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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>
    <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>TRB Core Program Services for a Highway RD&amp;T Program – Federal Fiscal Year 2026/TRB (State DOTs) Fiscal Year 2027</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692353</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The transportation research community consists of numerous partnerships to aid in the conduct of research and the implementation of technologies and innovations.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the state departments of transportation (DOTs), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are among these partners, who work closely in many facets of the national research program. The Transportation Research Board (TRB)’s mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results. TRB fulfills this mission through the work of its standing technical committees and task forces addressing all modes and aspects of transportation; publication and dissemination of reports and peer-reviewed technical papers on research findings; administration of contract research programs; conduct of special studies on transportation policy issues; maintenance of Transport Research International Documentation (TRID); and hosting an annual meeting that attracts approximately 14,000 transportation professionals from throughout the United States and abroad. This pooled fund provides a mechanism for States to transfer funds to FHWA to add to the TRB Core Program Services cooperative agreement.

The objective of this research is to provide a mechanism for State transportation departments to support the TRB's core program and services.

This pooled fund study permits States to make their contributions to the TRB Core Program instead of sending their contributions to TRB directly. 

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:24:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692353</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Highway Research and Technology -- International Information Sharing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2617648</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway authorities world-wide share many common concerns in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of highway systems. Most developed nations also support programs of research and development (R&D) on highway issues. The potential for information sharing and technology transfer is great. Coordination of research in the United States has focused primarily on technology transfer and information dissemination among the large and diverse community of state and local highway agencies within this country. There is a need to utilize a systematic exchange mechanism to learn from counterparts abroad, where many new developments have been tested and successfully used for highways. OBJECTIVE: The National Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) 20-36 Project provides a coordinated approach to international information sharing and technology exchange. The project activities have a much broader scope than the typical NCHRP project in encompassing exchanges on all facets of highway technology, policy and management with our international partners. The project’s overall objective is to improve highway safety, development, maintenance and operations through dissemination of innovative technology and successful practices from around the globe. Such process enhances the roles of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in providing coordinated leadership for the exchange of international highway research and development, and provides state departments of transportation with information on practices and technologies that could help accrue technical and economic benefits. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:52:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2617648</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Video Summary Report (VSR) Production</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593193</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will produce Video Summary Reports (VSRs) that promote technology transfer of concluding Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) research and implementation projects. The research team will produce short videos (2–5 minutes) informing TxDOT staff and university researchers, as well as others nationwide, about the research and implementation results. The research team will plan and produce an annual Video Summary Report (VSR) production list in cooperation with TxDOT, track the detailed status of each VSR on the production list, schedule and conduct interviews (live and virtual), travel when requested and necessary to obtain B-roll for enhanced video experience, compose and create the VSRs, coordinate all reviews and approvals, and oversee the final publication and distribution of the final products. The research team will also produce other outreach materials as requested.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:49:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593193</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>TRB Core Program Services for a Highway RD&amp;T Program – Federal Fiscal Year 2025/TRB (State DOTs) Fiscal Year 2026</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2573045</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The solicitation will cover the period of the Transportation Research Board (TRB)'s fiscal year 2026 that began July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2026. Funds committed by participating States will be from their Federal fiscal year 2025 funding (previous year funding may also be used). Consult the attached spreadsheet for the amount for individual states and Washington, DC.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a mechanism for State transportation departments to support the TRB's core program services.

SCOPE OF WORK: The pooled fund study permits States to contribute their funds to the TRB Core Program Services instead of sending their contributions directly to TRB. The TRB Core Program Services provides support funding for the TRB annual meeting, committees, conferences, webinars, TRID, and TRB publications.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:28:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2573045</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing FDOT Standard Specifications and Construction Guidance with Large Language Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2569563</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objective of this research is as follows: (1) perform an industry survey of large language models (LLM) that meet Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) artificial intelligence (AI) policy objectives; (2) test an AI system that can rapidly extract and deliver accurate information from FDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction; (3) document the performance of the LLM, including accuracy in citing source materials, frequency of hallucinations, and robustness is use of industry jargon; (4) enable real-time querying of the FDOT specifications, both in the field and office, through mobile or web applications; and (5) ensure the AI system can interpret the specifications accurately and provide users with clear, concise, and legally sound interpretations of FDOT requirements.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:36:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2569563</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC) </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2475975</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. bridge infrastructure sector faces many critical challenges, including aging structures, growing traffic demands, and environmental impacts. With 42% of U.S. bridges over 40 years old and 7.5% classified as structurally deficient, there is an urgent need for innovative technologies to ensure long-term safety and sustainability. However, despite advancements in bridge technology, their effective dissemination and integration into practice remain significant hurdles. The Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC) program aims to bridge this gap by providing a clearinghouse to facilitate the adoption of cutting-edge solutions.
The ABTC is designed as a dynamic and secure hub for advancing bridge-related technologies. Its front-end platform will feature a user-friendly interface that integrates advanced capabilities such as metric-driven prioritization and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered approaches. These tools will enable users to explore, evaluate, and adopt technologies that prioritize sustainability, resilience, and safety, aligning with national priorities like climate change mitigation and economic viability. On the back end, a dedicated pool of experts from industry and academia will provide critical support for the evaluation framework, assessment, and effective implementation of the technologies. This dual structure aims to ensure that the ABTC platform functions as both a cutting-edge resource and a collaborative support system for the application of innovative solutions in the bridge sector.
The program plans to employ a multi-step approach that includes needs assessment, active user engagement, technology exploration, technology evaluations, platform development, and ongoing outreach.  Beyond being a repository of information, the ABTC program is set to become a driving force for transformation in bridge engineering. By advocating for technologies that minimize environmental impact and enhance durability, the platform contributes to a future where bridges are safer, more resilient, and environmentally sustainable.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:05:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2475975</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Communicating the Impacts of Research Projects in
North Carolina</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2452917</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Research & Development Unit’s research projects are multifaceted – focusing on safety, materials, operations, planning, mobility, human and natural environments, and more – and have a real impact on people and communities across the state. It’s imperative that the story of the value of these projects is told, and heard, by many. This goes beyond needing to understand how tax dollars are being spent; how can North Carolinians appreciate how NCDOT research directly benefits them when they use the state’s transportation system?

