Search Help

These rules apply to any plain text field on the Advanced Search Filters form. Plain text fields include: Keywords; Title; Contract or Grant Numbers; Organization; Person.

• Entering terms in multiple fields searches for all terms in the query.
• For an exact match, enclose a phrase within quotes: "traffic signal"
• For a wild-card search, use an asterisk (*) after a partial word.
  Search example

  transport* will retrieve: transport, transportation and transporting.

• TRID will perform limited automatic stem searching when using quoted phrase searches.
  Search example

  "technolog forecast*" retrieves technological forecasting, technological forecasts, technology forecasts.

• For a Boolean search, use OR, AND, or NOT between words or phrases. See more information about using Boolean logic.
• A nested search may be performed by enclosing term(s) within parentheses.
  Search example

  (plow* OR salt*) AND "snow removal"

• Stop Words: The following words are ignored in any search or quoted phrase in order to reduce the size of the search index and increase search speed: about, also, an, and, another, any, are, as, at, be, because, been, being, between, both, but, by, came, can, come, could, did, do, does, each, else, for, from, get, got, has, had, he, have, her, here, him, himself, his, how, if, in, into, is, it, like, make, many, me, might, more, most, much, must, my, never, now, of, on, only, or, other, our, out, over, same, see, should, since, so, some, still, such, take, than, that, the, their, them, then, there, these, they, this, those, to, too, want, was, we, well, were, what, when, where, which, while, who, will, with, would, your.

• Click the Filters button to see all available search fields.
• When submitting searches, click the button after entering all search criteria, or hit the Enter button on your keyboard.
• Add more criteria to narrow search results. Delete criteria to broaden search results.
• Remember that entering terms in multiple fields searches for all terms in the query.
• Click the button to begin a new search.
• Click the History button to rerun a previous search.
• In your History table, use the button to create a new search using the saved search as a starting point.

The Search History feature enables users to combine their previous searches using Boolean operators to create more precise results. Users can view their search history by clicking on History in the toolbar or in mobile mode. History will be accessible through the ellipsis on the right side of the toolbar.

• The 50 most recent searches will be listed in the table and will be available unless you use the Clear History button at the bottom of the table or the Delete button to remove individual sets.
• Click View to revisit results.
• Results of a combined search will be returned in ascending order by project start date.
• Combine sets in the History table using AND or OR Boolean logic.
• Alternatively, users can manually key in set numbers which allows for use of parentheses and the NOT Boolean operator.
Example

• Combined sets cannot be shared as these are derived from the web browser storage on your computer.
• Combined sets are not affected when individual sets used to create it are deleted.  For example, if a user creates a set combining two sets, 1 OR 2, which creates a new set 3, then later deletes set 2, the combined set 3 will still be present and will display the same records when View is clicked from the Actions column.

RIP displays 25 records per page by default. Use the Records Per Page selections at the very bottom of the Advanced Search Filters to decrease or increase the number of results displayed per page. Records can be displayed in increments of 10, 25, 50 or 100. After selecting the desired number of records, click the button to save the setting for your current session.

To navigate more than one page of results, use the arrow buttons at the top and bottom of each page of results. Key in a number to go to a particular page of results.

Note that Sort Order can be changed to Descending or Ascending.

Records can also be sorted by:

• Start Date - Start Date is the date that a project starts.
• End Date - Date that the project was completed.
• Created Date – Date that a record was added to RIP.
• Title – The title of the project.

• Only 2,000 records at a time can be Printed/Emailed/Saved to your file.
• Use the checkboxes next to results to add records to your Marked Records list.
• Users may also mark all records on a page, or all records in a result list. These selections are available at the top of each page of results:

Mark: Page · All · None

• Click None to remove records marked from that particular list of results.
• Records added to your Marked Records list will remain in the list until you click Clear.

Actions

• Print marked records in various formats.
• Email marked records to yourself or another person.
• Save marked records for other uses including importing bibliographic software like RefWorks, EndNote, or Zotero.
• Clear your marked record collection.

