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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>Improve pavement surface distress and transverse profile data collection and analysis, Phase III</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666773</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The technical capabilities of systems to collect and analyze pavement surface distress and transverse profile (PSDATP) have increased dramatically in the last 5-10 years. Many state highway agencies (SHAs) are in the process of assessing the procurement of equipment/systems or procuring vendor services for network and project level pavement condition assessments. The collection of quality PSDATP is critical for pavement management and design. The current national and State efforts to develop and refine pavement performance measures highlight the high value provided by quality PSDATP. The implementation of new project delivery methods with medium- to long-term maintenance agreements (Design Build Maintain, Design Build Operate, etc.) justifies the need for high-quality PSDATP data. Accurate and repeatable measures are essential for proper planning and the allocation of funding. The implementation of the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) highlights the need for quality PSDATP to maximize the potential of the MEPDG and all other pavement design models. The emphasis on preventive pavement maintenance activities provides the opportunity for additional value from greater resolution of pavement surface distress quantification. TPF-5(299) and TPF-5(399) comes to end in 2026, and this pooled fund study will continue the work of that pooled fund study. The 24 State Highway Agencies of TPF-5(399) support starting this new pooled fund study. The activities of the pooled-fund study will be communicated with other appropriate committees and groups in the pavement community, such as, the Road Profiler User Group, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Materials and Pavements (COMP), National Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The AASHTO COMP currently manages several standards related to pavement surface characteristics measurement. Many of these standards continue to need refinement and updating. This pooled-fund study is being established to provide direction and funding to unify the strategies, support implementation efforts, and promote best practices that improve the accuracy and repeatability of the data collection and analysis systems, as well as advance the understanding of PSDATP measurements. It is expected that this study will be completed within 5 years.

OBJECTIVES: Improve the Quality of Pavement Surface Distress and Transverse Profile Data Collection and Analysis by assembling SHAs, the FHWA, and industry representatives to: Identify data collection integrity and quality issues; Identify data analysis needs; Suggest approaches to addressing identified issues and needs. Based on this information, the SHAs and the FHWA will: Initiate and monitor projects intended to address identified issues and needs; Disseminate results; Assist in solution deployment 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:52:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666773</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Instrumentation And Monitoring For G-Beam/Stillwater Avenue Bridge Replacement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582413</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In the proposed project, the research team plans to deploy an extensive instrumentation and communication system that will be embedded in the G-Beam girders proposed for the Stillwater Avenue bridge in Orono/Old Town.  Some of the details of the specific monitoring plan will need to be deferred to coincide with girder design.
The study will include the following. First, an array of fiber optic cabling will be installed along the longitudinal beam axis at different locations relative to the neutral axis.  Each cable will include discrete sensors at different locations along the beam axis to capture strain at those points.  Second, an array of accelerometers will be located it key locations in order to capture frequencies and modes of vibration during service.  Both the accelerometers and the fiber optic system will be connected to a communications network that both collects data from the sensor array and broadcasts the data over a wireless network to a server at University of Maine (UMaine).  Depending on collection rates, the data will either be transmitted over a conventional 5G cellular network, or more likely via a closed network that sends the data through a series of discrete repeaters in between the bridge site and the server.  Third, the team proposes a system of digital cameras that will be used both to trigger the acquisition and transmission system, but also through machine vision, be able to identify the vehicle type (e.g. number of axles.)  Once triggered, the array of strain gages and accelerometers, will preprocess data and send to the UMaine server.  In this way, resulting strain and vibration data can be tied to load types.  Fourth, a weather station will monitor current temperature, sunlight, and relative humidity data to complement the acquired structural data.  Depending on design issues, additional on-site sensors can monitor water level, ice status, and other environmental conditions that may be relevant. Finally, we will conduct diagnostic live load tests on the completed structure immediately before it is opened to traffic and approximately one year after its completion]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:23:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582413</guid>
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    <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>Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis--The Transit IDEA Program. Magnetic Rail Movement Measuring Device (MRMMD)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2137599</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project developed a Magnetic Rail Movement Measuring Device (MRMMD) that improves railway safety and maintenance by enabling early detection and timely alerts to mitigate derailments, track damage and costly repairs. Under full dynamic loads, this portable device measures true rail temperature, track bed temperature, ambient temperature, lateral and vertical movements, and superelevation in real-time using specialized sensors. It features a cloud-based data communication system that relays sensor data to a dashboard or smart devices, facilitating real-time warnings and preventive actions. Unlike existing methods, the MRMMD tracks key data points based on actual dynamic loads and temperatures. Magnetically attached to the rail, the MRMMD operates in several modes, including an automatic mode that activates upon train approach to measure and record horizontal rail push, vertical track pumping, superelevation, and rail temperature. The device sends alerts when preset tolerances are reached and allows data to be accessed remotely via Bluetooth and cloud connectivity. Twenty prototypes of the MRMMD were developed and tested successfully with major rail and transit agencies, demonstrating the system's feasibility. 
The Final Report is available here.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:27:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2137599</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Utilizing Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT) Data to Enhance Freeway Operational Strategies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707210</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to assess operational scenarios and use cases where freeway operations strategies could be improved through the transmission of data between a traffic management system (TMS) and the larger cooperative automated transportation (CAT) system (either directly or through a third party). This assessment should (1) spur development of enhanced and new operational strategies and (2) help agencies justify gaining access to additional CAT data.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2020 09:12:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707210</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Essential Communications: A Guide to Land Mobile Radio (LMR)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1466748</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation agencies and other public safety organizations face an array of funding and technology choices with respect to methods and levels of communications. State, local, tribal, and territorial DOTs have invested heavily in Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communication systems to support their field staff during daily activities and incident response or emergencies, and LMR communication continues to be the backbone of infrastructure protection, coordination, and emergency management.  With the proper planning and design, those same communications systems may be able to acquire and provide information from field elements. 
 
