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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <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>
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    <item>
      <title>Accelerating IFC Adoption by Advancing IFC Validation Service and Software Certification Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652044</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposed Pooled Fund Study would look at the viability and best means to significantly enhance the scale and maturity of services (i.e., IFC Validation Service and Global IFC Software Certification), as well as recommend any additional technical and procedural efforts (such as Use Case-based Certification), needed to support software implementation and United States industry adoption and deployment. The following two primary business objectives would be achieved: Enabling state departments of transportation (DOTs) to specify certified (IFC and US industry standard exchange requirement compliant) software for road and bridge projects; Enabling state DOTs to validate deliverables from consultants and contractors to enhance project delivery and management quality. This work would be separate but complimentary to the ongoing work of TPF-5(523) BIM for Bridges & Structures Pooled Fund and TPF-5(480) BIM for Infrastructure Pooled Fund.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:59:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652044</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bridging Research, Innovation, and Practice: Partnership for the Advancement of Pavement Engineering and Asset Management in Virginia
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628344</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposed new collaboration between the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) focuses on expanding and complementing the current and effective shorter-term focused applied research joint efforts between the two institutions, by establishing a joint program aimed at exploring ideas that will result in even more effective and efficient solutions in the midterm (3-5 years) but may require more fundamental research and development. The research program includes four tasks, including a first task focused on workforce development and three innovative projects identified in collaboration between the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI and VTRC. Additional topics may be added if new emerging technologies or concepts are identified during the duration of the project: Task 1. Workforce Development and Outreach;
Task 2. Innovative Pavement Instrumentation for Real-Time and Remote Monitoring; Task 3. Use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin for Pavement Asset Management; Task 4. Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML) for Pavement Performance Prediction .
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2025 09:01:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628344</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Model as a Legal Deliverable: Exploring the Technological, Implementation, and Legislative Pathways for ODOT
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2617997</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) currently has no process in place to allow for the delivery of Building Information Modelling (BIM)  models as part of the project contract, nor does ODOT have a full grasp of all the regulations or codes that exist in Ohio that may prevent or support this process. While ODOT develops 2D/3D models for design, that data is used to create traditional (2D) plan sheets and supplemented with extensive documentation before being provided as reference information on a construction contract. The contractor then uses the design information from the plan sheets which are the contract document and will generate a new 2D/3D model to be used to understand construction needs and for their due diligence, usually at a cost to ODOT. With new technology and the implementation of BIM for Infrastructure strategies, there is an opportunity to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and improve design/construction accuracy through the development and delivery of model-based deliverables. Other states have already begun adopting BIM models as legal deliverables and have demonstrated the benefits of native model-based and advanced digital delivery processes.

There is a pressing need to modernize ODOT's approach to model deliverables to keep pace with technological advancements and industry standard practices. Research is needed to provide a comprehensive analysis of benefits and challenges associated with adopting a model-based approach.  The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility and implications of adopting a model as a legal deliverable approach for transportation projects in Ohio. 
                       ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:22:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2617997</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Research on Digital Collaboration Using IFC and BIM Technology</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2499100</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Traditional project delivery includes the development of information rich 2D and 3D models which are then printed to PDF files for construction purposes. Printing a model to a PDF causes the loss of important data that can be embedded in the design objects such as pay items, specifications, material requirements and asset data. This data must be recreated in other parts of the plans in a fashion that is not connected to the original design object. In addition, asset information is not collected until after the completion of the project. This is an inefficient process which could be optimized to produce considerable cost and time savings. The use of building information model (BIM) technology should allow for users of the data to have the data that they need within the model of the project. In 2019, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) adopted Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as the national standard for AASHTO states to exchange digital information. In theory, this should provide a mechanism for the seamless transfer of data throughout the lifecycle of an asset. Adopting the use of IFC models should allow for a collaborative environment where data about the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)’s assets can be housed, tracked, and transferred to other databases. The purpose of this research is to document current MDOT dataflows for MDOT design objects and to understand how IFC or other technologies will allow for the transfer of relevant business data at specific data handoff points.