Digital Commons Network^™

History Of The Interstate System In Indiana, Steven Wuertz

Purdue Road School

A brief history of the Interstate System in Indiana and across the Nation— 1956–2026: 70 years of the Interstate System

The Academic Research And Writing Camp: Collaborating On An Intensive Thesis Workshop For Graduate Students, Stephanie Crowe, Sam Nesbitt Zelick

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Academic libraries at master’s and PhD-granting institutions frequently end up fielding questions about thesis and dissertations that we are often missing context to answer thoroughly. These sorts of questions can be more frequent at institutions such as ours, which is a relatively new high-research activity (“R2”) campus that is still in the process of developing supports for graduate-level research.

Having seen this need in our own context, the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) began a semesterly Academic Research and Writing Camp workshop in Spring 2025 as a partnership between UNCW Library, the University Learning Center, and the Graduate School. …

Building Belonging: The Library Supporting A Hub For Graduate Research, Elizabeth Dawson, Genova Boyd, Drake Jesse

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Three librarians are working to create the ideal library space for graduate students to achieve their academic goals and connect with other grad students. The Graduate Research Support Hub (GRSH) at UAF Rasmuson Library started with an inspired idea and an examination of how other universities support graduate student research. We wanted to provide a flexible space to meet the distinctive needs of graduate students as they prepare for conference presentations, thesis work, publication, and dissertation defense and serve as a specialized area that is dedicated to graduate students. We surveyed graduate students from a variety of disciplines on campus, …

An Innovative Road Design For A Storm Water Project, Brian Carpenter, Tucker Born, Joe Streeter

Purdue Road School

Indianapolis DPW has started construction on major drainage improvements in one of its oldest neighborhoods, Fountain Square. Building a 66” storm sewer main along Shelby Street from I-65 into the heart of Fountain Square created design opportunities beyond accommodating the 10-year storm. This session will explore the innovative road design being incorporated into the reconstructed Shelby Street, including an inverted crown, bioretention areas, and cycle track safety improvements.

Us 20.1 In Amish Community Corridor, Elkhart County, Jen Goins, Mike Koch, Mike Wigger

Purdue Road School

This presentation highlights a case study that covers a 4-mile rural road reconstruction from two to five lanes through poor soils, wetlands, and an Amish community. With 100+ driveways, endangered species, and limited drainage, the project required creative solutions to balance environmental, cultural, and engineering challenges.

You Want To Build What In The River?, Scott Schnell, Chad Hurm, Craig Knies

Purdue Road School

This presentation will highlight the construction of a toe-wood shelf built in the Patoka River in Jasper. Topics will include a brief history of local settings, issues to resolve, decisions to construct toe-wood shelf, design and construction of the toe-wood shelf, regulatory permitting, and a status update on project performance.

From Boomers To Zoomers: Closing The Communication Gap, Cassy Bajek, Mindy Peterson

Purdue Road School

Effective communications help pave the way for success inside (and outside) the workplace. What we say and how we say it matters. Understanding generational communication can make a real difference in reducing misunderstandings and improving collaboration. This short crash course in understanding Boomers to Zoomers can help improve teamwork, productivity, morale, and the work being produced. Improve your communication and improve your relationships!

Iconic Henry Street Bridge In Indianapolis, Marshall Lachecki, Keith Echternach, Mary Appel

Purdue Road School

The iconic new Henry Street bridge over the White River in Indianapolis is a connection to the west side of downtown Indy.  From the challenging hydraulics requirements to the bridge concepts, design, procurement and through construction and archaeology work, the City has worked with many stakeholders and the public to make this new crossing a success.  This presentation will focus on design elements of the bridge while touching upon other project elements.

Improvements In Waterborne Traffic Paint For Indiana, Joseph Bruno, Andrew Blackburn

Purdue Road School

INDOT has updated its specification for waterborne traffic paints that results in improved durability and the ability to apply traffic paint in colder weather. This presentation provides background on INDOT's waterborne traffic paint specification, a summary of the road trials that INDOT conducted to evaluate different paint specifications, future developments for waterborne traffic paint, and a maintenance perspective on INDOT painting operations.

