| Q. |
Do I need a password or authorization to use the RiP Web site? |
| 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 e-mail to Barbara Post and request a login. If you are with a UTC, the director of the UTC was sent login information. You can contact Barbara Post if you do not have the login information. |
| Q. |
If I forgot my password what do I do? |
| A.
| On the login page there is a link "forgot your password". Your password will be emailed to you. |
| Q. |
How do submit my agency’s research projects into RiP? |
| A.
| There are three methods for submitting public research projects. 1.
| If you are not with a DOT or UTC there is form on the RiP Web site 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). | 3.
| User can also send an electronic file of their agencies project information to Barbara Post and they will be entered into the database at TRB. |
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| Q. |
In entering a RiP project record what fields are required? |
| A.
| The only fields that are required are title, abstract, start date, subject category, and sponsoring organization. However, as this is this a contact database, the more information particularly on the project managers and principal investigators the more complete the record. |
| 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 copy of the database schema is available 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 into RiP is available at https://admin.acrobat.com/_a55098539/ripmodule1. Written instruction are available at http://rip.trb.org/sponsors/instructions.asp. Links to instruction are available after you log onto RiP. |
| 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 Web site? |
| A.
| For records submitted by DOTs they should be searchable in the matter of minutes. For UTC projects, they go into a pending file, where they are duplicate checked and indexing is 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 Web site? |
| A.
| On the advanced search screen. you can search for the sponsoring, performing, or sponsoring organization. In the query box, 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 and for UTCs you can select a UTC by tier. |