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:28:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2499100</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IFC-based BIM for Robotic Installation of Precast Bridge Components</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2491002</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This exploratory project proposes to take an invariant signatures and logic-based artificial intelligence (AI) approach to analyze precast bridge components’ designs in IFC-based BIM for automation in onsite construction using robots. The invariant signature of an AEC object is defined as “a set of intrinsic properties of the object that distinguish it from others and that do not change with data schema, software implementation, modeling decisions, and/or language/cultural contexts”. It has been successfully demonstrated in the vertical construction sector in supporting BIM interoperability: (1) between architectural design and construction cost analysis; (2) between architectural design and code compliance checking; (3) between architectural design and structural analysis; and (4) between architectural design and energy modeling/simulation. It also has been initially tested in the horizontal construction (i.e., civil infrastructure) sector for BIM interoperability between drainage/pavement design and quality assurance analysis. In this project, the invariant signatures will be investigated in applications that support BIM interoperability among precast bridge design, robotic installation, and constructability analysis.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:01:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2491002</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Develop Data Collection Requirements and Strategic Research Roadmap to Support the Digital Delivery Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447029</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is transitioning from GeoPak to OpenRoads Designer (ORD) as part of the Digital Delivery initiative. The Department is also migrating bridge design, storm drain design, and survey as part of this transition. Recently, TxDOT engaged the services of a consultant (Kimley-Horn) to develop a strategic plan for the Digital Delivery initiative, as well as assist with its implementation. The consultant's contract runs through 2028 and has a clearly defined scope of work. However, research is needed in several areas to facilitate the Digital Delivery initiative and the consultant's work. One of those areas is related to procedures for data collection and processing to support digital delivery and asset management. The consultant is developing 3D model standards and workspaces for typical 3D objects that are being designed. However, a critical research need is how to extract cost-effective 3D models (or digital twins) efficiently from a multiplicity of data sources, including, but not limited to aerial and underground imagery, LiDAR point clouds, photogrammetry products, etc. These digital twins must meet relevant requirements for both design and construction workflows. Research is also needed to identify software and other industry trends that might affect the Digital Delivery initiative and recommend strategies on how to anticipate and prepare for those trends. Building information modeling (BIM) and digital twin technology for horizontal infrastructure are evolving quickly in the United States, not just in terms of CAD software technology and capabilities, but also in terms of industry standards such as data exchange and software interoperability. These tools have enormous potential not just during all phases of project delivery but also for infrastructure condition monitoring as well as maintenance and improvement need assessments.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:06:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447029</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide for Digital Project Delivery: Integrating Design and Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381719</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In recent years, there has been an explosion of digital tools and practices to enhance how transportation agencies conduct business and deliver projects more collaboratively with partners. State departments of transportation (DOTs) are replacing paper and image-based workflows with more intelligent digital processes to tap the potential of digital information more fully for collaboration, productivity, and risk and quality management. Digital practices such as three-dimensional (3D)/four-dimensional (4D) modeling, e-Construction/e-Ticketing, and building information modeling (BIM) for infrastructure are improving project delivery by enabling more effective collaboration and seamless data exchange, reducing errors during handoffs. However, integration of these digital practices remains largely ad hoc, particularly in areas like risk evaluation and management for project delivery. Research is needed on the utilization of digital project delivery practices within the transportation sector, the benefits achieved, and how these practices can be adapted to meet state DOT needs.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for implementing digital delivery practices from design through construction of the transportation infrastructure life cycle.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2024 17:06:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381719</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide to Using 3D Models for Construction Inspection</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348475</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have implemented three-dimensional (3D) models for project planning, design, and construction; however, field inspection staff need to develop the requisite skills for using digital inspection procedures. Some state DOT staff have limited exposure to or proficiency in using 3D models for uniform inspection processes and procedures. Three-dimensional models provide detailed information, efficiency, and visualization capabilities. These models can replace the current standard two-dimensional (2D) plan sets and offer effective tools and streamlined practices. Construction inspectors are expected to use data from 3D models to measure, verify, and accept construction materials and payment quantities. Many inspectors access this information through PDF or paper plans. Digital 3D models eliminate the need for some portions of 2D plans since details and visualizations are in the models. Identifying what construction inspectors need for optimal use of data from 3D models is an area of opportunity for state DOTs who can potentially develop digital solutions for construction contract documents. Some states are piloting the use of 3D design models as the primary contract document. Other states adopting 3D models plan to continue to make 2D plans available for a limited time. There is a need to prepare staff for the migration to 3D models and to develop a 3D model use guide and training for construction inspectors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop a guide for construction inspectors that (1) describes what information construction inspectors need to utilize data from 3D models and how to best document construction activities, and (2) identifies and catalogs the business needs and core competencies of construction inspectors using data from 3D digital models.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:58:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348475</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Digital Delivery: Roadmap for Implementing Building Information Model (BIM) for Infrastructure at GDOT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342181</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
