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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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    <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>Seismic Analysis and Design of Retaining Walls, Buried Structures, Slopes, and Embankments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683238</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Final Report is organized into two volumes. Volume 1 is published  as NCHRP Report 611: Seismic Analysis and Design of Retaining Walls, Buried Structures, Slopes, and Embankments. Volume 2, which presents the proposed specifications, commentaries, and example problems for the retaining walls, slopes and embankments, and buried structures, is available for download only. The appendices to NCHRP Report 611 are available online.  The objective of NCHRP Project 12-70 was to remove the limitations of the current specifications through the development of analytical and design methods for the seismic design of retaining walls, buried structures, slopes, and embankments. This research was managed by Donald Anderson, CH2M HILL, Bellevue, Washington, with the assistance of Geoffrey Martin, University of Southern California; Po Lam, Earth Mechanics; and Joe Wang, Parson Brinckerhoff, New York. The report fully documents the program used to develop the design procedures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:22:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683238</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Resilience and sustainability of underground transportation infrastructure (UTI-UTC 32)
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543425</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project evaluates and enhances the resilience and sustainability of underground transportation infrastructure (UTI) in the face of natural and man-made hazards. By applying existing climate vulnerability assessment tools—such as the FHWA’s Vulnerability Assessment Scoring Tool (VAST), Envision, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Resilience Framework (SIRF)—the research identifies risks and sustainability gaps across a range of underground facilities. The study incorporates system-level assessments, climate projections, and hazard exposure data to evaluate the long-term adaptability and robustness of tunnel systems. It also considers the environmental impact of construction materials and operational practices to support sustainable engineering solutions. The outcomes aim to inform future design and retrofit strategies that prioritize lifecycle performance, environmental stewardship, and community safety in underground transit networks.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 17:14:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543425</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advancement of Through-Tubing Casing Inspection for Underground Storage Wells</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093164</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will improve the ability to assess multiple strings of casing as an alternative inspection method.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093164</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ORFEUS Obstacle Detection for Horizontal Directional Drilling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093158</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will produce a field proven, market ready, obstacle location technology for use in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) applications. This project seeks to further develop the technology to bring forward a commercially viable product for identifying obstacles in and around the path of a HDD drill rig, therefore, reducing third-party damage to underground utilities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093158</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Detection of Buried Plastic Pipelines</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093155</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to identify/develop methods that can locate buried plastic distribution pipelines and to predict x, y, and z accuracy information for the respective methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093155</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Forced Resonance Imaging for 3-D Mapping of Buried Gas Pipes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093149</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will field-test and fine-tune the technology and develop the software used to detect buried plastic gas pipelines, collect three-dimensional (3-D) location information with increased accuracy, and provide additional information on pipe diameter by 3-D mapping or volumetric image reconstructions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093149</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 52-05. Implementation of Subsurface Utility Engineering for Highway Design and Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707235</link>
      <description><![CDATA[While it is recognized to be in the public interest to permit the installation of utility infrastructure in roadway rights-of-way, the practice has contributed to utility-related issues being one of the leading causes of delays for transportation projects. Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is an approach state departments of transportation (DOTs) have implemented to locate utilities and assist their project-development teams with avoiding these issues.

The TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program's NCHRP Synthesis 583: Implementation of Subsurface Utility Engineering for Highway Design and Construction documents state DOT use and practices related to SUE and specifically examines how and when SUE is implemented during the project-design and delivery processes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2020 09:40:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707235</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Continuous automatic detection of cracks in tunnels using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques for safety monitoring (UTI-UTC 06)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1500813</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Structural monitoring of the tunnel lining is of paramount importance for a multitude of reasons including (1) detection of initial defects and control of costs during construction; (2) continuous monitoring during operation to ensure integrity, safety, and control of costs via incremental repairs and timely interventions; and (3) determination of the level of safety to inform system-level risk assessment and performance analysis.

