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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <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>
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    <item>
      <title>Modeling the Economic Impact of Pavement Condition on Free Flow Speeds in Highway Networks</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675925</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Free flow speed (FFS)—the speed vehicles travel under uncongested conditions—is a critical input in transportation planning
and economic analysis. Pavement condition can significantly influence FFS, affecting travel time, vehicle operating costs, and
overall system efficiency. While agencies like Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) currently apply expert-based speed adjustments to account for pavement
quality, there is an opportunity to enhance these assumptions with validated, data-driven models specific to Michigan’s
highway network. This research aims to quantify the relationship between pavement condition and FFS using empirical data
and modeling techniques. By developing and validating models that link pavement indices (e.g., international roughness index
(IRI), pavement surface evaluation and rating (PASER)) to free flow speed changes, the study will improve the accuracy of
economic impact analyses, and investment evaluations. The resulting framework will support more informed decision-making
across planning, asset management, and performance assessment functions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:41:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675925</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Drainage and Seepage of Existing Retaining Structures </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675929</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many retaining walls built in Michigan were constructed between the 1960s and 1980s. The structures were designed with an
assumed lifespan of 50 years with proper maintenance. These assumed life spans were predicated on properly functioning drainage
system for the entire lifespan. When drainage systems have failed the structures experience hydrostatic pressure challenges that
accelerate degradation and create other issues for the infrastructure network. Buildup of hydrostatic pressure can lead to
unintentional increased loading, excessive cracking and spalling of the wall, seepage, and loss of backfill. Seepage from cracks and
joints flows onto the roadway, resulting in ice buildup during the winter. This creates safety hazards for the motoring public and
maintenance crews. Icy surfaces require excessive attention from maintenance crews which have limited resources, while freezing
and thawing cycles accelerate damage to the retaining wall and the roadway. If the drainage and seepage issues are not addressed,
eventually the retaining walls will require premature reconstruction. These reconstruction projects would be extremely costly and
create major mobility impacts to the traveling public. It is critical for Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to consider viable and cost-effective solutions for
addressing this challenge that can be implemented with minimal impact on roadway users.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:32:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675929</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Verification of Wide Base Tire Impacts on Pavement Design and Performance in Michigan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675930</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) research project SPR-1720, “Quantifying the Impact of Super Single
(Wide Base) Tires on Pavement Damage in Michigan” evaluated the impact of wide based tires (WBT, also known as super single
tires, SST) on pavement performance. This study found that WBT’s increase pavement stresses and damage relative to the standard
dual tire configuration. It also developed estimates for current and projected WBT adoption rates. As a result, the study evaluated the
impact of WBT’s on flexible and rigid pavement types, with consideration for modified axle load spectra and load equivalency factors
in design.
Since the completion of this study, WBT adoption has continued to develop, providing an opportunity to verify the accuracy
of earlier projections. Furthermore, national practices for adjusting pavement design procedures to account for WBT’s remain limited
and not well defined. Due to this uncertainty, both in adoption trends and the potential impacts to pavement designs, it is important to
revisit and verify the findings of SPR-1720.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:27:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2675930</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improve MDOT's Understanding of the Acceptance and Performance of Riprap</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731977</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The long term performance of riprap has been an issue because some local sources of riprap have known durability issues
and will degrade/dissolve over time. In addition, the acceptance of riprap size and gradation is currently done by performing a
Wolman count. Performing the Wolman count involves walking over large rocks, which can be a safety hazard and takes a
significant amount of time to do. There are challenges in assessing the performance and durability of riprap in riverine, lightly
acidic and other environments that need to be addressed. The potential exists that there may be technological and electronic
solutions that need to be utilized to enhance or replace existing processes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:21:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731977</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhanced Understanding of Geotechnical Processes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731975</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a need for a multidisciplinary hub for advancing geotechnical engineering practices in support of Michigan’s surface
transportation infrastructure. In alignment with the objectives outlined by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the
Center will engage in a comprehensive suite of activities, including but not limited to education and workforce development, public
and stakeholder outreach, applied and theoretical research, implementation of innovative technologies, laboratory and field testing,
analytical modeling, and investigative services. These efforts will be guided by MDOT’s strategic priorities and may be further refined
through specific tasks detailed in this Scope of Services. The overarching goal of this center is to function as a responsive and