The primary objective of this research is a “roadmap” to help strategically guide GDOT to “BIM maturity” (agency-wide digital delivery implementation). This roadmap would address the technology, process, and people to implement such a change including ultimate goals, intermediate objectives, and corresponding timelines. The benefit of this research is to formalize GDOT’s support of this initiative and provide a vision to guide the supporting, ongoing efforts.   ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:42:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342181</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing Building Information Modeling (BIM) Maturity and Identifying Barriers to Implementation among Transportation Agencies in Region 6</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291299</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to provide a systematic roadmap to regional DOTs for the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) at an organizational level based on comparative BIM maturity assessment across the region. BIM maturity refers to the ongoing journey of improvement, evolution, and refinement within the realm of BIM implementation. It signifies a commitment to enhancing several key aspects, namely quality, repeatability, and predictability, all of which are intricately tied to an organization's BIM capability. Competency metrics are integral to shaping a holistic organizational structure and encompass a wide array of critical elements. The research team will focus on the competency elements specified in the national BIM roadmap for the study, including skills, tools and technologies, data and standards, and policies and procedures. Each competency element will be assessed based on five BIM maturity levels: Level A (Ad-hoc Initial/Low), Level B (Defined/Medium-Low), Level C (Managed/Medium), Level D (Integrated/Medium-High) and Level E (Optimized/High). The final task involves the development of a BIM Level 2 implementation roadmap with prioritized action items. This roadmap will be crafted based on the insights gathered from the regional survey and the BIM maturity assessment. It will outline clear, actionable steps that each DOT can undertake to advance its BIM capabilities in alignment with the national roadmap. The prioritization of these steps will be determined by considering factors such as the DOT's current maturity level, available resources, and strategic objectives. The roadmap will serve as a practical guide, assisting DOTs in their journey toward achieving BIM Level 2 maturity and fostering collaboration and innovation within the transportation sector. While developed for implementation in Region 6, the framework underpinning the roadmap will be transferable to other states and regions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:51:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291299</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Bridges and Structures - Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265815</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Bridges and Structures has been working on a comprehensive plan to advance the use of building information modeling (BIM) specific to bridges and structures. In 2017, TPF-5(372) BIM for Bridges and Structures project provided the primary funding mechanism for developing the foundational elements to implement openBIM data standards to support BIM for Bridges and Structures in the United States. This multi-year effort focused on developing the openBIM data standards for enabling digital exchange from design to construction for workhorse bridges using the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema. A significant amount of progress was accomplished  through this effort, which resulted in an implementable AASHTO guide specification to exchange 3D model-based information for workhorse bridges to execute construction. Specifically, the resulting standard was adopted by AASHTO Committee on Buildings and Structures (COBS) on June 22, 2022, as the AASHTO Information Delivery Manual: Guide Specification for Design to Construction Data Exchange for Highway Bridges. Additional products from this effort included foundational elements necessary for implementing openBIM standards at the project level, including (1) U.S. Bridge Data Dictionary, (2) Model View Definition Extension and Documentation for Software Providers, (3) Unit Test Suite Documentation and Testing Criteria for Software Certification, (4) Educational Kit and Implementation Guide for AASHTO Members, and (5) Updated Bridge Lifecycle Map and Prioritization of Data Exchanges. While the progress was significant, there are many other needs that still need to be addressed to facilitate the use of model-based data exchanges to support the bridge asset lifecycle. 

OBJECTIVES: This pooled fund project will provide the primary mechanism for AASHTO COBS T-19 to expand and refine the outcomes of TPF-5(372) and developing additional guide specifications for openBIM national data standards to support model-based exchanges of workhorse bridges.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:32:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265815</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Holistic Quality Management of Precast Concrete Construction for Transportation Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250457</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Precast concrete (PC) is manufactured in a controlled environment, and is a promising alternative to cast-in-place concrete and provides desired quality, durability, adaptability, efficiency, and (with embedded sensors) real-time performance monitoring capacity to construct transportation assets that address significant infrastructure challenges faced by the nation. High-quality precast concrete systems (PCS) provide several benefits including: shorter lane closures and reduced traffic congestion attributed to accelerated construction with shorter project duration, and increased road user and worker safety when such systems are utilized correctly. However, quality deficiencies during any PCS lifecycle phases (i.e., design, manufacturing, transporting, lifting and installation, and operation and maintenance (O&M)) can easily offset the expected benefits, leading to premature failures and excessive repair costs.

