CCDoTT Program
CCDoTT is a California State University, Long Beach sponsored, government approved and supported R&D center dealing with maritime-related transportation issues on behalf of both commercial and military interests. It was established in 1995 to address dual-use issues of emerging High-Speed Ships and their related Agile Port Systems. With a partnership of academia, government, military, and industry, CCDoTT has focused on the mutually dependent military and commercial issues that support the uninterrupted flow of the materials and products necessary for our national defense and continued economic growth.
The objectives of the CCDoTT program include:
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- Evaluation of problems, requirements and opportunities associated with commercial and military transportation issues.
- Development and implementation of marine related, dual-use technologies in support of commercial and military interests to enhance the competitive position of U.S. flag commercial carriers and related transportation interests.
- Oversight of select military and commercial program interdependency issues and required actions associated with technology transfer and project validation through the demonstration and operational implementation of dual-use marine related technologies.
- Linking University research capabilities to commercial and military research capacity to advance national transportation technology requirements.
CCDoTT’s program initiatives are within the 6.3 category (applied research) associated with government R&D program designators. We take ideas through the proof of concept stage to demonstration and assure, or disprove, the viability of a concept or product that can then be handed off to an end-user for full implementation. We serve as a research incubator.
CCDoTT employs a multi-year and multi-project approach that allows programmatic synergies beyond the outcomes of single projects. This creates the potential for spin offs, combinations, and new ideas that can result from complex multi-part development of transportation technologies. Another increasingly significant value added is the development of an extensive transportation/cargo movement modeling and simulation tool set evolved from 10 years of work with the Agile Port System. Tools developed in one project are being adapted and expanded to new project requirements.
CCDoTT combines this approach with the ability to tap into the maritime transportation research and validation potential of the largest port complex in the United States, the combined Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the intense transportation stresses of the Southern California Region. This unique set of focus and conditions allows CCDoTT to create a program of unparalleled potential and capability.
Some background on our program of nearly 200 projects to date:
In the area of Agile Ports and Terminal Systems:
- Wrote the original High-Speed Sealift and Agile Ports Operational Concept Document for the U. S. Transportation Command. Starting point of Agile Port Systems, this was subsequently accepted by USTRANSCOM.
- The Agile Port Systems Demonstration is a multi-year project to demonstrate the increased efficiencies of APS for both military and commercial cargo movers. With demonstrations complete, the program now supports the development of a JCTD/FNC.
- Established the feasibility of Magnetic Levitation technology to move containers from ship to inland ports providing a high speed, zero emissions, alternative to current cargo movement.
- Supporting the electrification of cargo rail, CCDoTT is combining the Linear Synchronous Motor with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Halbach Array technologies to develop an efficient and environmentally sound transportation system for the Ports.
- Expanding the research base and exploring new program areas, CCDoTT has established an Innovation Cell program that funds short term highly innovative projects to expand research boundaries. 14 ICs are to be performed in the current cycle.
- American Marine Highway studies and planning of alternate approaches, ships and routes to reduce highway traffic, pollution and port congestion.
- Developing Port Disruption and Recovery modeling system that incorporates the impact of Port Disruption on the totality of the transportation system.
In the High-Speed Ship area:
- The CFD Design and Optimization Tool Development program adapts aerospace optimization approaches for maritime use. A multi-year effort, these tools are supporting design efforts for new high-speed multi-hull projects for both military and commercial requirements.
- Collaboration with the University of Liege, Belgium on a new European initiative in ship design tools bringing CSULB to the forefront of the industry.
- Requested by the Navy, CCDoTT assessed several highly innovative designs grouped under the concept of SeaTrain.
- Supporting the MARAD/Navy Dual Use Vessel Development Plan with both design work and supporting model and simulation.
- Initiating a teacher training program to encourage secondary school students to enter the maritime sciences.
- Through many transitions, the CCDoTT program has always maintained the vision of dual use capable ships as a force multiplier and efficient approach to accomplishing more with fewer vessels. The current program hones in on this point with twenty projects that tie military and commercial capabilities. The process relates American Marine Highways capabilities to Ready Reserve Fleet requirements, potential shipbuilding opportunities, and developing new and critical design and optimization tools.
The High-Speed Ship and Agile Port programs were in a sense visionary at the time of their original implementation and have since emerged as leading activities in support of emerging military deployment requirements and commercial efforts to enhance the competitive position of the U.S. flag fleet. CCDoTT has successfully demonstrated the ability to integrate highly skilled technical personnel and related organizations within the commercial and military communities in support of current and emerging marine related transportation issues.
Efforts are in progress to identify related technical programs and suitable funding for FY ’12.