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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Determining the Testing, Limits and Elimination of CWD Prions in Composting Byproducts for MDT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2478261</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) a transmissible disease affecting deer, poses significant challenges for deer population management, and safe disposal of deer carcasses. Composting animal carcasses is an environmentally friendly disposal method and is being successfully used in some areas of Montana for animals killed along the roadways. Yet concerns persist regarding the presence of infectious proteins or prions that cause CWD in the compost byproducts. These prions are notoriously resilient, withstanding standard composting temperatures and environmental degradation, thus raising questions
about their persistence and potential spreading through applications of compost byproducts.

Currently MDT cannot use the animal composting byproducts because the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has expressed concern that it may spread CWD to uninfected animals. The composting byproduct is essentially topsoil, which MDT has plenty of uses if available for application along the roadside. Currently, it is simply stored at the composting site. If it can’t be used, it will have to be disposed in a landfill.

This proposal investigates the feasibility of using deer composting byproducts in transportation applications (e.g., soil stabilization, erosion control, or road construction and topsoil for vegetation along MDT's ROW) while assessing the associated risks of prion contamination. The study also considers the detection limits of prions in compost and defines thresholds for “prion-free” classification based on current detection technologies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:23:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2478261</guid>
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      <title>Strategies to Advance MDT as an Employer of Choice for Talent</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413943</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation face a variety of challenges with recruitment and retention of staff. The transportation workforce is older than the national average with a significant portion of staff eligible to retire. New technologies and evolving agency mandates are also changing the nature of work and the type of skillsets required by personnel, intensifying competition with private industry for in-demand workers. Recruitment and retention challenges are exacerbated by tight labor markets in rural states like Montana. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will want to implement evidence-based strategies to successfully compete for qualified workers.

The proposed research will assist MDT in developing strategies to make the agency an employer of choice. The focus of the research will be in assessing three primary areas related to workforce development: 1. Characterize Leadership Motivation and Goals. How does MDT leadership formulate its workforce development goals and motivations and how are they communicated and operationalized through internal and external communications, policies, and practices? Are current approaches effective in achieving goals? The research will review agency communications, strategic plans, and other documentation in conjunction with staff interviews to identify existing attitudes, accountability measures, programs, and organizational structures in place to advance human resource goals as well as to identify challenges or barriers. 2. Workplace Culture Assessment. The project will develop and distribute a survey about workplace culture to MDT employees. The researchers will work with MDT Human Resources staff to ensure that the survey includes relevant demographic classifications and follows agency protocols. The survey will be augmented by in-depth interviews with staff from a variety of occupational groupings, career stages, and departments/divisions within the agency. The purpose of the climate assessment is to assess employee engagement and to identify any issues that exist about how employees perceive their workplace environment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:04:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413943</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Statewide GNSS RTN System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1890063</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The rapid economic growth in the state of Montana makes it critical for the state to have adequate up-to-date geographic information infrastructure. Such infrastructure would increase the accuracy of geographic information and maps that are needed by multiple users from private and public entities. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the State Library are leading an effort to develop a Statewide Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Network (RTN). A statewide GNSS-RTN benefits multiple public and private entities that utilize GPS survey and GIS mapping services. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, survey grade applications, precision agriculture, emergency management, construction engineering projects, infrastructure asset management, environmental studies, municipal infrastructure, and navigation are only some of the important applications of the prospective statewide GNSS-RTN system. This system should cover most or all of Montana geographic area and provides survey grade RTN survey and mapping services to various public and private network partners while following a fiscally sustainable business operation.
Research is needed to investigate the feasibility of different business models for sustainable operation and maintenance of a statewide GNSS-RTN system to inform the direction of the state’s efforts in developing and maintaining a statewide GNSS-RTN. Research findings should help the MDT and other state partners make sound decisions regarding the main aspects of the system such as access to network services and ownership, operation, and maintenance of RTN components including Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), the Central Processing Center (CPC) and network communications.

The objective of this project is to perform an assessment of the various alternative business models and to recommend to Montana MDT (and other partners) the most appropriate business model(s) to pursue in the planning and development of a statewide GNSS-RTN system. The prospective statewide GNSS-RTN should cover all or most of Montana geographical area and follow a fiscally sustainable business operation. More specifically, this project will gain understanding of and document the state of the art and practice related to GNSS-RTN existing systems, analyze the advantages and limitations of using various business models in the context of the state of Montana, and develop implementation recommendations to guide the planning efforts by MDT and other partners regarding the development and operation of Montana GNSS-RTN.

This research effort is jointly sponsored by the Montana Department of Transportation and the USDOT Small Urban, Rural, and Tribal Center on Mobility. This project represents the portion supported by SURTCOM.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:23:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1890063</guid>
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