley Mistich share how their team works both proactively and responsively to keep Louisiana's extensive bridge inventory in top oper...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett kick off an exciting new series on bridge maintenance in Louisiana by welcoming Bridge Maintenance Administrator Haylye Brown and Bridge Inspection Engineer Stephanie Doolittle . In this lively conversation, Haylye and Stephanie provide an overview of their team's efforts to thoroughly and consistently inspect the state's nearly 13,000 bridges, along with...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett wrap up our series with LTRC's Special Studies Research Group by welcoming Dr. Walid Alaywan , Senior Structures Research Engineer. Dr. Alaywan shares about a wide range of bridge and other structural projects across Louisiana, including the rebuilding of the I-10 Twin Span Bridge following Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana Transportation Research Center Special St...

Todd and Garrett continue our Special Studies Research Highlights series by welcoming Dr. Ashifur Rahman , LTRC's Planning and Intermodal Research Manager. In this conversation, Dr. Rahman discusses how he and his partners are working together on a broad range of high-impact projects related to the safety and efficiency of Louisiana's transportation system.

Dr. Milhan Moomen joins Todd and Garrett for a fascinating conversation about his work in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and traffic research, highlighting several current projects exploring and evaluating the latest technologies in transportation engineering and how they can be used for the benefit of road users across Louisiana. Louisiana Transportation Research Center Special Studies...

LTRC Safety Research Manager Dr. Elisabeta Mitran joins Todd and Garrett on this episode to share about the latest in her team's groundbreaking transportation safety research. She highlights several recently completed and in-progress projects exploring both infrastructure and behavioral factors that contribute to enhanced safety on Louisiana's roadways. Louisiana Transportation Research Ce...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett kick off a new series highlighting the work of LTRC's Special Studies Research Group. They are joined by Research Administrator Dr. Julius Codjoe , who provides an overview of the unique and diverse research performed by his team, along with some fascinating insights on his personal journey from Ghana to the United States. Louisiana Transportation Research Cen...

Todd and Garrett kick off Year Two of The Driving Force by sitting down with Dr. VJ Gopu, LTRC's Associate Director of External Programs. In this conversation, Dr. Gopu shares highlights from his decorated and far-reaching career in transportation and discusses the exciting research partnerships LTRC has across Louisiana, the United States, and beyond. Louisiana Transportation Research Center

In Part Two of our series with Louisiana DOTD's Pavement and Geotechnical Unit, Todd is joined by section head Chris Nickel and geotechnical engineers Jesse Rauser and Miranda Perkins. This conversation highlights how this talented team of engineers designs and monitors deep foundations, retaining walls, embankments, and other critical portions of Louisiana's transportation infrastructure....

On this episode, Todd and Garrett are joined by three members of DOTD's Pavement Design group- Chris Nickel, Mark Ordogne, and Xingwei Chen . This trio gives a fascinating overview of their group's day-to-day operations across Louisiana, highlighting how their ongoing efforts serve the state's traveling public. Louisiana Transportation Research Center DOTD Pavement Design

Professor Louay Mohammad, LTRC's longest tenured researcher, joins Todd and Garrett on this episode to reflect on his four decade career in teaching and materials research. He discusses what has changed in the transportation field since he began his work, as well as what keeps him excited and motivated at this stage of his accomplished career.

On this episode, Todd and Garrett welcome Drs. Zhen Liu and Ricardo Hungria, two members of LTRC's excellent and award-winning concrete research team. This conversation touches on several recently completed or in-progress projects and their potential impacts on the transportation system in Louisiana.

On this episode, Dr. Moses Akentuna and Saman Salari , two of LTRC's talented and hard-working asphalt research engineers, join Todd and Garrett to discuss several of their recently completed and in-progress projects, highlighting the positive impact of their work across Louisiana and beyond.

On this episode, Todd and Garrett are joined by Dr. Sam Cooper III, LTRC's Materials Research Administrator. In our conversation, Dr. Cooper provides an overview of how LTRC is making groundbreaking advances in materials research to create safer, more durable, and more cost-effective roadways across Louisiana.

On this episode, Todd and Garrett kick off our transportation research series with a conversation with LTRC's Associate Director of Research, Dr. Tyson Rupnow . In this interview, Dr. Rupnow provides us with an overview of the fantastic, groundbreaking research happening at LTRC every day. Louisiana Transportation Research Center LTRC Research Publications

On this episode, Todd and Garrett close out our Highway Safety series with a deep dive into how Louisiana DOTD collects, analyzes, and utilizes a broad range of safety and crash data from across the state. In this conversation, Assistant Highway Safety Administrator Jessica DeVille and Lake Charles District Traffic Operations Engineer Jared Chaumont provide an inside look at many of the tools and...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett continue our series on Highway Safety by welcoming Assistant Highway Safety Administator Laura Riggs to discuss Louisiana's Highway Safety Improvement Program. In this conversation, Laura outlines the extensive and data-driven process by which Louisiana leaders identify and implement a broad range of safety countermeasures. Louisiana Highway Safety Improvement...

On this episode, Todd and Garrett kick off a three-part series with DOTD's Highway Safety section by focusing on Louisiana's Strategic Highway Safety Plan . They are joined by Highway Safety Administrator Adriane McRae and SHSP Program Manager Autumn Goodfellow-Thompson for this important and informative conversation! LTRC DOTD Highway Safety Destination Zero Deaths

Sandy Brady, LTRC's Research Librarian, joins Todd and Garrett on this episode to give us a "behind the stacks" look at how she has built, maintained, and managed LTRC's world-class transportation research library over nearly 20 years, serving as an ever-ready resource for researchers across Louisiana and beyond.

On this special edition of The Current Force , Todd and Garrett talk with DOTD Director of Waterways Chris Collins about the critical importance of Louisiana's rivers and navigation channels to the state's economy and more. In this conversation, you'll learn more about the fascinating, intensive process of maintaining navigational safety and efficiency across the state! DOTD Waterways Page Advanta...