<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O01lYXN1cmVtZW50JnF1b3Q7IiBvcmlnaW5hbF92YWx1ZT0iJnF1b3Q7TWVhc3VyZW1lbnQmcXVvdDsiIC8+PC9maWx0ZXJzPjxyYW5nZXMgLz48c29ydHM+PHNvcnQgZmllbGQ9InB1Ymxpc2hlZCIgb3JkZXI9ImRlc2MiIC8+PC9zb3J0cz48cGVyc2lzdHM+PHBlcnNpc3QgbmFtZT0icmFuZ2V0eXBlIiB2YWx1ZT0icHVibGlzaGVkZGF0ZSIgLz48L3BlcnNpc3RzPjwvc2VhcmNoPg==" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Create a Performance Management 'Blue Book'</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712195</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation performance management (TPM) is a strategic approach that uses system performance data to guide decision-making and optimize the planning, operation, and maintenance of transportation networks. As states, regions, and local governments increasingly face challenges like budget constraints, aging infrastructure, population growth, and the need for sustainability, effective performance management (PM) becomes essential in ensuring that transportation investments deliver maximum value.

Federal legislation has established a national framework for performance-based transportation management. These mandates have encouraged state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to adopt a performance-driven approach to managing transportation assets, reducing congestion, improving safety, and advancing environmental sustainability. Research is needed to develop a resource that will standardize and document practices, metrics, methodologies, and case studies to help transportation agencies effectively implement TPM frameworks. This TPM “Blue Book” will serve as a critical resource for state and local transportation agencies to benchmark their PM efforts, identify gaps, and integrate PM into long-term planning and investment strategies.

The objective of this research is to create a guide that standardizes effective practices, performance metrics, and methodologies for transportation agencies in the United States. The Blue Book will offer actionable guidelines to implement TPM frameworks effectively, aiding agencies in data-driven decision-making, resource optimization, and alignment with federal mandates. By addressing challenges like data management and funding limitations, the TPM Blue Book aspires to build more sustainable, efficient, and safe transportation systems.

 ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:31:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712195</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Maintenance Decision Support System Refinement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2705945</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of the Maintenance Decision Support System are to: (1) Assess current road and weather conditions using observations and reasonable inferences based upon observations and physical laws. (2) Provide time- and location-specific weather forecasts along transportation routes. (3) Predict how road conditions would change due to the combined effects of the forecast weather and the application of several candidate road maintenance treatments. (4) Notify state agencies of approaching adverse conditions and suggest optimal maintenance treatments that can be achieved with resources available to the transportation agencies. (5) Evaluate the reliability of predictions and the effectiveness of applied maintenance treatments for specific road and weather conditions so that the decision support logic can be improved. Continuing the efforts of the previous phases of work, the member agencies voted on the future direction and tasks of the Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) pooled fund study (PFS). Some of these tasks represent continuation of previous phases of work and others are new endeavors for the project. The primary research areas selected by members of the MDSS project panel include: (1) Investigate methods to improve the MDSS model for better support of frost, freezing rain and other weather conditions; (2) Assess recommendations based on user feedback in real-time with post-recommendation analysis to improve MDSS modeling; (3) Analyze the use of Level of Service in DOT operations and understand how this functionality can be improved within MDSS; (4) Focus on Liquids as a priority treatment recommendation and develop processes that facilitate specialty liquids within MDSS; (5) Conduct a discovery process on Performance Measurement methods that would be applicable for MDSS with the goal of implementing these methods to demonstrate MDSS value; and (6) Improve the Route Configuration Process by implementing automated functionality, clear guidance for users, and preparing for the future of MDSS.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 22:52:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2705945</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Framework for Integrated Quality of Service Evaluation using Operational and Safety Considerations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703926</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project addresses a critical gap in transportation decision-making by examining the relationships among safety and operational performance measures that State DOTs typically use for planning, design, and operations. While agencies rely on different metrics depending on application, such as crash-based measures for safety projects and travel time reliability or delay for congestion management, there is limited guidance on how these measures interact or how they should be jointly considered when evaluating alternatives. Using multi-source data from State DOTs and third-party providers along major corridors in Region VII, the project will quantify correlations, trade-offs, and synergies among key performance measures and develop a practical, multi-objective evaluation framework tailored to common DOT applications. The resulting framework and guidance will enable agencies to conduct more consistent, transparent, and context-sensitive evaluations that better balance safety and operational objectives.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 22:41:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703926</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reliability-Aware Accessibility Measurement and Planning for Rural Transportation Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703797</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Reliable access to essential destinations is a persistent challenge in rural transportation systems, where long travel distances, limited infrastructure, and exposure to environmental disruptions can significantly affect mobility. Transportation accessibility is widely used in planning to evaluate how well transportation networks connect people to services and opportunities, yet most accessibility measures assume deterministic travel conditions and do not account for travel-time variability, weather disruptions, or infrastructure reliability. As a result, existing accessibility metrics may overestimate the practical ability of rural residents to reach essential destinations and provide limited guidance for transportation planning under uncertain conditions.
This project develops a reliability-aware accessibility measurement and planning framework for rural transportation systems. The research will extend traditional accessibility measures by incorporating transportation network uncertainty through scenario-based modeling of travel-time variability and disruption conditions. Reliability-aware accessibility metrics will be benchmarked against conventional accessibility measures and embedded within an optimization-based planning model that helps identify transportation interventions that improve reliable access under resource constraints. The framework will be demonstrated through a rural transportation case study using publicly available data and implemented as a prototype decision-support workflow for transportation planners.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 11:55:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703797</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Performance- and Cost-Based Framework to Evaluate the Value of Multimodal Logistics Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703796</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project develops a practical, data-driven framework to evaluate the value of logistics infrastructure in a multimodal freight region. Focusing on the St. Louis metropolitan area, the framework integrates freight performance measurement with generalized logistics cost modeling to translate travel time, reliability, and terminal access improvements into economic outcomes. Methods include assembling a regional freight network representation, computing corridor-level travel time and variability metrics, and applying scenario-based valuation to estimate marginal benefits of targeted investments. The project also includes a private-sector truck–rail–barge use case to quantify multimodal tradeoffs and assess the competitiveness of inland waterway transportation under alternative infrastructure scenarios. The resulting workflow provides agencies and regional partners with transparent, repeatable methods to support freight investment prioritization and decision-making.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 11:52:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703796</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Successful Approaches to Applying Project Management Performance Metrics to Achieve Strategic Process Improvements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2681236</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation agencies use a range of project management performance measures to track the status of engineering and project delivery activities. Most state departments of transportation (DOTs) monitor “on-time” and “on-budget” performance and report these measures to internal leadership and external stakeholders. While these metrics appear straightforward, definitions and calculation methods vary significantly across agencies, influencing how performance is interpreted and communicated.
Given public expectations for timely and cost-effective project delivery, DOTs are seeking practical approaches to more consistently track development progress and clearly communicate results to stakeholders.
OBJECTIVE: This scan will document how state DOTs define, measure, and apply “on-time” and “on-budget” performance metrics. The team will examine key elements such as:
When measured activities begin and end; How and when current schedules are compared to baseline schedules; Which cost estimates are used to establish baselines and track current performance, and at what project milestones.

