| Q. |
Do I need a password or authorization to use the RiP website? |
| A.
| A password and login is not needed to search or browse the RiP Database. Individuals from State DOTs, U.S. DOT, and UTC have passwords to add, modify, and delete their organizations records from RiP. |
| Q. |
How do I get a password and login to add my agency’s records? |
| A.
| If you are with a State DOT or U.S. DOT agency, send an email to Lisa Loyo and request a login. If you are with a UTC, the director of the UTC was sent login information. Contact Lisa Loyo if you do not have the login information. |
| Q. |
If I forgot my password what do I do? |
| A.
| On the login page click on the link "forgot your password" and your password will be emailed to you. |
| Q. |
How do submit my agency’s research projects into RiP? |
| A.
| There are two methods for submitting public research projects. 1.
| There is a form on the RiP website that anyone can use to submit records (http://rip.trb.org/public/) | 2.
| Authorized users in DOTs or UTCs can submit records using the online data entry form or by uploading records using the information on and "add record" page. |
|
| Q. |
In entering a RiP project record what fields are required? |
| A.
| The required fields are title, abstract, start date, subject category, and sponsoring organization. However, as one of the goals of the database is to connect researchers, the more information particularly on the project managers and principal investigators the more complete the record and the more helpful to users of the RiP Database. |
| Q. |
Is there a listing of the fields in the RiP Database and information on the database design? |
| A.
| A listing of all fields in the RiP Database with definitions is available at http://rip.trb.org/sponsors/field_descriptions.asp. A PDF of the database schema is available at http://rip.trb.org/sponsors/rip_detail_schema.pdf |
| Q. |
Where can I find instructions or help in entering records into RiP? |
| A.
| A training video on entering records is available at http://trb.org/Research/Blurbs/TRB_Webinar_Entering_and_Managing_Project_Records_165692.aspx. Written instructions are available at http://rip.trb.org/sponsors/instructions.asp after logging in. |
| Q. |
Do I need to add index terms to the my agency’s project record? |
| A.
| No, after you have a submitted a record, it is reviewed by a TRB indexer and she adds index terms from the Transportation Research Thesaurus. |
| Q. |
How soon after entering records into RiP are they searchable on the RiP website? |
| A.
| For records submitted by DOTs they should be searchable within several minutes. For UTC projects, they go into a pending file, where they are checked for duplicates and indexing terms are added. |
| Q. |
What if project is funded by State DOT but the work is done by a UTC: which one enters and edits the record? |
| A.
| If a State DOT enters a project record in RiP, then it is marked with the record type “DOT” which indicates it is a State DOT project. If a UTC is the performing organization, however, the UTC should notify TRB that they are involved with the project. TRB will then add the “UTC” record type to the record so that the project will be searched when locating UTC research. The UTC can also send information to TRB to update the record as necessary. |
| Q. |
How do I locate my agency's research project on the RiP website? |
| A.
| On the advanced search screen search in the sponsoring, performing, or source organization field either enter the name or the agency or use the look-up table to locate a specific agency.
If locating a State DOT or UTC projects, you can use the UTC or DOT browse pages linked from the RiP Homepage. These pages have a map of the United States which allows you to click a State and retrieve the UTC or State DOT project for that state. For State DOTs you can also select a State DOT by AASHTO region; for UTCs you can select a UTC by tier. |
| Q. |
How do I subscribe to an RSS feed from RiP? |
| A.
| Perform a search and after you receive the search results, click on the Subscribe button on the upper right side of the screen. You will then receive new records that match your search parameters. |
| Q. |
Why is the number of records for my organization different when I login from when I search for my organization in RiP? |
| A.
| When you login to RiP, you see only the records for which your organization is the source agency. When you perform a search in RiP for you organization, you see all records that list your organization as the source agency, performing agency or sponsoring agency. |
