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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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Water-Cementitious Material Ratio as Acceptance Parameter for Freshly Placed Concrete</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671983</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Thanks to the importance of water-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm) to concrete mixture design and performance, measuring w/cm could potentially be a valuable alternative to using strength testing as an acceptance parameter for concrete. However, few agencies measure or verify w/cm in concrete in-place, despite the fact that water content can vary from the design target value due to factors such as variability in aggregate moisture contents and concrete batching processes, and it is not uncommon for w/cm values reported on batch tickets to differ from the actual w/cm of concrete delivered to a project site (Robertson, et al., 2022). Petrographers can estimate w/cm from hardened concrete cores or samples within a range of values (e.g., +/- 0.05), but there is no generally accepted standard procedure for determining w/cm of hardened concrete (ASTM 2020).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:20:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671983</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Develop and Demonstrate an Evaluation Process for Acceptance of Additives for Use in Forensic Analysis in Hot Mix Asphalt</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666836</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Although additives, modifiers, and extenders are commonly used in hot mix asphalt (HMA) designs, a robust and structured laboratory evaluation process is needed to assess their impact on performance and minimize the risk of incorporating these materials in routine use. The research team will develop a framework to evaluate new products in the context of asphalt materials, leveraging insights from existing methodologies such as NCHRP 1-130. The study will assess asphalt binders and mixtures, considering material selection, laboratory performance, and field validation using test sections. The final deliverables will include a laboratory assessment framework, performance-based criteria, and a template for long-term monitoring of additives in HMA.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:43:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666836</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Human Factors and Acceptance Framework for Airport Autonomous Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588332</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Airports worldwide are testing and adopting autonomous systems to enhance efficiency, safety, and operational capabilities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recognized this trend with its February 2024 CertAlert 24-02 on “Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems (AGVS) Technology on Airports,” noting that testing these systems “has recently become more prevalent, both domestically and internationally.” These technologies include autonomous ground vehicles for baggage transport, aircraft towing, and ground crew activities, which are transforming airport operations. However, despite these technological advances, considerations of human factors and user acceptance remain critically important, as they significantly impact overall system performance, safety, reliability, and successful implementation. 

While airports are implementing autonomous technologies, the frameworks are limited when addressing human factors and user acceptance during the integration of these systems into their airport ecosystem. Research is needed to develop a human factors and acceptance framework for airport autonomous systems, grounded in interdisciplinary principles of human–technology interaction, service design, safety science, security, and reliability.

 OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide on human factors and acceptance framework that provides airport practitioners with strategies and resources to safely, securely, and reliably integrate autonomous systems into the airport ecosystem. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:16:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588332</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-5023: Understanding and Shaping Driver Behavior and Public Perception at Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCls)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577104</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project addresses public acceptance and driver safety at Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCIs). Through statewide driver surveys and field observations, the research identifies specific driver challenges and perceptions at RCIs. Utilizing Purdue’s portable driving simulator, the project evaluates design interventions and signage improvements to clarify driver navigation. Final deliverables include behavioral insights, validated simulation scenarios for RCIs, and educational outreach tools. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:00:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577104</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Incorporating Psychographic Factors to Assess the Impact of Cybersecurity Breaches on Connected and Automated Vehicles and Road Safety </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2549183</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) promise safer, more efficient travel and present complex challenges. This research proposes a framework for integrating CAVs into diverse road environments, examining safety, security, and public acceptance. It uses publicly available data to develop a standardized safety model that considers infrastructure readiness, socioeconomic factors, and behavioral responses to ensure smooth coexistence with conventional vehicles and vulnerable users. Cybersecurity is a central focus, prompting robust strategies to safeguard against emerging threats. A case study illustrates how system security concerns can deter autonomous vehicle adoption, employing Conditional Average Treatment Effects (CATE) via Generalized Random Forests (GRF). Findings show that security worries disproportionately affect certain subgroups, underscoring the need for tailored policies. By blending theoretical insights with empirical evidence, this study offers a scalable roadmap to ensure safe, equitable, and publicly trusted CAV deployment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2025 16:14:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2549183</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4932: Portable Driving Simulation Platform for Innovative Intersections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2410441</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will create a portable driving simulation platform tailored for driver training at innovative intersections. By providing an advanced simulation tool, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) can increase public awareness and acceptance of innovative intersection designs at public meetings, leading to safer and more efficient traffic operations. Improved driver acceptance can lead to cost savings for INDOT by reducing traffic incidents and the need of additional traffic management measures at innovative intersections, which may be required due to driver-related issues.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:41:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2410441</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guidelines for Authorizing, Implementing, and Operating Automated Traffic Enforcement Programs