This request for proposal indicates that NCDOT prioritizes communicating the value of its research, and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) is excited to submit this proposal to lead an effort to launch an engaging, public-facing video series to do just that.

The Research Team will work closely with the NCDOT Research & Development Unit; Public Involvement, Community Studies & Visualization office; and Communications Office, to promote the use and impacts of NCDOT research projects and products through an informative video series, tentatively titled “NCDOT Research Reels.” These short videos will promote the results of completed NCDOT research projects, explain how these products can or have been applied, as well as promote the benefits of these products results to potential users. The Research team will conduct all steps of the video production process, creating up to twelve succinct videos showcasing different key projects and areas of NCDOT’s research portfolio with interviews, on-site footage of research implementation, discussions with community members, narration and editing, and distribution.

HSRC will conduct all steps of the video production process, creating up to twelve succinct videos showcasing different key projects and areas of NCDOT’s research portfolio with interviews, on-site footage of research implementation, discussions with community members, narration and editing, and distribution.

HSRC has a long history of working with NCDOT on a variety of projects designed to improve the state’s roadway system and engage communities across the state. HSRC's team of communications and design professionals is uniquely positioned for this type of video outreach work. With well-written scripts, knowledge of the field, and great understanding of the importance of all the different users of a transportation system, HSRC can create impactful and digestible videos for the NCDOT Research Reels project. HSRC also has a legacy of creating impactful videos that tell a wide variety of transportation stories; key examples include the HSRC Insights series, the video “Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones,” and a highlight reel for the U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center managed by HSRC. Said simply, research depth, technical expertise, and practical experience qualifies HSRC for success for this proposed work.

Thank you for this opportunity to express HSRC’s interest in managing the “Communicating the Impacts of Research Projects in North Carolina” video series.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:55:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2452917</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Information Design for Public Transportation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2448892</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project explores how effective information design can increase public transportation ridership by making transit systems easier to navigate and understand for a broad range of users. Despite public transportation’s role in improving safety and mobility, gaps remain in how information such as maps, schedules, and updates are communicated, leaving many potential riders unaware of available services. By analyzing how various information types impact users' travel choices, this study aims to create a strategic information dissemination framework to improve public awareness and encourage a shift from private car use to public transit.

Drawing on insights from information design, marketing, and game theory, the project will develop a choice experiment to assess preferences for different transit information formats. This data will inform a model for optimizing information presentation to increase ridership and support safety and service availability goals. Ultimately, the project will provide public transit agencies with actionable strategies for designing effective communication materials to boost transit usage, potentially reducing traffic fatalities and lowering transportation costs for price-sensitive populations.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2024 11:36:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2448892</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>TRB Core Program Services for a Highway RD&amp;T Program – Federal Fiscal Year 2024/TRB (State DOTs) Fiscal Year 2025</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2364579</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The transportation research community consists of numerous partnerships to aid in the conduct of research and the implementation of technologies and innovations.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), state departments of Transportation (DOTs), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are among these partners, who work closely in many facets of the national research program. The mission of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results. TRB fulfills this mission through the work of its standing technical committees and task forces addressing all modes and aspects of transportation; publication and dissemination of reports and peer-reviewed technical papers on research findings; administration of contract research programs; conduct of special studies on transportation policy issues; maintenance of Transport Research International Documentation (TRID); and hosting an annual meeting that attracts approximately 14,000 transportation professionals from throughout the United States and abroad. This pooled fund provides a mechanism for States to transfer funds to FHWA to add to the TRB Core Program Services cooperative agreement.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a mechanism for State transportation departments to support the TRB's core program and services.

Scope of Work: This pooled fund study permits States to make their contributions to the TRB Core Program instead of sending their contributions to TRB directly.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:11:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2364579</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Road Weather Management Using Connected Vehicle Technology</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342040</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Road weather systems are used by state and local agencies to mitigate and manage the disruptive impact of weather events on roadways. Some of the fundamental aspects of road weather systems are the collection of weather-related data from environmental sensor stations and probe vehicles, the processing/distribution of data, and the determination of how/when/where to deploy road maintenance resources and/or to issue general traveler advisories and/or issue location specific warnings to drivers.