collaborative resource for MDOT by facilitating in the development, evaluation, and deployment of novel geotechnical solutions that
enhance the safety, durability, and sustainability of Michigan’s transportation systems. This can be done by fostering innovation and
continuous improvement in geotechnical engineering. The Center aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring
that emerging technologies and methodologies are effectively translated into real-world applications that benefit the traveling public
and support the long-term stewardship of the state’s infrastructure assets.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:11:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731975</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluate Traffic Control Devices Viable Use to Reduce Speeding Behavior at High-Low Speed Zone Locations in Michigan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731925</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Determine the effectiveness of various traffic control devices currently in use to reduce driver speeding behavior, when traveling from
a high-speed zone to low-speed zone. Site locations of interest in Michigan are where the speed limit is reduced due to a change in
roadway context, such as locations with increased pedestrian traffic, within school vicinity, and where bicycle traffic exist. Devices
proposed for study under this research project are signs of various sizes, dynamic signs, and experimental type devices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:50:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731925</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title> Evaluate PVC Water Main Materials in Roadway Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731924</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Water main breaks within Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) R.O.W. pose significant risks to the Department and stakeholders, including complete road
closures, detours, as well as boil water advisories. MDOT is obligated to replace municipal water mains that are impacted by
Road and Bridge projects, typically at Project costs. The Department currently only specifies ductile iron water main (DIWM)
materials within the influence of its roadways. Rising costs of and supply issues with DIWM in recent years have caused
significant project delays. Municipalities are increasingly requesting the use of PVC water main materials within MDOT R.O.W.
to maintain material continuity of their facilities. Allowing use of alternative materials could reduce costs and/or delays to the
Department. MDOT needs data to address Municipal Engineers and Industry questions on the suitability of allowing PVC water
main on MDOT projects. Several factors must be evaluated in comparison to DIWM; the durability and expected design life,
historical leakage and breakage rates, cause of failures, the long-term safety of PVC water main materials on public health,
and life cycle costs. The research must provide data guidance and recommendations on the advantages and disadvantages of
PVC versus DIWM to allow consideration of a change to current policy.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:29:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731924</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Traffic Speed Deflectometer Data (TSD) for Potential Use in Michigan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731922</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The collection of continuous pavement deflection data is a technology that is starting to mature and is getting a lot of
attention from many state agencies around the country. The cost to obtain these data collection services can be significant.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MI DOT) would like to explore whether there is a benefit in spending money on this type of data. Does it provide
sufficient structural information that can be useful in the scoping or design phases of upcoming projects? Does it provide
useful information in the evaluation of the performance of in-situ pavements? In what situations does it make sense to
gather this data? These are some of the questions that need to be answered so that a determination can be made on the
cost effectiveness of moving forward with this relatively new technology.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:59:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731922</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhanced Understanding of Concrete Pavement Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731921</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Michigan’s wet-freeze climate causes pavement durability issues such as freeze-thaw scaling, while salt exposures
significantly impact the long-term performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements (JPCP). These environmental stressors
initiate joint staining and can progress to joint spalling, eventually lead to structural failures like shear cracking under traffic
loads. Structural inputs like slab thickness and modulus of rupture govern mechanical performance, while durability factors
influence how a JPCP pavement degrades over time. These material properties affect roughness and service life. In addition,
the University of Michigan (UofM) Center can provide specialized technical expertise and examinations related to further development of its pavement
design program, specifically as it relates to Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:20:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731921</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhanced Understanding of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731920</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) interest is to have the Michigan State University (MSU) Center provide specialized technical expertise and examinations related to further development of its pavement design program, specifically as it relates to Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:08:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731920</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Traffic Signal Pre-emption Effectiveness in Michigan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731919</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Current Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) policy allows signal pre-emption for emergency vehicles, but the emergency agency is responsible for paying
for the equipment required for implementation. However, MDOT still has costs associated with the operation and maintenance
of the system. It is unknown at this time how many of the emergency pre-emption implementations are working as designed.
