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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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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>Fast Track: Cold In-Place Recycle (CIR) and Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR) in Arizona</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714397</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary goal of this study was to develop guidance materials for the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT’s) consideration for the adoption and implementation of cold in-place (CIR) and full-depth reclamation (FDR) technologies. The first objective in accomplishing this goal was to summarize the current state of the practice on the key engineering factors that could contribute to the successful implementation of CIR, cold central plant recycling (CCPR), and FDR in Arizona. A second objective was to develop guidelines for project selection and help to identify some candidates for potential CIR and FDR projects in several ADOT districts. Preliminary FDR specifications and training materials were also developed to assist in training district engineers on CIR, CCPR, and FDR.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:26:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714397</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessment of Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical (PaveME) Design Software</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485382</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ADOT is interested in evaluating pre- and post-project pavement performance data for ADOT pavement designs. This study would examine recent and new ADOT construction projects and rehabilitation projects to verify the reliability, suitability, and acceptability of the results and recommendations provided by AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design 3.0 software for the performance of rigid and flexible pavements on Arizona’s roads. The project will have two phases. The first phase of the study will evaluate the predictive performance results from PaveME compared to the actual pavement performance results on past pavement rehabilitation projects. The second phase of the project will evaluate and develop updates to the calibration of PaveME for future pavement designs. However, Phase Two cannot be started until after Phase One has been completed and the results and recommendations are analyzed by ADOT and the research team and there is prior agreement to begin the next phase. The results from Phase One as well as practices from other states and industry will be used to develop best management practices for developing calibration recommendations and guidance for the application of PaveME for future pavement designs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:30:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485382</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Statewide Pavement Marking Condition Assessment Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485381</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New driver-assist vehicle technologies—such as lane departure warnings, lane-centering systems, and lane-keep-assist systems—rely on pavement striping to function safely and effectively. Therefore, if these systems cannot detect pavement markings due to rain, snow, dust, or roadway damage, they may not operate correctly. Using retroreflective raised pavement markers (RRPM) is one solution to help maintain the visibility of pavement striping under these conditions, but there are tradeoffs. For instance, vehicle technology companies report that RRPMs are effective in helping their systems work, yet deployment is inconsistent throughout many states due to the high expense of installation and maintenance. 
This study would help Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT’s) Traffic Engineering Group determine appropriate design and installation guidelines for roadway striping to facilitate the use of new driver-assist vehicle technologies and develop a long-term striping maintenance plan that supports both legacy users and new technology, fine-tune striping assessment programs to optimize where and when new roadway striping should be implemented, and determine how best to inventory the striping’s current condition in order to prioritize striping maintenance activities. This research would then help provide the basis for a statewide system to make sure all Arizona roadways have pavement markings that support and perform at the levels needed for both human drivers and driver-assist vehicle technologies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:27:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485381</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Data Visualization Tools for Travel Demand Modeling Notable Practices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485380</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) prepares traffic forecasts for planning and design studies and provides technical guidance and training to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities, counties, and other government agencies. These models are used to simulate travel behavior, which is then used to develop travel forecasts that are used for transportation planning. The Arizona Travel Demand Model (AZTDM) is a planning tool that was first developed in 2008 through a framework study, which provided the building blocks for the next generation model. Now, the TDM group is working with a contractor to develop the next version of the AZTDM to develop new data visualization tools that will enhance and improve the AZTDM. The AZTDM uses input data such as socio-demographics and population growth patterns to forecast travel demand and simulates the interactions between people and the transportation system. The goal is to promote self-service decision making for customers of the AZTDM.

This study will focus on the development of best practices for transportation data visualization, including data profiling, processing, metadata, and sustainability. The findings will then enhance transportation analysis to the benefit of ADOT, the MPOs, cities, counties, and other government agencies that will be using the new AZTDM. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:24:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485380</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing the Impact of Driver Programs and Crash Risk Factors for Drivers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485379</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and other government agencies regulate multiple driver-training programs aimed at improving safety on Arizona’s roadways. Evaluating the impact of these programs could help Arizona reduce rising rates of fatal and serious-injury crashes by focusing these programs on high-risk drivers and dangerous behavior. Existing programs, such as interlock monitoring, traffic survival school, professional driver schools, defensive driving school, and even license suspensions and revocations, are all intended to improve safety, but ADOT does not have sufficient information to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of these programs or determine whether the right pool of drivers is being directed to the most effective driver-improvement program. 