This project aims to design a holistic quality management framework/model for precast construction of transportation infrastructure and test it for the stage of precast at the plant. The framework integrates building information modeling (BIM), laser scanning, ground penetrating radar (GPR), vision sensing, extended reality (XR) along with advanced computational tools to create a digital twin as the ‘seamless’ method of information management and sharing for quality control from the life-cycle perspective. Specific objectives are to: (1) design a system-level framework for lifecycle data/information/knowledge acquisition and data exchange in PCS; (2) design an expandable BIM approach to meet the data and information needs of lifecycle PCS quality management (QM); (3) validate and test at the precast-at-plant stage through case studies; and (4) present and solicit feedback from researchers and practitioners in the field of precast concrete in transportation projects through venues such as the 2024 Purdue Road School.
 ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:09:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250457</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Adopting Construction 4.0 Concepts to Enhance Execution and O&amp;M Phases of Transportation Infrastructure Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244363</link>
      <description><![CDATA[With the emerging digital technology introduced to the construction industry, the new revolution, Construction 4.0, has started to align with the fourth industry revolution (Industry 4.0). These digital technologies enable construction projects to improve in many aspects, from design to construction, operation, and maintenance. In this proposed research, Dr. Faghihi will use some concepts available in Construction 4.0 to investigate their potential benefits to transportation infrastructure projects in the first phase and then propose practical implementations of these technologies in real-world DoT projects. Those concepts are building information modeling (BIM), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). In this research, BIM and VR/AR will enhance transportation projects’ design and execution phases and facilitate the operation and maintenance of those projects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244363</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Asset Management of Bridges Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles and Machine Learning Models </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244357</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridges play a key role in supporting the transportation network in the United States. The 2021 infrastructure report card prepared by ASCE highlighted that more than 40% of bridges in the U.S. are over 50 years old. Some of these bridges are classified as structurally deficient, even though they are safe to travel. To address these challenges, highway agencies are exploring innovative technologies to conduct inspections and realize benefits in terms of access, cost, and safety. Federal and state DOTs have conducted several studies on the application of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for bridge health monitoring. Digital twins of bridges will be very beneficial in predicting the long-term performance of the bridge infrastructure assets. However, there are challenges for building the digital twins due to the knowledge gap on (1) a framework for conducting 360° bridge inspections using UAVs and (2) integrating that information into building information modeling (BIM) platforms. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the framework for conducting 360° bridge inspections developed by the principal investigators (PI), develop machine learning models to extract the condition information of a bridge element, and develop a framework to integrate that information into BIM models. The research output will assist the DOTs in understanding the bridge infrastructure condition and making informed decisions about preventive maintenance. This project is thus directly related to 
National Center for Infrastructure Transformation's (NCIT’s) focus area of “Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure” and in particular to the NCIT’s topical pillar: Technology. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:06:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244357</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Emerging Data Streams for Pavement (Asset) Health Monitoring and Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2156184</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the last two decades, accelerating technological changes are changing the way transportation assets are managed. Innovations, such as smart cities, smart infrastructure, automated vehicles, multifunctionality, and high-tech construction are redefining the transportation profession and offer a myriad of challenges and opportunities.

These disrupting trends offer unique opportunities to adjust the way we conceive, design, construct, and manage the infrastructure of the future.  This pooled fund will focus on exploring the use of the new stream of data produced by these innovations to better evaluate  and manage pavement assets. 

Examples of the technologies to be considered have been presented in several recent Transport Research Board committees and other professional meetings.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the pooled-fund program of research is to identify, test and evaluate emerging big data stream that may enhance the process that is used to evaluate the performance and manage pavement assets. The technologies considered will include at a minimum, vehicle response data collected by connected and automated vehicles, smart infrastructure sensors (e.g., internet of things), mobile devices and e-construction and Building Information Models (BIM) technologies (e.g., digital twins).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 18:44:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2156184</guid>
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