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    <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>
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    <item>
      <title>Guidelines for Post-Wildfire Inspections of Unstable Slopes, Slope Reinforcement, and Slope Protection Systems



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558420</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Geotechnical asset management is crucial for the safety and resilience of transportation infrastructure. Historically, state departments of transportation (DOTs) have focused on mitigating unstable slopes and maintaining constructed slope protection and stabilization systems through protocols such as Washington DOT’s Geotechnical Asset Management Plan (GAMP). State DOTs have experienced an increase in wildfire frequency and intensity due to droughts, higher temperatures, and dense vegetation accumulation. Wildfires have placed additional strain on slope protection and stabilization systems and amplified risks such as heat-induced material degradation, erosion, rockfall, and debris flow hazards. 

While the direct short-term impacts of wildfires on geotechnical assets have been observed, the indirect long-term effects, including soil and rock slope degradation, degradation of installed slope reinforcement, and damage to protection systems, have not been thoroughly examined. Research is needed to develop protocols and methods to help state DOTs with post-wildfire evaluations of affected slopes and slope protection systems.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide and field decision support tool to evaluate post-wildfire impacts on affected slopes and slope protection and stabilization systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 22:22:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558420</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Impact of State Highway Pavement Traffic Overloading Following Natural Disasters</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431181</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado was one of the most destructive wildfires in the United States with 1,084 homes destroyed and over $2B in losses in the town of Louisville, town of Superior, and in unincorporated Boulder County. Highway transportation infrastructure is vital during wildfire events to facilitate evacuation, rescue operations, and goods transportation. In the post-fire recovery, highways play a critical role by facilitating debris removal to landfills and transportation of reconstruction materials and services. Initial pavement damage during the fire is generally limited to localized excessive heat from burning cars and vegetation on the road causing surface scarring and raveling. More indirect damage to the highway pavement is caused by heavy truck operations during post-fire debris removal and reconstruction, but there are limited studies investigating this problem. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) generally reimburses communities and agencies for direct damages to pavement from major wildfires, but not indirect damage to pavement. This study assesses a knowledge gap by collecting accurate data on the truckloads and number of trips involved in debris removal, construction vehicles, and other reconstruction related activities after a wildfire. This data would be used to predict pavement degradation and costs to repair pavement damaged by these activities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:57:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431181</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Predicting downstream impacts of post-fire sediment inputs to transportation assets over management time scales</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431162</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop user-friendly models and geospatial tools to predict secondary, routed impacts to critical infrastructure (i.e., depth and rate of sediment erosion/deposition) caused by the natural down-stream transport of wildfire-derived sediment inputs over management relevant time-scales. The primary objectives are to: (1) develop Machine Learning models to predict post-fire streamflow changes and post-fire burn severity, and then (2) predict potential downstream risks to critical transportation infrastructure and aquatic habitat over time. The resulting geospatial toolkit and risk assessments for selected burned and unburned watersheds will help Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) mitigate damages associated with recent wildfires and prioritize long-term infrastructure planning and design in high-risk watersheds. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:44:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431162</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Planning and mitigation for post-wildfire sediment hazards to transportation infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431158</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop a geodatabase of past post-fire sedimentation impacts and new, easy-to-use geospatial tools to help Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) rapidly assess (post-fire) and plan for (pre-fire) direct post-fire sedimentation hazards to transportation infrastructure in burned landscapes. The project objectives are to: (1) Survey past post-fire debris flow and erosion/sedimentation impacts; (2) Develop machine-learning models for potential future wildfire severity; and (3) Develop a geospatial toolkit for planning and rapid assessment of direct, post-fire sediment hazards in transportation corridors. These datasets and tools will be designed to help prioritize long-term infrastructure planning and design given increasing wildfire risk, as well as to facilitate rapid post-fire hazard assessment to transportation infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:04:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431158</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Post-Wildfire Debris Flow</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427687</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wildfires have been posing significant problems for many states in the United States in recent years. In addition to the immediate damage and destruction to the natural environment, insurable properties, and public infrastructure, other longer-term risks persist in the post-wildfire condition.  The natural diversity of the watersheds and channels can be compromised due to loss of woody material and vegetation, and soil nutrients and cohesion are diminished in areas of particularly high burn intensity, sometimes resulting in hydrophobic soils.  The post-wildfire condition susceptibility to debris flows and increased erosional patterns can pose significant risks to transportation infrastructure and lead to increased disruption and cost due to road closures and repair/replacement of pavement, subgrade, culverts, and embankment fill.