To help Arizona prioritize program modifications, this study will assess how well current programs serve drivers at high risk of involvement in the most common types of fatal or serious-injury crashes on the state highway system and quantify the differences in crash rates between drivers who have participated in ADOT-regulated training or education programs and drivers who have not. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:18:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485379</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Potential Revenue Generation Through Commercialization of Arizona Rest Areas</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485373</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ADOT is interested in conducting a feasibility analysis to better understand the impacts, benefits, and drawbacks of rest area commercialization in Arizona in the event that the current laws (the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936, 23 U.S.C. § 111) are ever changed. This analysis would help ADOT determine if commercialization is even a viable option for Arizona. As part of the research study, the current state and federal laws, financial and economic implications, and public perceptions will be explored with the advantages and disadvantages thoroughly documented.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:04:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2485373</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>City-Wide Strategic EV Charging Network Design: Demand-Supply Integration via Market Dynamics</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2440040</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The transportation sector accounts for a massive portion of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, making the adoption of sustainable and low-emission alternatives crucial for mitigating climate change and improving air quality. Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising solution, offering reduced emissions and lower operating costs compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. As a result, many cities and regions around the world are transitioning towards incorporating EVs into their transportation systems. One of the critical challenges in promoting EV adoption is the availability and accessibility of a well-established charging infrastructure. An efficient and strategically located charging network is essential to alleviate range anxiety among EV users and encourage the widespread adoption of electric mobility. However, the deployment of EV charging stations requires careful planning and decision-making, considering factors such as demand distribution, traffic patterns, existing infrastructure, and accessibility for users. The Electric Vehicle Location Selection Problem (EVLSP) addresses the task of identifying optimal locations for installing EV charging stations to achieve maximum coverage, minimize the cost of infrastructure development, and enhance the convenience and accessibility for EV users. To tackle this complex problem, researchers have explored various algorithms and methodologies from operations research and optimization fields. In this project, we present a comprehensive study on the EVLSP with a specific focus on the city of Avondale, AZ. Avondale, like many other urban areas, faces challenges related to sustainable transportation and seeks to improve its urban mobility while reducing environmental impact. Our research aims to provide valuable insights into the strategic deployment of EV charging stations in Avondale, considering the city's unique characteristics and transportation needs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:09:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2440040</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Charging Forward: Crafting an Inclusive SMART Roadmap for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Navajo Nation, AZ</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359161</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project fits well within the US DOT Strategic Goals of Equity and Climate and Sustainability. Recognizing the Navajo Nation's pivotal role in environmental conservation and its distinct challenges and potentials, this project emerges as a pioneering investigation into rural (remote) EV infrastructure. The insights derived will be invaluable for other similar regions and underserved communities aiming for sustainable transitions to clean and sustainable transportation. In the same line, this project contributes to CCST’s Focus Area 5: Smart Cities & Innovative Adaptation and Mitigation Technologies and Focus Area 2: Community-Centered Solutions to Environmental Justice.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:27:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359161</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Understanding Electric Vehicle Impacts on Arizona Fuel-Tax Revenue</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353352</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) would like to understand how the increasing use of electric vehicles (EVs) on Arizona’s roadways will affect fuel-tax revenue in the state. State taxes on gasoline and diesel sales are a major source of funding for maintaining and expanding Arizona’s transportation network, but fuel tax receipts are expected to decline on a per-vehicle basis as more and more people choose to drive EVs on Arizona roadways. For instance, new fast-charging stations under development as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program are expected to increase the use of EVs both in Arizona and nationally. Because Arizona does not assess a fee equivalent to lost fuel taxes, EVs do not contribute to road-maintenance costs in the same way that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles currently do.

This study will explore where, when, and how much EVs are driven in Arizona and project changes to this baseline in the future. The study also will develop future scenarios of varying levels of EV use on Arizona’s roadways that will facilitate FMS’s analysis of how EV adoption and use could affect fuel-tax receipts. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:13:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353352</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Best Practices for Structuring and Managing Statewide Resource-Tracking Databases</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310562</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ADOT uses a Microsoft Access database to track a portfolio of  federally funded projects for ADOT, local public agencies, and statewide public-private partnerships. This database is used to track current and future projects’ lifecycles, histories, funding, allocations, apportionments, obligations, etc. Multiple groups across ADOT use this database to produce mission-critical reports used to track federal aid received by councils of governments (COGs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) as well as to track and monitor federal aid sub-allocated to local governments.
