Airborne Laser [.pdf, RealPlayer]
http://www.airbornelaser.com/
The Airborne Laser (ABL) is an advanced missile defense technology that is under development by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, TRW, the US Air Force, and the Missile Defense Agency. It is, at its most basic level, a huge, flying laser. However, the science and engineering needed to make it work are astonishing. An extremely powerful laser will be mounted on a Boeing 747 jet, and precise targeting systems will allow the laser to destroy ballistic missiles. The ABL Web site has much more information on the specifications, as well as project updates, pictures, and video. The most recent progress report, for the second half of 2001, is given as a six-minute RealVideo clip. [CL]
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Office of Spectrum Management [.pdf]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/osmhome.html
"The Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) is responsible for managing the Federal Government's use of the radio frequency spectrum." There are many informative features on the OSM Web site, most notably a collection of studies and reports about federal policies and regulations. Included in these reports is a long-range plan for accommodating the growing spectrum requirements of the government. Another interesting document is a detailed chart of frequency allocation in the US, which shows the range of frequencies reserved for specific radio services. The site is updated often with national and international news and hot topics. [CL]
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Federal Laboratory Consortium Technology Transfer Desk Reference [.pdf]
http://www.federallabs.org/ContentObjects/Publications/T2_Desk_Reference.pdf
Released this month, the Technology Transfer Desk Reference is a publication of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). It is a 200-page guide that defines technology transfer, explains why it is important, and discusses how to implement it effectively. Although it is targeted at federal laboratories, other organizations can benefit from the material as well. For instance, certain sections describe "procedures that can be used to identify and transfer technologies from the government sector to the private sector." With technology advancing at the current rate, it is increasingly important to have proper transfer practices to avoid reinventing technologies that already exist. [CL]
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Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide [.pdf, .xls, .doc]
http://www.msdg.umn.edu/
The Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide addresses many environmental concerns, like deforestation and water pollution, that are a direct result of large-scale building construction. By suggesting more efficient practices in the development and operation of both new and renovated buildings, the authors of the guide hope to minimize these problems as much as possible. This Web site provides all the details of the guide. There are specific design strategies that are explained, with topics such as site location, water and energy use, and material selection. Other sections include information on the building life cycle, project documents, and case studies. [CL]
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Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers [.pdf]
http://www.autoalliance.org/
Composed of thirteen vehicle manufacturers, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is an advocacy group for the automobile industry with special focuses on vehicle safety and the environment. Its Web site is loaded with information about emerging technologies, fuel facts, and safety data. One outstanding resource is the Driver Focus Guidelines report, found in the Vehicle Safety section. This report, released last month, discusses the best practices of "driver interactions with future in-vehicle information and communications systems" such as cellular phones and navigation systems. There are many other features on the site, like detailed descriptions of alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid and fully electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. [CL]
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The Long Now Foundation
http://www.longnow.org/
The prominent computer science Danny Hillis envisions a 10,000-year clock, one that will put current perceptions of the future into a different perspective. This dream is now becoming a reality, and this Web site discusses many of the design principles that must be considered to make it fool proof. Items that need to be decided include what to display, how to display it, how to accurately time the clock (with little to no human intervention), how to power the clock, and the list goes on. Clearly, this is no simple task. Many engineering and scientific problems have to be addressed. This site has many more resources about this fascinating project. [CL]
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Manhattan Timeformations [Flash]
http://www.skyscraper.org/timeformations/intro.html
This original site, operated by The Skyscraper Museum, provides an excellent three-dimensional glimpse into New York City's architecture. The renderings and computer animations are especially poignant in light of recent events. There are four sections in all, which give information about "Manhattan's skyscraper districts through time," even before there were skyscrapers. Besides offering an historical perspective, the interactive models allow the user to change the view to see them from several angles. For more information about the history of skyscrapers and tall buildings all over the world, check out The Skyscraper Museum main page, which has a few other interesting features. [CL]
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Light Rail Transit Association
http://www.lrta.org/
Light rail has been an effective form of transportation for many years, and it is quite common in the US and throughout Europe. The Web site of the Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA) has extensive news, historical background, and information about light rail systems. A good overview of light rail is given that outlines its advantages over other transportation methods. One of the best features of the site is its world systems list, which is frequently updated with new light rail projects across the globe. There are also photo galleries of several light rail cars in operation in different countries. Only members can access the LRTA magazines, but the rest of the site's resources are available to anyone. [CL]
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