As momentum behind connected vehicle technology continues to build, practitioners are showing interest in determining how connected vehicle technology can be leveraged to support traffic management activities, including road weather systems. Specifically, the ability to communicate with connected vehicles opens up new opportunities for collecting data from many vehicles, and targeted dissemination of information to drivers. Thus, it will be important to ascertain the types of data that can be communicated in connected vehicle messages, as well as other intrinsic aspects of connected vehicle communications to understand how connected vehicles can enhance existing and open up opportunities for new road weather strategies.

Research will be undertaken as part of this project to review connected vehicle data standards, and to engage Aurora members to determine which road weather strategies are of greatest interest to practitioners. The project team will apply knowledge gained from members, as well as their background in engineering systems, to develop a Concept of Operations, which will provide a description of how connected vehicle communications and data may be employed to enhance the capabilities of road weather systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:12:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342040</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Innovation Consortium (TTTF, TxSTIC)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2312899</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) needs support to manage the Innovation Consortiums – projects or programs that facilitate collaboration, dissemination, and development of innovative transportation technologies and practices. The Innovation Consortiums include three previous standalone programs: Texas Technology Task Force (TTTF), the Texas State Transportation Innovation Council (TxSTIC), and the Everyday Counts (EDC) program. Closer coordination of these programs will further help to accomplish each programs individual goals. The TTTF, authorized by Texas’s 83rd Legislature General Appropriations Bill, S.B. No. 1, Item 44, VII-31, was established in 2013 to enhance its vision for the future of Texas’s transportation systems. The TTTF began with a core knowledge group of transportation experts and has grown into a successful program that is responsible for managing the Emerging Technology Portfolio, publishing white papers on critical topics, delivering strategic plans such as the Technology Utilization Plan, developing communication strategies, and conducting TTTF meetings with in-depth technical analysis. The TxSTIC was the 51st STIC established on the 22nd of March 2016, by the STIC State of Texas Charter and renewed the 20th of November 2019.  The TxSTIC was established to foster a collaborative culture for the rapid implementation of ready to deploy and beneficial innovations and technologies among stakeholders to efficiently deliver a safe and effective transportation system to the State of Texas. The TTTF, TxSTIC and EDC program, together serve as a catalyst for rapid deployment of nationally and state identified new technologies, strategies, and methods that have already been demonstrated to be successful in real world applications and would lead to improved performance and effectiveness of the transportation system within the State of Texas.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:40:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2312899</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>Research Technology Transfer - Research on Call (ROC) FY2024-2026
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2292395</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) invests approximately $6.4 million dollars annually in research, development, and technology transfer activities. Typically referred to as the "Research Program", ODOT's Statewide Planning & Research - Part B (SP&R-B) program contracts projects that evaluate, analyze, and develop recommendations on process improvements, policy enhancements, specification updates and the appropriate incorporation of best practices and new technologies. According to 23 CFR 420.203, technology transfer is defined as: "those activities that lead to the adoption of a new technique or product by users and involves dissemination, demonstration, training, and other activities that lead to eventual innovation." Technology transfer is more art than science. For it to be effective, a variety of activities or mechanisms need to be established. No single activity will reach all groups of potential users. It is ODOT's desire to present research studies in a user-friendly format and to distribute them to as wide an audience of potential users as practical. Effective messaging of research may assist in the acceptance and eventual implementation of findings. Considering the timing on individual research projects, and the notion that researchers are selected based on technical expertise as opposed to communication/marketing skills, it may be not feasible to have researchers assist in the development of technology transfer materials to support wider distribution of findings beyond the final report. In addition to communicating specific information about research projects, technology transfer activities may also help share information about the research program in general. This may include training opportunities on the research processes, defining and highlighting significant impacts of the research program to ODOT and the State of Ohio, and educating stakeholders on the value the research program provides. Additional examples of technology transfer methods include, but are not limited to reports, fact sheets, flyers, workshops, webinars, website content, videos, articles, presentations, posters, newsletters, and trainings. Due to the sporadic and sometimes time-sensitive nature of technology transfer activities, it is possible that some of these opportunities to share information and capture return-on-investment and are missed. To address this issue, ODOT developed the Research-On-Call (ROC) program. The ROC is designed to provide direct, quick access to researchers in specific areas of expertise to conduct short-term, focused, urgent research tasks. This ROC will focus on tasks associated with research technology transfer.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 09:32:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2292395</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing Snow Performance Measures for Public Information</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2262827</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research will develop a set of relatable performance measures related to snow events and response for Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to use in reporting to the public.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:42:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2262827</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Snow Plow Performance Measures in Non-RWIS Locations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2262826</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this project are to (1) develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model and integrated weather condition retrieval mechanism to comprehensively evaluate snow cover conditions of road surfaces based on existing roadside CCTV cameras in non-RWS locations, (2) produce easily understandable snow cover information on road surfaces for public sharing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:40:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2262826</guid>
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