Question- for existing systems that are operational, are the expected benefits being realized? As the complexity of traffic
signal technology continues to grow, the resources available to maintain the signal infrastructure are becoming more strained.
As such, it is important to ensure that the resources dedicated to implementing pre-emption are worthwhile and should be
prioritized over other competing needs. This project will investigate current state of pre-emption technologies and the various
practices underway in MI, as well as develop recommendations for the most effective and reliable systems to maximize the
return on investment with minimum disruptions to daily traffic operations. In addition to existing implementations, the
technology has developed to a point where more and more use cases are being considered for using signal pre-emption. In
cases where it is possible for multiple different use cases to exist along the same corridor, another question/unknown is- how
should the various pre-emption calls be prioritized?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:58:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731919</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Readiness Survey: Are MDOT Roads Machine Readable</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731918</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Considering Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Mission, Values, and Vision, with the evolving landscape of technologies within the connected and automated
vehicle (CAV) industry, there is a pressing need to investigate the requisite support from DOTs to enable seamless integration of
CAVs with infrastructure. As core sensors and systems defining these technologies become more established, understanding the
precise infrastructure requirements becomes paramount. Therefore, the research aims to address the question: "What specific
support and infrastructure enhancements are necessary from MDOT to facilitate effective detection and interaction of connected and
automated vehicles with the surrounding infrastructure?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:47:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731918</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>High Load Hit Prevention</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562331</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many department owned bridges are impacted with over height vehicles every year, however, there are many bridges that
have been struck repeatedly. Bridges being repeatedly struck by over height vehicles leads to structural damage to
department infrastructure as well as impedance to the traveled roadway(s). This damage can cause immediate lane or road
closures while the damage is inspected and repaired, shortened service life of the structure, and potential bridge component or
structure replacement. In order to address this problem, the department seeks to identify methods to locate and inform over
height drivers prior to striking the structure in addition to detecting impacts. Not having these methods will allow over height
vehicles to continue to damage department structures and for damage to go unreported. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has interest in identifying
which method(s) of over height vehicle impact prevention is best suitable for structures susceptible to damage. The
department is expecting this research to yield the implementation of technology to reduce damage of bridges caused by over
height vehicles impacts. Additionally, Michigan has dozens of bridges located within navigable waterways and following the
collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, MDOT would like to evaluate the inherent risk of damage from vessel
allision at those bridges with substructure units within the waterway.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:22:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562331</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guidelines and Best Practices for Determining the Life Cycle Cost of Various Superstructure Types</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731917</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The selection of superstructure type during the study phase of a design project is currently made based on the estimated
construction cost and a subjective and inexact assessment of the life cycle cost of the structure. This method of selecting the
preferred alternative has led to the introduction of bias into the decision-making process and tends to lead to the selection of
concrete superstructures more often than steel superstructures. Rarely is this decision tied to objective data based on historic
maintenance records of similar superstructures and has never accounted for 
Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT’S) ability to extend the life of steel
superstructures by incorporating bolted and welded repairs, which are not possible on concrete superstructures. Disregarding
this information in the selection of a superstructure type increases the risk of not using the available bridge funding as
efficiently and effectively as possible.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:05:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731917</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Readiness Survey</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2612891</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Considering Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Mission, Values, and Vision, with the evolving landscape of technologies within the connected and automated vehicle (CAV) industry, there is a pressing need to investigate the requisite support from state DOTs to enable seamless integration of CAVs with infrastructure. As core sensors and systems defining these technologies become more established, understanding the precise infrastructure requirements becomes paramount. Therefore, the research aims to address the question: "What specific support and infrastructure enhancements are necessary from MDOT to facilitate effective detection and interaction of connected and automated vehicles with the surrounding infrastructure?"]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:09:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2612891</guid>
    </item>
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