<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Value Engineering Applied to Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2226021</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Value engineering (VE) is a systematic method aimed at optimizing the design, construction, and operation of airport facilities to ensure they deliver the best possible functionality with consideration for life cycle cost and revenue enhancement strategies. In addition, various principles and methods of VE can be applied across the project and program life cycle as applied to airports. 

Airport practitioners have challenges when implementing VE principles and methods, such as lack of awareness and education, size and complexity of projects and programs, and diverse stakeholder requirements. Research is needed to provide airports a basic understanding of VE principles and methods, guidelines for applying them in an airport setting, and examples of current applications of VE. 

The objective of this research is to develop two primers and a guide for applying VE principles and evaluating VE implementation across airport project development from concept to decommissioning.  

The primers should introduce VE concepts, frameworks, and benefits throughout the project and program life cycle as applied to airports and be tailored to (1) airport executives and (2) practitioners.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:09:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2226021</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide for Incorporating Right-of-Way and Utilities into Value Engineering Studies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957100</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 627, value engineering (VE) is a systematic, organized approach that provides necessary functions in a project at the lowest cost without sacrificing performance and quality. VE focuses on the functions of various components and materials by reviewing and assessing a project to (1) identify essential project functions, (2) promote the substitution of materials and methods with less expensive alternatives, (3) optimize the value and quality of the project, and (4) reduce the time to develop and deliver the project.

VE studies have been incorporated into state departments of transportation (DOTs) project development process, typically reflecting federal policies and requirements. State DOTs specification manuals typically include guidance on how to conduct VE studies; however, the body of knowledge has been limited in the area of right-of-way (ROW) and utilities as it relates to VE. This limited body of knowledge increases the risk for VE study teams to obtain the degree of ROW and utility information needed to adequately perform their duties, thereby missing unique opportunities to add value to a project.

Research is needed to identify approaches to incorporate ROW and utilities when conducting VE studies.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide that will assist state DOTs with addressing ROW and utility impacts when conducting VE studies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2022 19:19:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957100</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guidebook for Implementing Constructability Across the Entire Project Development Process: NEPA to Final Design</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1407095</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Every Day Counts (EDC) Program brought national visibility to implementing alternative technical concepts (ATCs) for incorporation in transportation projects.  FHWA continues to encourage state DOTs to implement this alternative contracting method on projects delivered using design-build (DB), construction manager at-risk (CMR) or construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and design-bid-build (DBB) contracts.  ATCs have a well-documented potential for accruing sizable benefits in cost savings, increased constructability, and schedule reduction.  In almost every case, the approved ATC was in reality a previously unrecognized approach to alter the design and enhance its constructability by matching the design of a given feature of work with the proposing contractor’s preferred means and methods.

NCHRP Synthesis 455: Alternative Technical Concepts for Contract Delivery Methods found that the major barrier to implementing ATCs on all types of highway construction projects is the perceived difficulty by state transportation agencies and contractors in revising commitments made during the environmental permitting process and included in the Record of Decision.  While projects in Minnesota and Missouri have successfully revised their environmental documents to take advantage of potentially large savings from ATCs without a substantial delay in the project schedule, there is a perception held both in the industry and by DOT project managers that any change to approved environmental documents will trigger an unacceptable delay.  During an FHWA EDC ATC Implementation outreach workshop with the industry, both contractors and design consultants agreed that they tend to summarily dismiss any potential ATC that alters the project’s environmental permit regardless of the potential cost or time savings.  Research is needed to identify impediments to the implementation of industry-driven innovation such as ATCs and value engineering and to better understand the implications for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance.

Under NCHRP Project 10-99, “Guide for Implementing Constructability Across the Entire Project Development Process: NEPA to Final Design,” the University of Florida was asked to develop a decision-making framework to assist transportation agencies in assess the benefits, in terms of cost savings, time savings, or both, from the utilization of constructability reviews and input from the industry during planning, design, and permitting phases. The developed framework is adaptable to all contract delivery methods and complies with all statutory requirements necessary to mitigate environmental impacts, both natural and cultural, without limiting the permitting or design innovation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2016 15:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1407095</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>