Formats

Citation

Plain text format for a reference citation.

Citation & Abstract

Plain text format for a reference citation which also includes the record abstract or description.

RIS

Used to import into bibliographic software like RefWorks, EndNote, or Zotero.

CSV

File format that separates values by commas (comma-delimited). Can be viewed in text and spreadsheet editors.

Microsoft Word

Full record output in Microsoft Word document format. Records are separated by page breaks.

XML

Structured output of full record data in XML for use in data transfer or import.

HTML

Full record output as a web page for print or display in a browser.

Sort by

While exporting, saving, or emailing records, the Marked Records list can be sorted by:

• Date published or Start date of project; newest first or oldest first
• Date the record was created, i.e. the date the record was published in TRID; newest first or oldest first
• Alphabetically by title; A-Z or Z-A

After running a search from the RIP home page or from Advanced Search, the resulting URL in your web browser’s address bar can be copied and pasted to an email, document or website. The URL will run the same RIP search when clicked.

• Searches can be further modified to narrow or broaden results.
• URLs resulting from sets combined in the Search History feature will not work.

Use RSS with RIP to stay updated on the latest projects within your mode or customized area of research - eliminating the need to repeat manual searches.

The TRB Library can assist with identifying suitable TRT terms and creating preconfigured searches tailored to specific interests that seamlessly integrate alerts into research workflows, ensuring access to TRB's most current literature. Please reach out to TRBLibrary@nas.edu.

To create an RSS feed:

1. Create your search in RIP.
2. Click the RSS link in the search bar.

3. Copy the address from the browser address bar and paste into your RSS reader.

   https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwY...

4. Records from RIP that fit your search criteria from Step 1 will be pulled into your RSS reader. The frequency or timeliness of updates will depend on local settings in your reader.

Enter one or more terms from a title or the exact title to search.

• This field searches project titles.
  Example

  COVID OR pandemic*" will retrieve any record that has either of these two words anywhere in the title. Adding the asterisk to the end of the word pandemic will also retrieve “pandemics.”

Enter one or more keywords or phrases to search only the Description or summary portion of any given project record. Descriptions summarize projects, highlighting the major points and ideally why it is important.

As with other fields in RIP, employ Boolean (AND, OR, NOT) logic, wild-cards using an asterisk (*) after a stem/root word, and nested searches enclosing terms in parentheses, as detailed in the Advanced Search Tips above for more complex searches.

This field can be a very effective way to narrow or focus your searches. If you are interested in runway pavements, selecting Aviation will effectively exclude results about highway pavements, for example. Most records in RIP have at least one mode, and at least one function.

• If you select multiple subject areas, you can switch between OR/AND Boolean logic for your selections by switching the toggle button directly below the field between: Match Any Subject Listed or Match All Subjects Listed.
• Click in the field and use the down arrow or scroll button on your mouse to select your subject(s). On a smartphone, you’ll see a standard scroll wheel from which you can easily select multiple terms. You may also start typing to filter the list, then use the arrow keys or highlight with the cursor to select a subject area. Multiple subject areas may be selected in the same manner.

There are 37 Subject Areas available:

• 11 modes: Aviation; Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Motor Carriers; Passenger Transportation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Pipelines; Public Transportation; Railroads; Transportation (General)
• 26 functions: Administration and Management; Bridges and other Structures; Construction; Data and Information Technology; Design; Economics; Education and Training; Energy; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; History; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Law; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment

Many projects include unique identifiers which are frequently alphanumeric, containing some combination of numbers and letters.

Enter complete or partial terms to search for contract or grant numbers.Add an asterisk to the end of a partial number to search for numbers starting with that string . For example, “69A355*” will retrieve “69A3551847103” and “69A3551747115.” However, it will not retrieve “69A-3-55” because of the dashes.

To search for multiple terms, use OR to separate search terms.

