Texas Technology Task Force

Innovative Transportation

The Texas Technology Task Force advances the development of a high-performance transportation system, which will continue to position Texas as a leader in economic activity and technological innovation.

Fall Task Force Meeting

Topic Emergency management and recovery through agency partnership and innovation

TxDOT roadway crew in orange vests stand on a bridge damaged by flood waters.

September 30, 2025
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. CT

TxDOT Stassney Campus or virtual

Agenda

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Meeting location and email contact

Email Texas Technology Task Force

TxDOT Stassney Headquarters - Auditorium
6230 E. Stassney Lane
Austin, TX 78744

Note: Parking is available in front of TxDOT's main building.

Date: September 30, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT

Location: TxDOT Stassney Campus – 6230 E. Stassney Ln., Austin, TX 78744

Room: Auditorium

Topic: Emergency Management and Recovery Through Agency Partnership and Innovation

The Texas Technology Task Force (TTTF) is a premier forum for exploring cutting-edge transportation technologies and shaping the future of mobility in Texas. This meeting will cover emergency management and recovery through agency partnerships, innovation, and collaborative action.

9:00 AM – Welcome and Introductions – Darran Anderson, TxDOT’s Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation

9:10 AM – Texas Technology Task Force Updates and Meeting Overview – Rose Guajardo, TxDOT

9:15 AM – Flood Forecasting and Monitoring

This session features presentations on systems and technologies that use rainfall and stream data to monitor potential flooding, monitor impacts on infrastructure, and provide warnings and alerts to potentially affected areas.

Moderator: Melisa Finley, TTI

Speakers:

North Carolina Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network (FIMAN), Gary Thompson, North Carolina Office of Emergency Management
Flood Assessment System for TxDOT (FAST), Dr. David R. Maidment, University of Texas Austin
TxDOT Flood Warning System, Robin Osborne, TxDOT

10:00 AM – Q&A and Discussion

10:30 AM – Break 2

10:45 AM – Flood Response and Recovery

This panel will discuss innovations used in the “Team Texas” response to historic flooding in Central Texas in early July.

Moderator: Julie Evans, TTI

Panelists:

Omar De Leon, TxDOT Austin District Director of Maintenance
Kyle Russell, TxDOT Georgetown Area Office Area Engineer
Joshua Todd, Texas A&M Task Force 1
Matthew Heinze, TxDOT Maintenance Support Section Manager
William Graffis, TxDOT Emerging Aviation Technology Coordinator

11:45 AM – Reflections on Next Steps

11:55 AM – Closing Remarks – Darran Anderson, TxDOT and Melisa Finley, TTI

12:00 PM – Adjourn

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Meeting ID: 237 583 346 815 5
Passcode: cF6fL9ta

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+1 737-787-8607, 17719357# United States, Austin

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Phone conference ID: 177 193 57#

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Tenant key: txdot-gov@m.webex.com
Video ID: 118 799 155 2

More info

The 83rd Texas Legislature (2013) issued a mandate to TxDOT to establish a technology task force to monitor and advise on emerging transportation technologies. The Texas Technology Task Force was formed following this mandate with a deliberate composition of subject matter experts across industry, research institutions, and public agencies with extensive knowledge in vehicle automation, telecommunications, big data, innovative funding and partnerships, transit, freight, long-range and strategic planning, and additional areas of expertise. Task Force membership is dynamic and undergoes periodic review to ensure that the right mix of expertise is included to capture perspectives on new technologies and innovative processes.

The Task Force has designed its activities to advance the mission of transformational technology discovery, stakeholder engagement, coordination, and planning with other state agencies and developing strategic recommendations for technology advancement. The Task Force activities are planned around its organizing principles of People, Portfolio, Plans, and Proces

The Task Force documents their work by submitting annual white papers on information regarding innovative technologies, policies, or programs. The 2022 Technology Utilization Plan (TUP) identifies opportunities for TxDOT to use advanced technology to reasonably meet existing and anticipated goals in the near and long term. This plan discusses leveraging Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the transportation sector. It also recommends that in the near-term TxDOT should "look for data procurement opportunities to encourage improved collaboration and innovation among public agencies”. The document recommends “leveraging data from connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and prioritizing cybersecurity to mitigate risks associated with the states data resources". The utilization plan acknowledges that AI can have a positive influence on safety, congestion, sustainability, access, and maintenance. More details about this information can be found on the 2022 Tech Utilization Plan.