Param Sankar

Param has 25 years of experience in transportation systems, operations management, software and technology development, and big data/analytics. He leads Battelle's Transportation and Smart Infrastructure Division, providing R&D and consulting services across transportation operations/policy, CAV, human factors and rail safety. Previously, Param headed US product strategy and business development for dataWerks, a tech startup, and held leadership positions at Disney Parks and Resorts, and Cambridge Systematics. He has a BE in civil engineering from the University of Madras, pursued graduate study in transportation engineering at the University of Cincinnati, and has an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta.

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Presentation

Innovative techniques and methods for a changeable roadway testing environment

Battelle is assisting the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with research to develop realistic and easily changeable mock roadway features (e.g. curbs, pavement markings, barriers, vegetation) to rapidly create and take down diverse scenarios for testing automated driving systems (ADS). These realistic, lightweight, portable (mock) roadway features will enable proving grounds and other facilities to increase their testing adaptability and agility without having to invest in expensive infrastructure upgrades. We will present several concepts under development – including foam curbs, removable pavement marking and lightweight concrete barriers – and the methods used to develop and test them (e.g. sensor signatures, likeliness and durability testing).