The overall goals of the project are to: 1) Build a hardware platform for image and data acquisition then use this platform to explore and assess various alternative data acquisition techniques with an eye first to functionality and reliability first and second to cost; 2) Develop and build vehicle mounted data acquisition system with consideration for operational aspects; 3) Develop and build a system for geospatial localization within tunnels or other underground structures; 4) Develop and build a system for tagging data location; and 5) Develop and build a fully automated machine learning system for post-processing of the acquired image database for crack detection.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2018 19:32:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1500813</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seismic Assessment of Cut and Cover Tunnels - Large Scale Tests</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441864</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The use of precast and cast-in-place cut and cover tunnels, particularly in urban areas, is increasing in California. Seismic performance of such buried structures is critical in the overall post earthquake availability for the transportation systems. Placing these tunnels on competent or soft and liquefiable soils and covering them with a variety of backfill soils may create a varying seismic response. Seismic ground-tunnel interaction mechanisms are dictated by geometry, stiffness characteristics, and deformation mechanisms of the underground conduit and the surrounding soil. Large-scale shake table testing of representative configurations will provide data sets of seismic response that provide a physical basis for: (1) development of assessment approaches; (2) development and calibration of analytical and numerical models; and (3) development of design guidelines. Such large-scale experimentation allows for employing actual field construction procedures, soil materials, and soil placement/compaction methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:54:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441864</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seismic Assessment of Cut and Cover Tunnels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441863</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The use of precast and cast-in-place cut and cover tunnels, particularly in urban areas, is increasing in California. Seismic performance of such buried structures is critical in the overall post earthquake availability for the transportation systems. Placing these tunnels on competent or soft and liquefiable soils and covering them with a variety of backfill soils may create a varying seismic response.   Seismic ground-tunnel interaction mechanisms are dictated by geometry, stiffness characteristics, and deformation mechanisms of the underground conduit and the surrounding soil. Large-scale shake table testing of representative configurations will provide data sets of seismic response that provide a physical basis for: (1) development of assessment approaches; (2) development and calibration of analytical and numerical models; and (3) development of design guidelines. Such large-scale experimentation allows for employing actual field construction procedures, soil materials, and soil placement/compaction methods. As such, the culvert/tunnel reinforced concrete and/or metallic configuration, and its interaction with the surrounding soil can be represented with a high level of detail.  An experimentally validated procedure is needed for seismic assessment of cut and cover tunnels to be used in the seismic analysis and design of these structures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:54:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441863</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Validated Methods for Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis of Buried Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441854</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Buried structures such as culverts and other undercrossing structures are used in highway systems to convey water, utilities and traffic across highways and carry trucks above them in the way similar to bridges. They are buried under ground in most cases at different depths. The buried structures can possess span lengths less than 20 feet (culvert) or over 20 feet (undercrossing bridge) to distinguish them from bridges above surface, or called as surface structure. Buried structures are classified as either flexible structures or rigid structures, depending on the rigidity of the structure materials and cross-section. Corrugated metal pipe or arch and thermoplastic pipe are common examples of flexible structures and reinforced concrete buried structures such as concrete boxes and arches are typical rigid structures. It is important to know the principle of soil-structure interaction under seismic loading in order to develop seismic design criteria.    Also, Buried structures are classified as either flexible structures or rigid structures, depending on the rigidity of the structure materials and cross-section. Corrugated metal pipe or arch and thermoplastic pipe are common examples of flexible structures and reinforced concrete buried structures such as concrete boxes and arches are typical rigid structures. It is found from past research that the performances of the flexible and rigid buried structures are quite different under earth load. It is important to know the soil pressure distribution envelope and to calibrate the soil-structure interaction factors (SSIF) under earth loading for buried structures with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Standard Installations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:54:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441854</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Draining Identification Analysis and Mapping, Phase 2-NJIT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1378073</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Drainage Identification Analysis and Mapping System (DIAMS) is a computerized database that captures and stores relevant information associated with all on-ground and under-ground hydraulic structures belonging to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).  DIAMS retrieves relevant financial information for management so that NJDOT can remain compliant with Phase II of the Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 34, which is NJDOT's sole means of reporting all financial transaction, namely the value of infrastructure drainage assets on an accrual accounting basis.  DIAMS also retrieves all relevant environmental information to comply with Clean Water Act and reports to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). DIAMS is a critcal computational tool that requires enhancements.  Phase II consists of three specific objectives, specifically to: rectify the compatibility issue related to the recent upgrades of NJDOT vendor software updates, update all collected data to make DIAMS current and link DIAMS to the NJDOT Video inspection van.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 27 Dec 2015 12:17:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1378073</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>HG-5: Development and Deployment of Mix Designs for High Performance Concrete in Mass Underground 
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370867</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No summary provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2015 16:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370867</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>HG-2: Characterize Long-term Degredation of Buried Structural Elements
