Data Mining Course: Sept 9-10

Elder Research is presenting a 2-day course, “Tools for Discovering Patterns in Data: Extracting Value from Tables, Text, and Links,” on September 9-10 in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Drawing on 20 years of experience, Dr. John Elder will explain techniques employed by experts to solve challenging problems.

The course description can be found here:
http://datamininglab.com/training/annual-2-day-course

Attendees will receive the 864-page book, Handbook of Statistical Analysis and Data Mining Applications, by Drs. Nisbet, Elder, and Miner, winner of the 2009 PROSE Award in Mathematics.  It includes fully functional (limited time) data mining software from SAS, IBM/SPSS, and StatSoft.

This course describes powerful analytic methods for classification and estimation drawn from Statistics and Data Mining.  Dr. Elder will explain leading algorithms, compare their merits, and demonstrate their effectiveness on practical applications.  We'll review classical statistical techniques, and outline how they are modified and combined into modern methods.  The course emphasizes practical advice and the essential techniques of Resampling, Visualization, and Ensembles.  Actual scientific and business examples illustrate techniques employed by expert analysts.  Key aspects of mining text and links will also be outlined, and major strengths of leading commercial software tools for Data Mining will be compared.

Space is limited, so reserve your place now!  To register, call 434-973-7673, or download a registration form. You can also register online.

UVA TTA Access Management Comments

We recently received the following letter regarding our latest Access Management course offerings:

Dr. Emily Parkany,

I want to thank you and everyone associated with the Transportation Training Academy for offering the two Access Management workshops this summer (July in Fairfax; August in Roanoke).  As VDOT’s access management administrator I help with the workshops by making a presentation on VDOT’s specific access management regulations and standards on the second day of the session.  Over the years we have consistently attracted good participation (usually around 20) and received favorable comments. 

Offering the training helps District land development review staff, private sector transportation engineering consultants, and local government transportation planners obtain a thorough understanding of access management techniques and VDOT’s regulations and standards.

In 2007 the General Assembly instructed the Commissioner to implement access management regulations/standards (§33.1-198.1 of the Code of Virginia).  Both Governor Kaine and Governor McDonnell have been supportive of the program recognizing that managing access to state highways can reduce traffic congestion, enhance public safety, reduce the need for new highways and road widening, and preserve the public investment in existing highways.  Please see VDOT’s access management web page for an overview at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/access_management_regulations_and_standards.asp

I hope you will continue to schedule the Access Management Workshops periodically throughout Virginia.  I would suggest consideration be given to conducting one in Hampton Roads and one in either Richmond or Charlottesville this winter and 2014.

Best regards,

Paul Grasewicz, AICP

UVA TTA Upcoming Fairfax Workshops

The Transportation Training Academy is bringing several workshops to the Fairfax area in August, including our popular Project Management workshop.  Space is limited so sign up today!

For class and registration information please see our workshop announcement.

UVA TTA Upcoming Roanoke Workshops

The Transportation Training Academy is bringing several workshops to the Roanoke area in August.  Space is limited so sign up today!

For class and registration information please see our workshop announcement.

MATC Structural Health Monitoring & Nondestructive Evaluation Workshop & Webinar

You are invited to attend the MATC Structural Health Monitoring and Nondestructive Evaulation Workshop and Webinar!  To be held online and in person on the Missouri University of Science and Technology Campus. This event is FREE and open to all interested transportation professionals. 

The goal of this workshop/webinar is to introduce, review, and present various nondestructive evaluation and sensing technologies to research and engineering communities. The applications of some of the advanced technologies in highway bridges are illustrated with case studies. Participants of this workshop/webinar will understand various state-of-the-art and state-of-practice developments in nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring.

Please visit the workshop website for agenda and speaker information.

Crews Complete Oregon's Whilamut Passage Bridge Four Months Early

Crews completed construction last week of the northbound Interstate 5 Whilamut Passage Bridge over the Willamette River in Eugene, Oregon.

The bridge, which was completed four months ahead of schedule, is expected to reduce congestion and improve freight movement in the area.

“The new I-5 bridge will help drivers get home sooner and relieve freight congestion for businesses, while also maintaining the beautiful Alton Baker Park, including the Whilamut Natural Area,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said at the bridge’s ceremonial ribbon-cutting last week. “Equally important, by finishing the bridge four months early, we saved taxpayers money and delivered important benefits even faster.”

Read the rest of the story at the Better Roads Website.