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2394423</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Automated traffic enforcement technology is widely used as a supplement to law enforcement officers. Deployment of automated enforcement in the United States has increased in recent years for a number of reasons, including improved deterrence of targeted traffic violations, societal questioning of the use of law enforcement officers for routine traffic enforcement, and increasing officer vacancy rates in many law enforcement agencies. Despite widespread and growing use of automated enforcement and reported safety benefits, a number of questions are routinely raised. 

How effective are different types of automated traffic enforcement in the United States, and how widely are they accepted? 

How can automated traffic enforcement programs best be designed, implemented, and managed to (1) inspire confidence and trust and (2) increase compliance with traffic safety laws? 

What program approaches and program architecture are best suited to address (1) the perception that automated traffic enforcement is used primarily to generate revenue; (2) the belief by some that privacy infringements outweigh documented safety benefits; and (3) concerns that certain communities are overrepresented and overburdened by this traffic enforcement strategy? 

Answering such questions would help state highway safety offices (SHSOs), policymakers, and other stakeholders shape traffic safety laws and public policy on the use of automated traffic enforcement. To the extent possible, guidelines developed through this project shall be relevant to current and future applications of automated traffic enforcement, including (1) various types of violations targeted, and (2) various technologies deployed. 
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop guidelines for (1) authorizing, implementing, and operating automated traffic enforcement programs that inspire confidence and trust and (2) assessing public opinion and concerns regarding automated traffic enforcement by jurisdictions using, or considering the use of, this technology. 

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:22:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2394423</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guidelines for the Selection of Performance-Related Tests for the Acceptance of Preservation Treatments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2361977</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Pavement preservation provides a means for maintaining and improving the functional condition and safety of an existing highway system. Although pavement preservation is not expected to substantially increase structural capacity, it generally leads to improved pavement performance and longer service life. Although a great deal of information on the design, materials, and construction practices of several preservation treatments is available, there is no nationally accepted guidance on the performance-related tests required for their acceptance. There is a need to develop guidelines for the selection of performance-related tests for the acceptance of preservation treatments, particularly chip seals and microsurfacing, to help highway agencies with the acceptance of these treatments and achieving the most benefit from their application.
OBJECTIVE:  The objective of this research is to develop guidelines for the selection of performance-related tests for the acceptance of preservation treatments. The research shall focus on chip seals and microsurfacing. For the purpose of this research, acceptance tests include those required for design, production, and placement of the treatment.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:55:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2361977</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>On the Role of Perceived Safety Concerns on Public Acceptance Behavior of Autonomous Vehicles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2292666</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite the maturing road tests and limited commercial mobility services with autonomous vehicles (AVs), the existing behavioral research, surveys, and polls suggest that, to date, the public is largely reluctant or neutral to accept this emerging technology due to potential lurking failures and malfunctions in unexpected weather/road conditions and cyber-attacks. The persistence of this demand landscape for AVs, however, could curb the promising economic, societal, and environmental benefits of prevalent autonomous mobility. Proactive policy interventions are thus much needed early on to provide impetus for AV acceptance, which should be informed by an in-depth understanding of the AV acceptance behavior of the public in order to identify the determinants thereof and direct the policies towards appropriate population groups. In view of this, the main contribution of this proposed project is advancing this knowledge through a joint econometric modeling framework to unravel the impact on AV acceptance of individuals’ perceived concern about AV safety, among other influential factors, while at the same time “endogenously” connecting the perceived safety concern to the individuals’ characteristics and attitudinal profiles. Notably, the joint modeling framework can disentangle the “true” interdependencies between AV safety concern and AV acceptance from the effect of any unobserved factors that commonly influence both AV safety concern and AV acceptance behavior (i.e., endogeneity effects). Accommodating the endogeneity issue could help avoid inconsistent estimation results and in turn misleading policy recommendations. Moreover, since AV acceptance behavior is related to household vehicle decisions, the public latent preferences for vehicle attributes (e.g., vehicle cost, reliability, performance, and refueling) will also be accounted for. The proposed model will be estimated on an open dataset acquired from a stated preferences survey in the U.S.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2292666</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Streamline and Document Construction Project Closeout Process</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244510</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To close out a construction project Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) must perform final inspections, confirm material certifications, and verify pay quantities. An efficient project closeout quickly releases appropriated funding for use on other projects. Procedures are in place for different review levels to ensure all closeout requirements are completed, but they — along with other documents related to project closeout — must be reviewed at regular intervals to verify their compliance with federal and state statutes, regulations, specifications, and directives. As such, the Cabinet must thoroughly review all requirements and instructions for final project documents and establish best practices for each level of review.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:49:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244510</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4827: Develop a Performance-Related QA Testing Method for Accepting MSE Wall Coarse Aggregate Reinforced Backfill Compaction Acceptance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238846</link>
      <description><![CDATA[INDOT intends to only allow coarse aggregates for MSE wall backfill. Accepting compaction of such materials currently requires a method specification approach in which acceptance is based on how well the contractor follows a prescribed construction methodology that requires constant supervision from project inspection personnel.  This research study aims to develop performance-related acceptance criteria and/or testing procedures for MSE wall backfill compaction.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:44:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238846</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>RES2024-06: Early Age Concrete Acceptance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2233695</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The design strength of traditional concrete is obtained at 28 days. However, there is an increasing need to predict design strength at earlier ages. Often, projects cannot wait to verify in place concrete has reached the desired strength, particularly with increased use of acceleration construction schedules. Presently, Tennessee Department of Transportation
(TDOT) accepts the design strength of traditional concrete at 28 days and still bases acceptance and payment on 28-day cylinder breaks. However, TDOT is administering more early strength requirements in plans due to accelerated project delivery timelines. Therefore, TDOT needs to set early age acceptance criteria that can be used to approve early strength concrete at the age that it is intended to be in service. TDOT has standard (Classes) of mixes, it would be possible to determine calibration curves over a range of mixes and apply this range to field placement. If done properly, it may be possible to eliminate most destructive field cylinder testing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:44:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2233695</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Blueprint for Incorporating ORAT into Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2226014</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Operational Readiness, Activation, and Transition, or ORAT, is a process for seamlessly managing the transfer of a new or substantially upgraded facility from the design and implementation stage to active live operation. ORAT can incorporate the integration of process, people, facilities, and systems and provide a framework that encompasses stakeholder engagement, quality control and assurance, trial activities, commissioning, training, and regulatory and certification requirements. Airports across the country are investing billions of dollars in facility development; while airports have been using some aspects of ORAT for years, formalizing the process will help them incorporate ORAT into new and ongoing project development processes.

