Poster presented on March 6-8, 2002 at the conference on Communicating the Future: Best Practices in Communication of Science and Technology to the Public, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, and NIST. Poster topics were selected as "best practices" through a formal peer review by a committee of distinguished science writers, educators, and researchers.

Transportation Resource Exchange Center (T-REX) Web Site and Virtual Library
Program conducted by: ATR Institute, University of New Mexico

The ATR Institute (ATRI) is a research institute at the University of New Mexico, affiliated with the School of Engineering. The work of ATRI has a single goal: creating realistic, workable solutions in transportation that address current needs while anticipating future demand. The Institute develops strategies with a constant eye to practicality. Its work ranges from applied to conceptual knowledge developed for a very real world.

Transportation research has reached a crossroads. Researchers face the challenge of raising the efficiency of transportation systems while making them more responsive to human and environmental needs. The ATRI is responding to this challenge through an interdisciplinary approach. Its experts unify the work in their separate disciplines by focusing on a single principle: transportation systems must meet the needs of society as a whole.

Background Information

Since the 1940s, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies have been involved in the research, production, and testing of nuclear technology. Numerous facilities, both government and privately owned, were constructed or leased across the US to support the effort.

In 1989, the DOE created the Office of Environmental Restoration to consolidate, centralize and promote the clean-up* of contaminated waste sites and surplus facilities within the DOE Complex. *All DOE clean-up activities must comply with the statutes/regulations of Federal, Tribal, State, and Local governments.

Related Terms
“Environmental Restoration” is the process by which contaminated sites and facilities* are identified and characterized, and existing contamination is contained or removed, and disposed to allow beneficial re-use of the property.
*Currently, 132 sites are involved in assessment and clean-up activities throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Environmental Restoration activities are categorized as either “Remedial Actions” or “Decommissioning:”

“Remedial Actions” are taken to identify and contain or remove soil and ground water contamination to prevent it from spreading.
“Decommissioning” involves the decontamination and/or dismantlement, and removal of nuclear facilities and installations, which are no longer active and pose a risk to public health or the environment.

Stabilizing urgent contamination problems to protect human health and safety, and the environment;
Investing in technological research to solve contamination problems now andin the future; and
Working with stakeholders to facilitate communication and understanding regarding technical issues and the evaluation of alternatives.

The ATR Institute (ATRI), at the University of New Mexico (UNM), was contracted in 1998 by the DOE National Transportation Program to create a
“one-stop shop” clearinghouse for public information on the transport of RAM and public outreach to Stakeholders.

The ATRI identified five primary goals for the T-REX Center:

1. Supply pertinent information to diverse audiences,
2. Build relationships that promote user assistance in developing T-REX,
3. Develop training for utilizing T-REX,
4. Improve management and dissemination of needed information, and
5. Provide reference and research services without charge to the user.

T-REX Communication Challenges

While much information is available about the transport of RAM, this information is complex and fragmented.

Potential users have widely differing levels of knowledge, expertise, and interest.

Potential Non-DOE Audiences As Assessed

Potential DOE Audiences As Assessed

Some Additional Steps in the Creation of T-REX After Assessing User Information Needs

• Survey Information Holders (Libraries) and Make Request for Copies of Relevant Documents/Articles
• Design a Website that is easily used
• Scan Pertinent Documents
• Identify and Link Digital Documents
• Develop Specialized Searchable Databases
• Publish News on the Website
• Compile Annotated Bibliographies and
• Provide Reference and Technical Services

To make the T-REX more functional for Internet newcomers as well as highly proficient users, decisions were made to ensure:

• Pages contained clear explanations of where the links would lead,
• The user’s current location within the Website was clearly identified,
• The Website contained a site map of the information architecture,
• Databases were easily searchable and provided logical results to queries.

T-REX “Subjects” Categories

• Public Participation
• Education and Training
• Laws and Regulations
• Environment
• Teachers/Students
• International
• Health
• Emergency Management
• States
• Routes
• Tribal
• Packaging
• Carriers
• Safety/Risk
• Economics

Annotated Bibliography Series

• Environmental Impact Statements and Public Participation
• Risk Communication
• Safeguards
• Rail Transport
• Routes
• Tribal
• Coming soon--Emergency Preparedness
  

The T-REX TRAM is an keyword searchable compilation of information on over 850 organizations that possess expertise or specific information regarding the transport of RAM.

The TRAM Searchable Database Contains

• Each group’s major/minor work functions,
• Geographical scope,
• Internal or external DOE status,
• Background Information,
• Information products,
• Corporate affiliates,
• People contacts, and
• Each group’s Web site home page.
  

Two T-REX Document Features

• T-REXDEX is the online keyword searchable database of over 2,000 documents about the transport of RAM.
• T-REX LIBREX is a quantitative survey of over 170 UNM multi-subject databases providing in-depth citations and full-text articles. The aggregate number of documents on RAM issues are listed. Use this “Virtual Library Card” to request articles from the T-REX.

The T-REX Center provides technical reference and research services of public information without charge to users:

• Letting users know if the public information that they seek exists/or is available;
• Giving users Web site URLs or links to the public information they need;
• Providing a toll free number for user queries;
• Answering user information and access queries in a timely manner using email or phone; and
• Providing facts and tips, if needed, to users who prefer conducting their own searches.
  

The T-REX Center Website and Virtual Library is the premier site for information regarding the transport of RAM.

Contact

Mary White
Program Coodinator
ATR Institute
Science and Technology Park, University of New Mexico
1001 University Boulevard SE, Suite 103
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106-4342
Telephone: 505 246-6410 Fax: 505 246-6001
Email: trex@unm.edu

Web Sites
www.trex-center.org/
www.unm.edu/~atr

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Created: 3/28/02
Last update: 8/17/02
Contact: inquiries@nist.gov