Each year, ADOT works to address various problems with this database, such as the database becoming unresponsive, users losing access to it, and updating it to be compatible with newer versions of MS Office. With each of these issues comes the risk of data loss in a mission-critical database. In order to find a permanent solution, ADOT would like to investigate how other state departments of transportation are managing their own similar databases and to identify best practices for technology, policies, and staffing. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:24:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310562</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Arizona Roadways’ Resilience to Wildfire Through Vegetation Recovery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will explore whether ADOT landscaping and vegetation-management practices that encourage the recovery of native plant communities following wildfires can reduce both repair and maintenance costs for adjacent roadways. 
Wildfires can leave roadways susceptible to further damage from flooding, erosion, and debris flows over the long term because slow-growing native plant communities can take several years to fully recover. ADOT incurs significant expense when roadways are damaged by erosion or debris flows. In the meantime, non-native plant species that grow in disturbed ecosystems—such as buffelgrass, Sahara mustard, wild oats, and red brome—are often flammable and can actually increase the risk of future wildfires when they replace more fire-resistant native plant communities. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:22:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Exploring the Development of a Research Data Management Plan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310560</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) implemented their “Plan to Increase Public Access to the Results of Federally-Funded Scientific Research Results” on December 16, 2015, in response to a February 22, 2013, Memorandum from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The OSTP memorandum “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research (Holdren Memo)” directed federal agencies that receive more than $100 million annually to develop and implement a public access plan to improve public accessibility to the publications and data resulting from their research and development programs.
While it is not currently a requirement for state DOTs to comply with the USDOT’s public access plan, it is likely that these requirements will eventually flow down to the state DOTs. Therefore, it is a good idea for state DOTs to start proactively planning how they can develop a DMP that will make their research more publicly accessible. ADOT is interested in understanding how other states have implemented a DMP and the steps they have taken to make their research results more accessible to the public. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:17:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310560</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Project Delivery (Design-Build) Guidance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310558</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across the country have traditionally used a Design-Bid-Build procurement method in building highways and other transportation infrastructure improvements. The Design-Bid-Build method is when the DOT—or a consultant hired by the DOT—designs the project, after which bids from contractors are solicited, and, finally, the project is awarded to a contractor to build that project. This process encourages competitiveness among bidders; however, it often requires a high expenditure of resources and time in the DOT’s project-design phase. Further, any innovation in construction or materials for a project must be identified, defined, and included in the contractor’s bid package, which restricts flexibility to develop additional innovations after award. 
The primary objectives of this research study are to seek data to inform ADOT on DB policies and procedures for future project-delivery and legislative efforts. This research will include information from other state DOTs on their PDB and/or DB efforts, state legislative authority, standing policies, contractual documents, etc. It will also include how PBD and/or DB is implemented in other states as well as any notable practices they use when utilizing these contracting methods. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:12:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310558</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>State of the Practice of a Data Management Office Within DOTs</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310557</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is interested in exploring the need, fit, development, and potential funding sources for the creation of a Data Management Office (DMO) within ADOT. The primary objective of the DMO will be to ensure that all of ADOT’s data are available, accurate, usable, and secure (i.e., data governance). A data governance policy typically defines how the organization will use and manage their data and includes the roles, responsibilities, and the processes needed to implement the data governance. The creation of two additional positions is also being considered: a Chief Data Officer (CDO) and a Geographic Information Officer (GIO). The purpose of this restructure would be to facilitate the improved creation, maintenance, sharing, and coordination of data throughout the Department. To accomplish this, ADOT will need to access key data from the relevant data owners; determine the structure of this new office; develop job roles and responsibilities; develop a business plan; and, potentially, determine how to implement this office if that is the chosen path.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:09:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310557</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Expanding the Capability of the Statewide Travel Demand Model Using Dynamic Traffic Assignment</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2248973</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A relatively recent modeling innovation known as dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) is designed to represent fluctuating traffic volumes and long trips on complex networks over the course of a single day. Integrating an optional DTA step into existing traffic modeling would improve the model’s accuracy, flexibility, and versatility, thereby enhancing ADOT’s ability to evaluate complex modernization projects—such as traffic interchange reconfiguration, intelligent transportation systems, and other traffic operations enhancements—and model traffic congestion and freight movement more accurately than is currently possible. 
The proposed study would build on the results of ADOT's SPR-768 Dynamic Traffic Assignment: Assessing Its Value as a Planning Support Tool in Arizona.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:45:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2248973</guid>
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