Although much research has been conducted, and continues to be conducted, on estimating the risks and degree of damage posed by post-wildfire debris flows, the applicability of results is often limited geographically. Results must often be extrapolated to other areas which may not have sufficiently similar characteristics.  For example, data collected and calibrated to the foothills of a temperate grasslands environment may be extrapolated to a canyon environment with a flashy, desert hydrologic pattern, resulting in a poor prediction.  With the increased frequency of these fires, as well as increased risk to life and property in the paths of these types of events, additional effort is warranted to remediate areas prone to post-wildfire debris flows and to reduce damage from future wildfires.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this proposed pooled-fund project is to address post-wildfire debris-flow issues.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:01:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427687</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices. Topic S03-21. Managing All Phases of a Wild Fire Incident at Airports to Safeguard Critical Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413912</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wild fires wreak havoc across the country. In 2022 there were over 7 million acres burned throughout the United States. The devastating effects of the Colorado Marshall Fire in 2021 showcased how fast fires can engulf and destroy infrastructure. Wild fire events have continued to increase in intensity and frequency. These events have necessitated that the national airport community shift focus from strictly aviation related incidents to an all-hazard approach. The infrastructure associated with airports can be vital to continued operations, and any disruption in service could have cascading effects on the National Airspace System. Airports should begin to consider the probability of wild fires and protect infrastructure that keeps the airports operational. Not all infrastructure carries the same criticality, and not all infrastructure will require additional mitigation efforts. 

This synthesis will describe the practices for managing all phases of a wild fire incident that impact airport critical infrastructure. The audience for this synthesis are airport operators that do not have plans in place for managing all phases of a wild fire incident. 

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:47:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413912</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Prevention and Control of Wildfires Through Roadside Vegetation Management



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2321712</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The wildland urban interface (WUI) is an area where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland and vegetative fuels that are both fire-dependent and fire-prone. Wildfires near roadways have increased in scale, frequency and intensity due to factors such as drought and invasive species. Some wildfires are the consequence of vehicle operations such as accidents or sparking causing wildfire ignition within roadside vegetation. The risk of wildfire ignitions within roadside vegetation is compounded by increased traffic volumes in the WUI. State departments of transportation (DOTs) have adopted innovative solutions in roadside vegetation management to reduce the number and intensity of wildfires impacting WUI communities. A study of known wildfire risk factors, wildfire risk management, staffing, training, coordination, and effective roadside vegetation management practices is needed to establish an ongoing national adaptive roadside management strategy to address wildfire related challenges at the WUI.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide for state DOTs on roadside vegetation management strategies that reduce the risk of wildfires. At minimum, the guide will highlight effective practices and areas of concern within roadside vegetation operations, areas of possible improvement, and suggestions for future study.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:30:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2321712</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Arizona Roadways’ Resilience to Wildfire Through Vegetation Recovery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will explore whether ADOT landscaping and vegetation-management practices that encourage the recovery of native plant communities following wildfires can reduce both repair and maintenance costs for adjacent roadways. 
Wildfires can leave roadways susceptible to further damage from flooding, erosion, and debris flows over the long term because slow-growing native plant communities can take several years to fully recover. ADOT incurs significant expense when roadways are damaged by erosion or debris flows. In the meantime, non-native plant species that grow in disturbed ecosystems—such as buffelgrass, Sahara mustard, wild oats, and red brome—are often flammable and can actually increase the risk of future wildfires when they replace more fire-resistant native plant communities. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:22:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2310561</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Increasing Understanding of Weather Extremes and Enhancing Safety of Rural and Tribal Areas using Wireless Smart Sensors and Human-Environment-Data Interfaces using Augmented Reality (AR)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291296</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to develop an interface between users and data in the context of low-cost deployment of sensors that can be tested to collect both rain and flooding during significant post-wildfire flooding events. The system will be wireless and validated with a local company in New Mexico, High Water Mark (HWM) LLC, with expertise in flooding. The support of Prospect Solutions, another participating company, will enable the research team to develop a transportation-directed tool that can be used for other aspects critical to durability. This project proposes using Low-cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensors (LEWIS) that can be moved and installed at very low cost, measuring both rain and flooding levels (elevation). Real-time data from such sensors can inform the population about the flooding with 10-20 minutes notice. The LEWIS are connected to the internet with hotspots and their design and installation are incremental so they can be changed by the owners. The first step will be to design and demonstrate a rain/flooding data interface system using simulated rainfall and flooding using indoor facilities at UNM. The second step will be located outdoors near a creek in the mountains to validate the power independence of such a system and to obtain field data from a rain and/or flooding event. The third step is to create a simulation of the sensor-AR interface to collect/identify thresholds of emergencies from the experts (HWM LLC and Prospect Solutions) and subsequently from the community in a workshop.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:45:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291296</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Proactive Planning Tool to Reduce Wildfire Sedimentation Risks</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2286653</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wildfire has increased 20-fold in the past four decades in the western US and projected warming is expected to further increase wildfire activity for the foreseeable future. After a wildfire, burned hillslopes exhibit profoundly altered hydrology, dramatically increasing erosion rates and under some conditions delivering large amounts of wood to nearby stream channels. Increased flood flows, as well as excessive amounts of sediment and wood delivered to the stream pose considerable risk to transportation infrastructure within and downstream from burned areas. Just two of hundreds of examples, post-wildfire flooding and sedimentation caused extensive damage to Highway 143 in Parowan Canyon in 2017 and US 89 near Birdseye, Utah in 2019. Given the recent and expected future increases in wildfire and related risks to transportation infrastructure, there is an urgent need to determine if, how, and where forest, fire, and infrastructure management practices could be most effective in reducing high severity fire, erosion, and downstream impacts to high-value transportation resources. 