The objectives of this research are to (1) develop a WebResource and associated tools, which are scalable and adaptable, to support U.S. airports as they develop, implement, maintain, or grow an ORAT program; (2) develop a roadmap to enhance the understanding, purpose, and effectiveness of ORAT programs for airport projects; and (3) develop an executive summary of the findings to promote the effectiveness and inclusion of ORAT programs. All project types should be addressed including all terminal development (headhouse, holdroom, gates, etc.); landside development; airside development; and support facilities, utilities, and special systems.  The roadmap shall provide the industry with guidelines to more fully embrace the ORAT process. It should provide airports that have not developed an ORAT program with a process to start a program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:18:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2226014</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lightweight Deflectometer (LWD) Assessment for Quality Assurance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2151380</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Lightweight Deflectometer (LWD) is proposed to replace nuclear gauge compaction testing. Tasks include: (1) Literature Review of current best practices using Lightweight Deflectometers for assurance and acceptance, (2) laboratory and field testing existing 
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Capital Projects in Northern Region and Central Region compared with nuclear testing and results, (3) draft LWD special provisions for DOT&PF quality control and acceptance of soils and aggregates, guidelines for DOT&PF project testing using LWD, (4) training materials for DOT&PF staff to use LWD. Project includes quarterly reporting as well as interim report and final report.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:38:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2151380</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Continuation of CAV Work</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2039855</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) has assisted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) with the development of a comprehensive strategy for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). Along with preparing a high-level strategic document, KTC has created pamphlets and one-page handouts for public distribution. With the CAV landscape evolving rapidly, the Cabinet will need to periodically revise and update its strategy to account for shifting market conditions and changing levels of public acceptance. The agency also needs to develop a website focused on its CAV-related activities to educate the public and stakeholder groups about the steps it is taking to prepare Kentucky infrastructure for widespread CAV deployment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:57:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2039855</guid>
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