Utah Department of Transportation
Feb - April 2007
Roads and Structures - InRoads training
One question that stuck with me with this class is: how do you expand the capability of intelligent staff that are stagnant in their roles?
This need became apparent in the first class as I was asking each student their experience and expectations for the class. The running joke became "Tracking!".
Many of the engineers were stuck at using one simple tool in the InRoads Environment: the Tracking tool would label points with Northing, Easting, Elevation, Station, Offset and other basic information.
You had to understand the basics of how InRoads worked (file formats, Active Alignment, Active Surface, etc.). Why had so many intelligent capable engineers doing the rest of their work outside the program designed to automate their work?
My goal for the four classes in this contract was to understand why designers stopped where they did in the software. Their previous training had been the "Standard Workflow" training (Superelevation Chapter 10, Reports Chapter 13). My training was designed for expanding the roles (the full breadth of evaluation tools first, then increment design skills). This was a perfect opportunity to see how people expanded their comfort zone (with training designed to lower those thresholds).
Four days with Bridge Engineers was an opportunity to see how to expand collaboration with the Roadway teams.
This is why I like to document: even the important and meaningful get lost with time.
I remember how much fun these classes were, but have forgotten most of the details. I, of course, remember Jim Buckley (a truly saintly man), but I had forgotten Phil Pool's role in the class. Until reading this blurb from the time:
I'd like to thank the folks at Utah DOT: great people all the way around.
I've been training since 1995 and two of our recent four classes rank highest among my favorite classes. Special thanks to Jim Buckley for his administrative and disciplinary (haha!) support .
Classes should be high-retention, effective and FUN. Special ("shortbus") thanks in this regard to Phil/Embankment/Cess Pool. I'm used to having to "carry the comic burden;" it was a delight to sit back and watch you run with it.
Now get back to work.
-jeff