Recognizing the interrelationship among scope, schedule, and budget, the scan will also explore how agencies monitor and manage scope throughout project development, if and how scope changes are captured, and how those changes inform performance reporting.
In addition, the scan will document the organizational structures supporting project delivery performance management, including centralized and decentralized models (e.g., project management offices, Chief Engineer’s Offices, strategic initiatives offices). The study will identify practices that support effective implementation and reporting of established performance measures.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:06:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2681236</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comparison of Sample Size and Curing time on Concrete Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672004</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this research is to continue department’s initiative to reduce test specimen size and support departments transition to Performance Engineered Mixture (PEM) implementation. The funding for this project will allow the department to sample and perform testing on various concrete mixes across the state and gain deeper understanding on how concrete mixes in Wisconsin will perform. Due to an increased use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) in Wisconsin to improve durability of concrete mixes, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Mobile Concrete Technology Center (MCTC) laboratory and Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP) studies indicated that using 28-day test results for acceptance may not be the most accurate representation of concrete performance as some SCMs require additional time to activate and gain strength in the concrete mixture. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) plans to evaluate the impact of extended curing of concrete strength specimens. These strength specimens can also be used to measure surface resistivity at 56 days to compare with surface resistivity values measured using the accelerated cure method per WTM T358. WisDOT would also investigate reducing compressive strength specimen size from 6”x12” to 4”x8”.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:28:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672004</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Post Construction Analysis of Major, Mega and Regionally Significant Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671992</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop a framework (methodology) for evaluating post-construction outcomes of Major, Mega, or regionally significant projects. Evaluation metrics may include but are not limited to: efficiency in project delivery, effects on traffic mobility, safety, and economic impact. The framework developed by this project is intended to be implemented by future Major/Mega/regional projects to improve the transportation project delivery process. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) measures performance through state performance measures, MAPSS (Mobility, Accountability, Preservation, Safety and Service); federal performance measures (e.g., reliability, emissions, delay, etc.); and other continuous improvement programs. These efforts focus on aggregate statewide metrics that may not reveal detailed insights from individual projects. WisDOT Majors and Mega projects are generally transformative in nature and represent some of the most complex and costly investments in maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure. Having a better understanding of project-specific post-construction outcomes would improve planning and design decisions for future projects, build confidence that proposed benefits of significant projects are being realized, and provide accountability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:23:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671992</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Incorporating Pavement Structural Capacity into TxDOT Pavement Management Information System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666837</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will provide the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) a means to use Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) data to assess the structural condition of their roadways at the network-level by (a) leveraging TSD measurements and pavement data from existing databases in the US to complement the information collected in Texas for proposing and validating indices derived from velocity-based TSD measurements. To do this, the research team will develop a novel, velocity-based methodology for analyzing TSD data, as existing approaches rely on deflection-based methods not suited for the TSD, consider appropriate velocity indices and thresholds for classifying pavement structural condition, assess load transfer efficiency of jointed pavements, and ensure seamless integration of these data into PMIS.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:45:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666837</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of an Aeromedical Safety Assurance System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652035</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM) must establish a safety assurance capability to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AVS Safety Management System (AVSSMS) requirements outlined in FAA Order VS 8000.367D. AAM currently lacks a systematic, evidence-based approach for monitoring whether medical risk mitigations, such as Special Issuance protocols, HIMS participation, and medication policies, are achieving their intended safety outcomes. Without a dedicated framework, AAM cannot fulfill its role in tracking the performance and effectiveness of medical safety risk controls across the National Airspace System (NAS), nor can it proactively detect shifts in risk level, emergent hazards, or unintended consequences of regulatory policy.

This research will define, develop, and validate a medical safety assurance framework tailored to AAM’s oversight responsibilities. The project will establish safety performance indicators, explore integration of aviation safety and medical certification data, and evaluate the application of advanced analytics (e.g., AI/ML) to monitor outcomes. Outputs will enable AAM to make informed, risk-prioritized decisions about oversight policy, improve cross-AVS coordination (e.g., with AVP), and enhance resilience to medical-related threats to operational safety.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:07:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652035</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Continuous 3D Strain Imaging for Structural Health Monitoring of Pavements </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646968</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project proposes to advance road infrastructure monitoring by leveraging distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) technologies in conjunction with advanced visualization techniques. While typical assessment tools rely on surface measurements and back calculation methods to infer internal conditions, they cannot measure strains within the pavement layers directly. On the other hand, traditional localized sensors offer limited spatial coverage, missing critical information between sensing points. Embedding distributed fiber optic sensing sensors directly into pavement structures will potentially enable the acquisition of high-resolution, real-time distributed strain measurements across extended lengths, providing an unprecedented, comprehensive understanding of the infrastructure condition under traffic loads. Furthermore, the integration of distributed fiber optic sensing measurements with mapping tools will allow transportation engineers to readily identify potential damage areas and structural deficiencies, which can potentially lead to optimized maintenance scheduling, improved road safety, and reduced long-term infrastructure management costs for highway agencies. 

This project aims to develop methods and tools to advance road infrastructure monitoring by integrating fiber optic strain sensing with 3D visualization. To achieve this goal, laboratory testing of pavement specimens strategically instrumented with distributed fiber optic sensing while trafficked with simulated traffic loads will be conducted to generate detailed strain measurements. Key objectives include developing methods for referencing, acquiring, and processing real-time, distributed strain data from embedded fiber optic sensors to generate insightful maps capable of representing strain distributions and their evolution in response to traffic, environment, and distress. This will facilitate the early identification of structural deficiencies, ultimately supporting proactive maintenance planning for highway agencies.  