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370865</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No summary provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:44:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370865</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Condition Monitoring of Urban Infrastructure: Effects of Ground Movement on Adjacent Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1236221</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Underground space is an essential element critical to the solution of many problems associated with the emerging large urban clusters around the US and worldwide. Many of these urban clusters have developed initially as smaller, relatively independent entities which have grown into heavily interdependent clusters of entities. This interdependence has wide ranging implications related to transportation. Planners increasingly are finding that underground space is one of the few options available to solve the myriad of problems posed by these urban clusters. For example, in the San Francisco Bay Area several underground construction projects are in various phases of design and construction to eliminate important transportation bottle necks (e.g. MUNI central subway, Silicon Valley Rapid Transit, Trans Bay Terminal). Similar projects are underway in Seattle and New York. Damage to buildings adjacent to excavations is a major design consideration when constructing underground facilities in congested urban areas. As new infrastructure is constructed or existing infrastructure rehabilitated, the excavations required for tunnels or basements affect nearby existing buildings, especially those founded on shallow foundations. Often excavation support system design must prevent any damage to adjacent structures or balance the cost of a stiffer support system with the cost of repairing damage to the affected structures. Similarly, tunnel operations often times include provisions, such as compensation grouting, to keep minimize the ground deformations associated with tunneling. In either case, it is necessary to predict the ground movements that will induce damage to a structure. Practically speaking, a designer is attempting to limit/prevent damage to either the architectural details of a building, which occurs prior to structural damage, or to load bearing walls. To evaluate damage potential in buildings affected by ground movements resulting from deep excavations, one must first predict the magnitude and distribution of ground movements caused by the excavation. This may be done using empirical or finite element methods, depending on the importance of the building, budget considerations, and design phase of the investigation. After locating the affected building in relation to the expected ground movements, one then evaluates the impact of these movements on the building. The main two sources of uncertainties in this analysis are the structural evaluation of the affected building and the movement prediction. The key issue in the structural evaluation is to define the level of ground movements that will prevent or minimize damage to the adjacent structures. This depends on the type of building that is being impacted by the operations, resulting in a wide range of possible allowable movements. In many projects, the allowable movements are set arbitrarily, and without consideration of the details of either the structures to be protected or the ground conditions. In past work funded by Infrastructure Technology Institute (ITI), the projects have focused on the predictions of the ground movements. This work with real time monitoring systems at a number of excavation sites in Chicago and Seattle allowed us to develop an adaptive management approach that can be used to predict ground deformations under a variety of ground and support conditions. A key aspect of the methodology is the incorporation of the real time monitoring as a means to help guide construction activities and to allow a quantitative approach to find key soil parameters based on field performance data that result in an accurate prediction of the ground movements caused by excavation. The objectives of this proposal are to collect and evaluate detailed ground and building movement data not normally collected during excavation monitoring to allow development of rational criteria for establishing allowable ground movements associated with excavations. In particular, it is proposed to monitor the ground movements caused by the excavation for the William Jones High School in Chicago and to evaluate the effects of these deformations on two adjacent structures founded on shallow foundations. To this latter end, it is proposed to monitor the movements of the two buildings most affected by the cut. This project provides the opportunity to evaluate in detail the effects of excavation-induced ground movements on the existing buildings. This data will be supplemented with building movements caused by excavation obtained by the PI at several other excavations in the Chicago area. It is likely that the damage levels will be very slight at these buildings, as they were at the other case studies, so that conclusions can be drawn regarding the relation between the deformations at the foundation level at an impacted structure and the initiation of damage. These magnitudes can be used as a basis for setting rationale criteria regarding allowable deformations. 2.0 Excavation for the William Jones High School The proposed structure is located at the southeast corner of State and Polk Streets south of the Loop in Chicago. The proposed excavation is approximately 100 ft by 400 ft in plan, will be 18 ft deep. The excavation will be made using bottom up techniques with a temporary lateral support system consisting of a sheet pile wall supported laterally by two levels of cross-lot bracing. The soil conditions generally consist of about 14 ft of urban fill overlying a sequence of glacially-derived clays. This stratigraphy is typical of those found in the downtown area of Chicago with the important exception at this location of the presence of a very soft clay stratum that underlies the excavation. Because of this soft clay, there is a potential of ground movements that may cause damage to adjacent buildings in spite of the relatively shallow cut. There is a narrow alley that separates the excavation and three buildings, two of which are founded on shallow foundations, at this side of the cut. Access through the alley must be maintained throughout construction. These buildings are 6 and 7 stories with one basement level. Beneath State Street to the west of the site, there are an existing subway, as well as electric, gas, sewer and water lines that will be impacted by the excavation. Along the south end of the site, there is an abandoned 8-ft-diameter city water tunnel located about 60 ft below ground surface. Because of the presence of the public utilities and existing buildings, the Board of Underground of the City of Chicago has dictated that surface settlement points be established and monitored around the site to monitor the ground response close to these utilities, and that inclinometers be placed around the property line to measure lateral movements within the subsurface to evaluate the effects of the excavation on the buildings and utilities. Hayward Baker, Inc., the excavation support subcontractors and designers of this system for the project, is our partner for this project. The matching funds for this project are derived from the excavation support system for the project, the excavation costs and the conventional instrumentation installed at the site, and the effort to collect the conventional performance data. The letter of support is appended to this proposal.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:43:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1236221</guid>
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