Laura fay

Research Scientist

Western Transportation Institute, College of Engineering

Montana State University, Bozeman, MT  59717

406-994-6418 (Phone); 406-994-1697 (Fax)

laura.fay @coe.montana.edu

 

Education

2006              M.S., Environmental Science & Health, University of Nevada, Reno; 2006.

1999              B.S., Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1999.

(2003)            Course work in Biology, Sierra Nevada College; Incline Village, Nevada.

 

Key Qualifications

·         Five years laboratory and field research experience, specializing in environmental sciences including field studies, stream inventory studies, fish surveys, stream-bank stability studies, and road decommissioning studies and conducting laboratory experiments using analytical equipment in the field of mercury research. 

·         Experience facilitating partnerships among public and private agencies, and the general public on a variety of environmental issues. 

·         Examining the environmental implications of anti-icing and deicing compounds on roadways including the fate and transport of deicers, and developing best practices in winter highway maintenance.

·         Extensive outreach experience conducting surveys and interviews

 

Research Interests

·         Winter maintenance best practices

·         Environmental impacts of deicers to vegetation, soil, and water

·         Deicer impacts to metals, concrete, and asphalts

·         Use of road weather information technology

·         Dust Suppression and Stabilization

 

Professional Affiliations

·         Transportation Research Board (TRB), Individual Affiliate since 2006

 

Employment History

7/1/2007-           Research Scientist, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University

Present            

 

7/1/2006-           Research Associate, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University

6/30/2007         

 

2004-2006                  Research Assistant, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2004                 Laboratory Technician, Biogeochemistry Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno

 

2002                 Field Technician, Six Rivers National Forest, Eureka, California

 

2002                 Americorps Volunteer, Watershed Stewards Project, Six Rivers National Forest, Eureka, California

 

2000-2001                  Weekend Administrator, Program Coordinator, Instructor, Guided Discoveries, Idylwild, California

 

1999                 Mentor, Affinity Mentorship Project, La Honda, California

 

1998-1999                  Laboratory Technician, Stable Isotope Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz

 

Project Experience-Current

Inhibitor Longevity and Deicer Performance: A Pooled Fund Study – The objectives of this research are to evaluate the longevity of corrosion inhibitors in storage and on the road, and to establish a reliable measure to quantify the performance of anti-icing and deicing products. Funded by the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association and the DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration. Co-Principal Investigator.

Road Dust Management Practices and Future Needs Conference-The first national conference on Dust Stabilization and Suppression is being coordinated by WTI and Federal Lands with the help of the researchers, practitioners and industry members in this field.  My role in this project includes coordinating meetings, helping to establishing the advisory panel, and planning of the conference.

 

Aurora Cost Benefit for Weather Information in Winter Maintenance – The objective of this project is to provide a current benefit-cost assessment for weather information on winter maintenance. A pooled-fund study led by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

 

RWIS Usage in Alaska-This project is investigating the current use of the RWIS network in Alaska by DOT professionals for measuring current and historical weather conditions on highway segments across the state. This will be accomplished through face-to-face interviews with several Alaska DOT&PF stakeholders.  My role in this project is to conduct a portion of in person interviews in Alaska and present the concept of the project at a conference in Alaska.

 

Analysis of MDSS Benefits and Cost for South Dakota-This project is analyzing the costs and benefits associated with Maintenance Decisions Support System (MDSS).  My role in this project includes interviewing Department of Transportation (DOT) professionals regarding their experience with MDSS. This information will aid in the creation of the methodology that will used in the cost benefit analysis of MDSS. 

 

Evaluation of Alternate Anti-icing and Deicing Compounds Using Sodium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride as Baseline Deicers (CDOT)-This project includes a literature review of currently used chloride and acetate based deicers, including lab and field testing, and providing a concise comparison of the deicers.  My role in this project includes an assessment of the environmental implications of deicer use including the fate and transport analysis of the deicer chemical components, as well as the supervision of fellowship students aiding in the research. Co-Principal Investigator.

 

Validating the Durability of Corrosion Resistant Mineral Admixture Concrete-This research project is validating chloride diffusion coefficients of mineral admixture concrete mix designs currently specified by Caltrans for corrosion mitigation, and verifying the adequacy of existing measures to mitigate corrosion caused by exposure to marine environments and deicing salt applications.   My role in this project includes sample preparation, recording of data and project coordination.        

 

Electrochemical Rehabilitation of Salt-Contaminated Concrete: A Laboratory Study – The objectives of the project are to preliminarily investigate some of the key factors affecting the performance of electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) and electrical injection of corrosion inhibitors (EICI) and to validate a modeling framework that can guide the design of ECE/EICI. Funded by the U.S. Research and Innovative Technology Administration. My role in this project includes sample preparation, processing and analytical analysis of the samples and data, as well as supervising undergraduate research students.

 

NCHRP Project 20-07/Task 200: Synthesis of Vehicle-Based Winter Maintenance Technologies – The objective of this project was to identify all vehicle-mounted winter maintenance technologies indicating the state of development.  Funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. 

 

Publications

1.   Fay, L., Volkening, K., Gallaway, C., and Shi, X. Performance and Impacts of Current Deicing and Anti-icing Products: User Perspective versus Experimental Data. CD-ROM of the 87thAnnual Meeting of Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C., 2008, Paper number 08-1382.

2.  Strong, C. and Fay, L., RWIS Usage Report. A Final Report prepared for the Alaska   Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Division of Program Development, Juneau, AK, September 2007.

3.   Shi X., and Fay L., Evaluation of Alternate Anti-icing and Deicing Compounds Using Sodium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride as Baseline Deicers. An interim report prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO, July 2007.

4.   Fay, L. and M.S. Gustin. 2007. Investigation of mercury accumulation in cattails growing in constructed wetland mesocosms.  Wetlands 4:1056-1065.

5.   Fay L., Shi X. Performance and Impacts of Deicing and Anti-icing Products: User-Perceived Ranking. A report prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO, May 2007.

6.   Shi X., Fay L., and Pan T. Corrosion of Deicers to Reinforcing Steel in Concrete Structures: A Critical Review. A report prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO, December 2006.

7.  Fay L., Shi X., and Pan T. Environmental Impacts of Deicers: A Critical Review. A report prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO, December 2006.

8.  Pan T., Fay L., and Shi X.   Deicer Impacts on Pavement Materials: A Critical Review. A report prepared for the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver, CO, December 2006.

9.  Shi X., Strong C., Larson R., Kack D.W., Cuelho E.V., El Ferradi N., Seshadri A., O’Keefe K., and Fay L.E.  Vehicle-Based Technologies for Winter Maintenance: The State of the Practice. Final Report for the NCHRP Project 20-07/Task 200. Prepared for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Washington D.C., September 2006.

10.  Shi X., Larson, R., Strong, C., Kack, D.W., Cuelho, E.V., Fay, L., El Ferradi, N., Seshadri, A., and O’Keefe, K. Vehicle-Based Sensor Technologies for Winter Maintenance: A Critical Review. The 86th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C., 2007.

11. Fay, L. and M.S. Gustin. 2007. Assessing the Influence of Different Atmospheric and Soil Mercury Concentrations on Foliar Mercury Concentrations. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 181:373-384.

12. Fay, L. Identifying the Sources of Mercury in Deciduous, Wetland and Evergreen Plants. Masters Thesis. University of Nevada, Reno. Aug. 2006.