Teaching Evidence-Based Practice In Social Work: Practical Instructional Design Approaches For Graduate Students, Nicholas D. Bambach

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Across the social and health sciences, evidence-based practice (EBP) serves as a cornerstone of professional education and links research-based knowledge to real-world decision-making. Students are expected to integrate empirical findings with client needs, ethical considerations, and professional best practices. Yet many graduate students struggle to translate theoretical concepts into applied practice. Academic librarians, particularly those serving as subject liaisons and specialists, are well positioned to partner with social work faculty to design scaffolded instructional experiences that integrate research literacy with social work’s ethical and humanistic frameworks. Through librarian–faculty partnerships, librarians can help students critically engage with research evidence while honoring …

Prioritizing Municipal Pavements With Data, Mark St. John, Jack Sinton, Peter Flynn

Purdue Road School

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works has developed a new data-driven approach to prioritize pavement resurfacing needs in Indianapolis. The approach considers pavement condition, traffic, citizen feedback, and safety, and it relies on both real-world and modeled data. This presentation will outline how the scoring process was developed, what these scores tell us, and how we can use them for real-world decision-making.

Targeting Speed In Design: A Safe System Approach, Kevin Mckeel

Purdue Road School

To achieve a truly Safe System and eliminate severe crash outcomes on public roadways, transportation agencies must systematically manage the transfer of kinetic energy. Case studies from Hillsborough County, Florida, explore how incorporating the Safe Speed element of the Safe System Approach assists in delivery of context-sensitive vehicle speeds, a key factor in reducing the kinetic energy in collisions. Attendees will learn practical strategies for identifying and achieving safe target and design speeds.

Call For Papers For The Journal Of Social Encounters’ Special Issue On Global And Regional Governance: The Past Present And Future

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of African Migration And The Novel: Exploring Race, Civil War, And Environmental Destruction, Joseph L. Mbele

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Manufacturing Employees’ Experiences Of An Inclusive Workplace And Career Advancement, Abdi Mahad

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Climate Security, Elsa Barron

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Christian De Chergé: Spiritual Writings, William Skudlarek

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Interrupting Violence: One Man’S Journal To Heal The Streets And Redeem Himself, Chris Hausmann

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Chosen Peoples: Christianity And Political Imagination In South Sudan, John Ashworth

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Nevertheless, We Persist: A Feminist Public Theology, Tiffany Hunsinger

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Environment In Conflict: Implications And Pathways, Hogr Tarkhani

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Falling Into God: My Lay Catholic Journey In Spirituality And Ministry From Family And Home To Vatican Ii And The Holy Spirit To Prophetic Work For Justice And Peace, Rosemarie Pace

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Management Of Roadway Network Restrictions, Philip Labrash, James Reitz, Ethan Black

Purdue Road School

Fort Wayne Public Works managed more than 2,100 requests to restrict its roadway network in 2024 and was projected to do so again in 2025. This presentation will provide an overview of the permitting system and describe common restriction requests such as construction, utility installations, building maintenance, festivals, and special events. The City has developed a multifaceted communications strategy to convey restrictions to the public which includes development of an interactive website, geographically customizable daily email bulletins, and interlocal coordination.

Taking Advantage Of Utility Coordination With Alternate Delivery, Sandra Jones, Theresa Mendoza, Shandra Huettl, Tricia Graham

Purdue Road School

Indianapolis DPW has started construction on major drainage improvements in one of its oldest neighborhoods, Fountain Square. This urban neighborhood has 150+ years of utilities, trolley tracks, and other nderground infrastructure hiding underneath the streets. Design of a large diameter storm sewer along Shelby Street required a robust utility coordination effort to minimize risk and delays. This session will explore the benefits of utility coordination efforts under the alternative delivery method that DPW used to procure construction.

Us 31 Limited Access: Coordination And Land Challenges, Andrea Langille, Jennifer Beck, Michael Kuehl, Adam Burns

Purdue Road School

This session will explore the US 31 Limited Access Conversion project, offering key insights into planning, stakeholder coordination, and right-of-way acquisition. We will explore the project’s complexities, including business access impacts, excess land management and disposal, and unintended consequences that emerged throughout the process.

Developing The Central Indiana Vulnerable Road User Assessment, Dan Malsom, Andrea Miller

Purdue Road School

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (IMPO) is developing Central Indiana’s first ever regional Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Assessment. This presentation will present the scope, methodology, assessment results, and lessons learned from the process. We will focus on how the IMPO VRU Assessment differs from the region’s overall Safe Streets and Roads for All planning and the Statewide VRU Assessment INDOT completed in 2023, as well as why communities might want to consider conducting their own assessments.

Field Implementation Of Lidar For Traffic Signal Detection, Vincent Divaccaro, Jay Grossman, Charles Mckenzie

Purdue Road School

Elkhart County deployed a LiDAR system in fall 2025 for traffic signal detection to replace an aging video system. In this presentation, we will share results of the test implementation, notes on field implementation, integration of the system in signal operations, and comments on system operation and performance since installation.

Review Of The Black Practice Of Disbelief, Walter W. Hill Jr.

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, And Racism, Paul Pynkoski

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Ella Baker & The Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Vision, Danny Duncan Collum

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.