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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>Investigating the Efficacy of Natural and Nature-based Features to Increase the Service Life of Coastal Roadways</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948616</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Seven of the top ten costliest U.S. natural disasters are coastal events, with hurricanes alone
causing $23.5 billion in damage annually to infrastructure. Moreover, rising sea levels will amplify
transportation infrastructure vulnerability to coastal storms, nuisance flooding, and wave actions,
especially towards pavement infrastructure which are critical based on the mileage of the
intermodal transportation network that connects communities, waterways, ports, and rail. To
protect pavement infrastructure from flooding, the state-of-practice involves hard (grey)
structures, raising roadway elevations, reinforcing infrastructure, and relocating roadways further
inland. In the last decade, federal agencies such as NOAA, FHWA, and USACE have led an
initiative to explore the design and integration of natural and nature-based features (NNBFs) in
increasing the resilience of transportation infrastructure while providing ecosystem benefits.
Natural features are existing ecosystems that include coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and
beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, forests, coastal rivers and floodplains, and barrier islands
that provide multiple benefits to communities, such as storm protection through wave attenuation
or flood storage capacity and enhanced water services and security. In recent years, the FHWA
also began exploring NNBFs as innovative green infrastructure to protect coastal highways,
starting with an implementation guide and pilot studies. Before NNBFs can be effectively
transferred into practice in Louisiana, there is an important need to establish the level of flood
protection and economic metrics to compare NNBFs and grey infrastructure; and to assess the
long-term efficacy of NNBFs to protect transportation infrastructure under a range of flooding
scenarios. The overarching objective of this research project is to establish the level of flood
protection and economic metrics to compare natural and nature-based features (NNBFs) and
grey infrastructure; and to assess the long-term efficacy of NNBFs to protect transportation
infrastructure under a range of flooding scenarios. The objectives of this research project is to (1)
evaluate the damage to transportation infrastructure after Hurricane Ida, (2) evaluate the efficacy
of grey infrastructure and NNBFs to provide hurricane surge and wave protection, and (3) quantify
the potential economic benefits of NNBFs to its resiliency towards extreme events. Hurricane Ida
case studies near Port Fourchon and Grand Isle will be used as case studies to evaluate the
performance of roadway and bridge infrastructure, along with NNBFs (beach and dunes,
wetlands, and mangroves). The findings of this research will result in a better understanding of
natural and nature-based features for protecting of coastal transportation infrastructure systems
for the states in the South Central area and all other States as they are all prone to the adverse
effects of natural disasters. A final report will detail information on the methodology used for this
research and data acquisition of pertinent information for NNB natural disasters such as the
condition of flood control structures, power lines, street level conditions of roads, rising water
levels, number of damaged homes and waste debris piles, among many other.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2022 11:20:47 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Envisioning Connection detail for Connecting Concrete Filled Tube (CFT) columns to cap beam for High Speed Rail Application</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1543675</link>
      <description><![CDATA[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specification, through AASHTO SCOBS T-14 committee (Steel Bridges) have recently developed design provisions for use of Concrete Filled Tube (CFT) columns for bridge elements, such as columns in substructure. In the case of High Speed Rail (HSR), about 60 to 70% of the HSR infrastructure consists of elevated bridge structures. In one recent case in California, a segment of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) consists of elevated bridge structures with spans of about 110 to 150 ft. with columns, ranging in height from very short to as tall as 100 ft. Use of pre-fabricated sub-structure elements could significantly reduce cost and expedite the HSR project delivery. U.S. DOT has identified the use of HSR as a strategic area for addressing mobility challenges.  Development of an efficient substructure system for HSR is therefore urgent and will result in significant savings. The recent adaptation of CFT columns by AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification is a first step. Development of efficient substructure system for HSR using CFT columns, demands development of cap beam system and their connection to CFT columns. 
This project is a joint investigation with University of Washington. The FIU project will concentrate on development of a connection capable of connecting cap beam system to CFT column, while University of Washington will concentrate on developing a pile cap system that could be utilized in conjunction with CFT columns. Together, these two projects, combined with existing information about CFT columns, will provide an economical substructure alternative system for HSR that will be presented to HSR authority for additional development and implementation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jan 2020 13:44:44 GMT</pubDate>
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