The project scope involves developing and validating a comprehensive monitoring and visualization framework. This includes optimizing data acquisition, creating algorithms for efficient data reduction and processing of continuous strain measurements, and designing interactive 3D visualization tools. Laboratory validation of the techniques will be conducted, with the goal of future field testing on actual test sections to demonstrate the practical applicability and benefits of the developed system for highway agencies. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:23:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646968</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Smart Geosynthetics for Performance Monitoring and Life Cycle Assessment of Transportation Infrastructure </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646950</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Sensor-Enabled Geosynthetics (SEG) products are polymer composites that include networks of conducting fillers such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene in their polymer formulation, enabling them to exhibit tensoresistive properties (i.e. strain sensing as a result of tension in the material). SEG technology provides a rapid and economical means to measure mechanical strain in geosynthetic products without the need for much costlier conventional instruments such as strain gauges and extensometers, and data acquisition systems. Therefore, it offers convenient and cost-effective performance monitoring technology for various transportation applications including roads and highways, reinforced soil walls, embankments, and bridge abutments. 

Previous work by the research team examined the in-isolation performance of GCG when subjected to different loading regimes. Therefore, the primary objective of the proposed project is to investigate the in-soil performance of SEG when subjected to different confining pressures, before they can be incorporated in field projects. This objective will be accomplished through a series of large-scale cyclic plate loading tests and additional ancillary tests that will be added to the similar tests that are currently carried out by the PI’s research team in two ongoing Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) projects as an expanded and unified research study. Example benefits of SEG technology include: improving the safety and performance of transportation infrastructure (i.e. roadways, retaining walls, bridge abutments, and reinforced slopes and embankments) by incorporating a monitoring and warning system, which will result in faster construction and any adjustments necessary in the construction process using real-time response data, leading to significant safety improvements, time and cost savings in the project, and the prevention of costly problems, failures and repairs during service or extreme events.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:05:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646950</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Perform Assessment of TxDOT Safety Scoring Tools to Determine Effectiveness and Calibration</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636039</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) safety scoring tools by analyzing evaluation performance, identifying potential biases or limitations, and recommending improvements and adjustments to enhance their effectiveness. The research team will develop a guidance documentation that recommends refinement to existing tool methodologies and strengthen its ability to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries through more informed decision-making and targeted safety interventions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:14:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636039</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 57-01. Performance-Based Design Practices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2630482</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Roadway geometric design has traditionally involved the application of tools, methods, dimensions, and criteria. The tools used in the current process have been dimensionally based, and designers typically follow the values in tables and equations from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) or agency policies. The typical purpose of the roadway geometric design process is to provide the necessary three-dimensional features (horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, cross-section) for a roadway to address identified problems/needs and provide the appropriate level of mobility and safety outcomes for all road users. The traditional philosophical approach to design has been to treat minimum or desirable design criteria as adequate to produce acceptable performance. More recently, performance-based design (PBD) for roadways has advanced within the design profession and focuses on using specific, quantifiable (and sometimes qualitative) performance measures to guide design decisions, rather than simply adhering to traditional, dimensionally driven design standards. 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document current state department of transportation (DOT) practices for development and use of performance-based geometric design tools, methods, and approaches, also known as “performance-based practical design” (PBPD).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:14:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2630482</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advancing a Statewide Model for Multimodal Transportation Planning and Asset Management Integration in Rural and Small Urban Contexts</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606412</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research addresses the critical need for integrating transportation asset management (TAM) with transportation planning practices in rural and small urban contexts. Building on federal guidance from the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and subsequent legislation, the project will develop a statewide framework that strengthens the relationship between asset management and multimodal transportation planning across state, regional, and local agencies. The research focuses on three foundational components: meaningful stakeholder collaboration, high-quality integrated asset data, and aligned performance measurement processes. Using West Virginia as a pilot context, the study will evaluate current integration practices, assess multimodal asset data gaps, develop a prototype infrastructure database, and create a practitioner-focused toolkit for co-prioritization and performance-based decision-making. The methodology encompasses assessment of current practices, evaluation of data opportunities, database development, framework creation, and pilot implementation with selected agencies to test real-world applications and gather user feedback for refinement.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:27:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606412</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>