Compass Points lets you create and share a "persistent link" to data in any ASTM Compass standard. Learn more at this Webinar.
 

ASTM Compass users at VDOT are invited... to a FREE webinar that includes a live demonstration of the new "Compass Points" enhancement (for the ASTM Compass database) on January 18, 2023 at 2:00pm EST (GMT -5). Discover how this easy-to-use tool can help you track specific portions of standards that are critical to your daily workflow at VDOT. Compass Points creates a unique URL that you can share with VDOT co-workers via e-mail or a host of other online tools. The URL serves as a permanent path back to the specific data you highlight, in the specific version of the standard of your choice...and that special URL will last as long as you want it to!  Compass Points give smart users the ability to pinpoint important components in standards, building a "breadcrumb trail" to that source data for multiple purposes — it’s an easy-to-adopt step toward smarter standards use that helps you gain time back into your busy schedule. Compass Points enable users to constantly track any changes to the most relevant portions of their favorite standards. Reduce the time needed tracking the data for audits, or lookbacks. Data integrity is maintained during development to help reduce turnbacks because your company always has a connection to the authoritative source with your custom Compass Point.

January 18, 2023 Ι 2:00 PM EST (GMT -5)

During this webinar ASTM will demonstrate how to:

Create a Compass Point Edit, View, and Deactivate a Compass Point Add Diffs/Overlays/Exceptions/Departures Share a Compass Point Move a Compass Point from a previous standard to an updated standard Access your entire list of Compass Points   Session includes a Q&A portion. REGISTER NOW

New to transportation research or to even to VDOT? The VDOT Research Library is here to help!

We have a wealth of self-paced online resources, including this ASTM Compass Quick-Start Guide. 
 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

To receive e-mail alerts for VDOT's Statewide VDOT News Releases click "Subscribe Now" (shown above) and follow the steps to register.

Want to keep up with VDOT News Releases but keep forgetting to visit VDOT's Statewide Press Release site?  Or maybe the super helpful (and focused) RSS feeds made available by VDOT many moons ago are simply not your style? 

RSS is a solid technology, but not as popular as it was back in the day, and while those feeds are still an awesome way to read, manage, and navigate online information (and far more "granular" than what's shown here) the almighty e-mail still reigns supreme for many of us! 

So when I discovered this simple hack to route VDOT Statewide News Releases directly to e-mail (anyone, not just VDOT employees) I thought I'd test it and share the results. Since it works so well, I'll lay out the steps here for you to test, if you want:  

Step 1: Got to the Statewide News Releases page: https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/newsroom/statewide and click on the button that says "Subscribe Now" 

Step 2: You should see an online form that looks like this. Fill it out with your contact information and preferred e-mail address, and click the "Sign Up" button: 

The fine print on this screen is standard opt-in/opt-out verbiage, reading: "By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23219 United States. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Step 3: If you filled out all the required fields and clicked "Sign Up" this message should appear on the screen:

Step 4: Next, go to your e-mail in box and you'll see an automated message that looks like this: 

That's all there is to it!

Step 5: The next time a new Statewide News Release is produced by VDOT Communications it should appear directly in your e-mail inbox! Here's an example of a release sent that way to a VDOT Gmail account. Note that all such messages (about 30-40 a year) currently appear under the "Updates" tab in Gmail: 

Lastly, click on the message and read away!

What's the Catch You Ask? Not so much a catch, but a limitation perhaps...

At this time the e-mail subscription option is only available for "statewide" news releases, not releases focused on a specific VDOT district.

However, if you are comfortable with RSS Feeds, the fine folks in VDOT Communications have given you lots of RSS feed options for news releases and travel alerts by district, not to mention Real time traffic alerts by Region and Statewide Public Involvement Notices. 

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Need a hand? Feel free to contact the library. 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library