Transportation Research Board

Call for Presentations

You are invited to share your knowledge and expertise as part of a focused technical breakout session during the conference. The conference planning committee is seeking presentations within the context of maritime resilience, safety and security relating to the following marine transportation topics.

Presentation Abstract Requirements:

Title of your presentation
Description of your presentation topic (max 500 words)

This conference will provide up to $500 for domestic travel support and one complimentary registration for up to four full-time students. To qualify, participant MUST be 35 years or younger at the time of the conference and must be full-time student at an accredited post-secondary institution. Chosen participants will present their work as part of a Student Honor Panel during a special plenary session of the conference. Decisions will be determined by the conference planning committee and TRB staff when evaluating abstracts from eligible students received through the conference call for presentations. Restrictions may apply.

Deadlines and Dates:

Submission of proposed presentations: February 15, 2025

Notice of acceptance of presentations: March 1, 2025

Commitment by authors to present: Match 15, 2025

Early Bird Registration deadline: March 23, 2025

Topics Sought:

Climate Resilience and Adaptation

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Sea level rise
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Inland water level issues, rivers, droughts

Inclement weather adaptation and communication

Disaster response frameworks and contingency planning

Industry and government facility capabilities

Mariner safety procedure updates for changing ocean conditions

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International waterway considerations
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Offshore renewables
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Risk assessment related to sustainability

Marine Transportation System (MTS) Operational and Economic Resilience

Business continuity, infrastructure, and operations research

Impacts of larger vessels and increased commerce on system capacity, operations, and vessel technologies

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Workforce education and training
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Vulnerability and risk assessment methodologies

Navigation safety and information data

Cyber Security/Cyber Resilience/Data Integration

Cybersecurity – incident response, threat management, information sharing

Navigation systems integrity (PNT, ATONs, Shipboard systems)

Infrastructure and vessel systems integrity and security of manufacturing/ component supply chains for critical functions (port cranes, vessel systems, etc.…)

Interagency data sharing procedures, advances, gaps, and challenges

Expanding data sources, data integrity, data management and associated infrastructure

Managing the interoperability and security of public and private data

Data security training, compliance, and associated workforce development

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Voyage planning and route forecasting
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Traffic and predictive scheduling, right on time scheduling

Meteorological and oceanic condition integration and data

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Port and vessel predictive maintenance
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Workforce changes due to automation/artificial intelligence (AI)

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Predictive applications for AI
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AI applications supporting freight fluidity and supply chain efficiency as applied to safety and security

Unintended consequences of not uniformly implementing AI system-wide

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Smart container placement and handling
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Risk assessment and reduction methodologies

Security, Safety, Compliance, And Resilience with Zero & Low Emission Technology Adoption

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Battery technology safety
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Security and safety of electrified/autonomous/automated cargo handling equipment

Alternative fuels – storage, use, leak detection and warning systems

Energy transport and storage (electricity, hydrogen, LNG, methanol, ammonia, on vessels as cargo and bunker fuel)

Limitations in the global supply chains of EV batteries

Pollution incident response to emerging technology and fuels

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Emission monitoring and reporting
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Workforce training, development and certification for new technologies

Expanding Offshore Wind – navigational safety aids, SAR capabilities, port access, unexploded ordinance issues (UXO)

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear reactor technologies

Emergency response and firefighting considerations, techniques and training

Enforcement Procedures

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Illegal trafficking of goods
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Detection of disruptive illicit activity

Threat Detection Technologies, weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

Technologies supporting Secure and Safe Cargo transport

Maritime Facility and Waterway Security and Safety Technologies

Response and prevention of theft of cargo

Leveraging technology to improve port/terminal security and enforcement, i.e., cyber/white hats, drone, etc.

Balancing appropriate enforcement with freight fluidity

Private sector roles and responsibilities as part of typical operations

Regulatory Environment for Security and Safety Strategies

International, national, and local governance

Reconciling multiple jurisdictions and disparate authorities

Class societies roles and other technology inspection and verification regimes

Governance requirements and issues pertinent to license, certification, and training

Lithium-Ion battery carriage issues (as standalone cargo and in electric vehicles)

Governmental fleet considerations – how will government vessels use and implement technology in their floating assets (DOD, DOC, DHS, USACE, MARAD)

 Potential and proposed regulations and authority implementations - effects on port & vessel operations, including vessel discharge Vessel General Permit (VGP))/ Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) compliance