Field elements such as Dynamic Message Signs, Traffic Signal Systems, Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), and other sensor networks are frequently dependent on leased services (e.g., cell phone technology, private telephone lines). Relative to wireless networks operating on exclusive government frequencies, cell phone technology and private telephone lines are often unreliable during communications surges in emergencies and may be unavailable in rural, less traveled areas. The ability to communicate and gather travel information is critical to field crews that, for example, increasingly base winter highway treatment decisions and traveler information on reliable information.  The recurring costs associated with cell phone technology and private telephone lines can hinder investments in field elements required to adequately monitor a corridor or specific areas of a roadway. Use of LMR technology is a means to assure availability and reliability. Additionally, the incoming Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (First Responder Network Authority or FirstNet) system may be available to provide some data communications services to public safety providers throughout the nation. Research was needed to provide comprehensive guidance to DOTs to inform decision-making for the design, funding, and selection of wireless communications systems.
 
The objective of this research was to create a guidebook to be used in designing, funding, procuring, and governing statewide, regional, or local Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. The guidebook and associated resources will assist state, local, tribal, and territorial departments of transportation; transit; and other public safety entities in understanding and making key decisions with respect to the selection of wireless voice and data communication systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2017 10:32:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1466748</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Test of COTS Satellite Communications Systems
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1367924</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this research project are to: (1) test of Satellite Communications Systems on-board Suborbital Platforms to provide low-cost data communications for Research Payloads, Payload Operators, and Space Vehicle Operators, and government agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  The satellite systems to be tested include, but are not limited to, Iridium, Globalstar, and Inmarsat; and (2) develop payloads, processing processes and facilities for university and government payloads in collaboration with New Mexico State University.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2015 10:19:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1367924</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ICM Transit Vehicle Real-Time Data Demonstration - Light Rail Operations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366389</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will demonstrate the ability to collect and transmit light rail transit (LRT) vehicle passenger load data to a transit management center in real time to inform LRT operational decisions, particularly for Integrated Corridor Management (ICM).  It will explore and assess the utility of real-time passenger load data, and examine the issues, challenges, and feasibility of its use.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2015 17:36:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366389</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Exploring Pilot Performance Using Flight Management Systems With and Without Autoload for Data Comm Route Clearances</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1361058</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No summary provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 01:00:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1361058</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Information Gathering Infrastructure Toward Intelligent Transportation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1307037</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Much of the vital transportation-related research going on within the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&amp;PF) faces costly limitations in the way it collects and examines data. On the one hand, such research is constrained by a lack of real-time data analysis. On the other hand, this work typically relies upon privately owned cellular communication towers to relay necessary data at great cost to researchers and the State of Alaska. A new project headed by researcher Jeffrey Miller of the University of Alaska Anchorage will address both of these issues by creating and using independent communication towers to transmit data through a Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) system, allowing for real time city-wide data analysis without costly monthly fees. Never before in ADOT&amp;PF's work has vehicle data been available in real time and exposed through a web interface with data transmitting live over a novel V2I architecture that may operate in perpetuity. Cellular companies have not shown interest in partnering with a vehicle data gathering organization, so there will always be fees associated with each device communicating over the cellular network back to the central infrastructure. To remove this cost, Miller's team is installing independent communication towers that, instead of incurring external monthly fees, rely only upon internal support and maintenance. The project will utilize the On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port of a vehicle to allow data from the vehicle's computer system to be gathered and transmitted over the V2I network. Hosted at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA), the database server utilizes customized structural components designed using structural, modal and dynamic finite element analysis techniques. Manufactured and fabricated in the UAA machine shop and design studio facilities, its manufacturing and assembly drawings of structural components will be made available to ADOT&amp;PF. While many of the external costs have been removed and covered within ADOT&amp;PF, this system's benefits will serve a variety of other agencies. Miller is designing a protocol through which other agencies and public institutions may access the server with specific guidelines on data-retrieval, request for specific information collection and specifications on scalable interface design for addition to future applications and projects. Scaling and expanding this capacity for future projects remains a major priority for Miller's team. Data such as revolutions per minute (RPM), fuel consumption, acceleration/deceleration rates, engine/cabin/outside temperature, tire pressure and tire rotation may interest a variety of public entities, researchers and planners.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2014 01:00:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1307037</guid>
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