Many projects move through a regular lifecycle, from proposal to completion/termination. The six status categories in RIP are listed in alphabetical order:

Active

Ongoing research project

Completed

Project has been finished and closed

Inactive

Project temporarily suspended due to a funding or other interruption

Programmed

Sponsor has approved/allocated funding for the project, but the research is not yet underway

Proposed

The project is being considered, but has not yet been funded and/or approved

Terminated

Project was terminated before completion

Click the checkbox before any Status, or choose Select all. The default is all Status categories.

A source is the organization or type of organization that provided the records to the RIP Database. If no selection is marked, all Sources are included in your search by default. One or more Sources can be selected to limit your search, and the default Boolean operator between each selection will be 'OR.'

Sources include:

• TRB – limits to TRB projects, including those managed by the Cooperative Research Programs.
• UTC – (University Transportation Center) limits to projects from the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which is funded by the US Department of Transportation.
• USDOT – (US Federal Department of Transportation) limits to projects funded, sponsored or conducted by the US Department of Transportation or one of its agencies.
• STATEDOT – (US State Departments of Transportation) limits to projects funded, sponsored or conducted by state-level departments of transportation in the United States.

Use the Location filter to limit a search by the state in which a Source Agency, Sponsoring Organization, Managing Organization or Performing Organization is based. Click the field and scroll to select one or more states. Start typing to filter the list, then use the cursor to make a selection. Multiple states may be selected.

Index terms are terms from the Transportation Research Thesaurus (TRT). Begin typing an index term. Matching terms will appear in a drop-down list from which you can select terms. Best matches will appear first. Results will include non-preferred terms that have been assigned to the preferred TRT term.

More than one term may be selected. The default Boolean operator is OR. You can switch between OR/AND Boolean logic for your selections by switching the toggle button directly below the field between: Match Any Term Listed or Match All Terms Listed.

For more complex searches use the Search History feature to combine those searches using the AND or NOT Boolean operators.

This field searches all Index Terms, including terms from the Transportation Research Thesaurus (TRT) and other controlled vocabularies that may have been applied to index a publication or project. Indexing captures the essential aboutness or core concepts of an item. Other controlled vocabularies in TRID include the Australian Transport Research Index (ATRI) Thesaurus, and the International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) Thesaurus. It also searches Geographic Terms and Identifier Terms (proper names for human-constructed facilities/things like Golden Gate Bridge, names for airports, computer programs, corporate names and persons) that are additional key descriptors of the publication/project.

Unlike the Index Term field, users can employ exact phrase matching (with double quotes), wild-cards (*), Boolean (AND, OR, NOT) logic, and use parentheses as detailed in the Advanced Search Tips section above.

Subject Areas are not searched as part of any query used here. These can be employed in the separate Subject Areas field to further refine or narrow one’s search.

Enter a partial or complete organization name to search among sponsor organizations, managing organizations, performing organizations, or source agency. You may need to use Boolean logic.

• For example, Maine Department of Transportation will return records for reports, datasets and projects in which Maine Department of Transportation is a Corporate Author, Sponsor Organization, Performing Organization or Conference Sponsor.
• Maine will also bring back records in which Maine Department of Transportation is a Corporate/Sponsor/Performing organization, but also records with University of Maine.

Enter a person's last/family name and first/given name or initial to search among project managers and principal investigators. You can use wildcards and Boolean logic to search across all matching names, including first names.

Note that a query for Smith, R*" will return results for 'Smith, Robert,' 'Smith, Richard' and authors 'Smith and Robert' or other last/family and first/given names that begin with the letter R. It will not return results for 'Smith, Bob'. Please keep in mind that due to differences in indexing practices among the various contributors to the TRID Database, some records contain only first/given initials rather than full names.

The default setting is set to search all dates. To narrow your search, enter an after or before date (or both), OR use the slider to search within your desired timeframe.

To refine search results by project dates:

• Select project start date to search by date on which the project was started or is expected to be started. This setting is the default.
• Select project created date to search by date on which records were initially entered into the database.
• Select project completed date to search by date on which the project was completed or is expected to be completed.