The US Geological Survey provides maps of probable debris flows after a wildfire occurs, but this information falls far short of what is needed for long-term, proactive planning to minimize wildfire related risks to infrastructure. The research group has recently developed the only predictive tool to (1) determine possible debris flow risks prior to a wildfire occurring and (2) estimate how far downstream post-wildfire sedimentation risks may occur. The model is also designed to be run iteratively to explore implications of the full range of plausible fire and rainfall scenarios for each location. Adapting the existing post-wildfire sedimentation model to predict risks to transportation infrastructure will enable Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to identify potential risks prior to wildfires occurring. Further, the team's work with a broader stakeholder group will facilitate communication and partnerships between UDOT and other relevant state and federal agencies to take proactive forest, fire, and infrastructure management measures that reduce wildfire-related risks to transportation infrastructure.

The existing post-wildfire sedimentation prediction model was developed, and has already been applied, to predict risks to water resource infrastructure. This model represents the most advanced and comprehensive approach available for predicting post-wildfire sedimentation risks at the watershed scale. Thus, adapting the model is the most straight-forward and robust way to evaluate wildfire-related risks to transportation infrastructure throughout the State. Given the limited amount of funding available to the UDOT Research & Innovation Division, this project represents a pilot study in which the research team will adapt the model for use with transportation infrastructure and make predictions in a few targeted locations, determined to be high-priority by the stakeholder group. Following this successful pilot study, the team would work with UDOT and other relevant state or federal agencies to obtain funding needed to predict risks to transportation infrastructure statewide.

This long-term planning toolkit is complementary to the rapid assessment toolkit the team has outlined in another proposal. Specifically, this toolkit will simulate hypothetical wildfires to identify where the greatest risks exist throughout the State, so proactive measures can be taken prior to a wildfire occurring in those locations. In contrast, the rapid assessment toolkit would be designed for risk assessment immediately after a fire has occurred to inform Burned Area Emergency Response efforts.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:04:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2286653</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Geospatial Toolkit for Rapid Assessment of Post-Wildfire Sedimentation Risks to Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2286652</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wildfires are a natural part of the western landscape. However, we have observed a 20-fold increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires over the last 40 years. Post-wildfire landscapes exhibit profoundly altered hydrology, causing increased runoff generation after rainfall events. The increased runoff in turn causes extensive erosion to the landscape, delivering large volumes of sediment and woody debris to river channels. Additionally, the increased runoff causes larger floods. Both the increased flood sizes and the increased wood and sediment amounts in rivers can pose direct risks to transportation infrastructure. For instance, Highway 143 in Parowan Canyon in 2017 and US 89 near Birdseye, Utah in 2019 were extensively damaged due to post-wildfire flooding and sedimentation. Given the recent increase in wildfire activity in the western United States, there is a pressing need for the development of a model framework to rapidly assess post-wildfire sedimentation risks to transportation infrastructure. 

To date, the research team has developed the state-of-science toolkit which predicts post-wildfire erosion and sedimentation in burned landscapes. While other tools exist (e.g. WEPP-PEP, US Geological Survey debris flow hazard assessments) to model post-fire erosion, this toolkit is the only one that explores erosion from multiple mechanisms, provides estimates of what fraction of the sediment is delivered to rivers, and routes sediment downstream. Notably, this toolkit was developed in cooperation with the National Director of the USFS Burned Area Emergency Response program as well as other local, state, and federal agency staff. The toolkit was designed to explore the impacts of sedimentation on reservoirs in post-wildfire landscapes. Here the team will expand their toolkit to allow rapid assessment of where the most severe damages may occur to transportation infrastructure following a wildfire, which would allow for targeted efforts to try to minimize damages. To accomplish this goal, the team will extend their model framework to allow users to input Geographic Information System (GIS) layers of interest (e.g. roads, culverts, bridges) into the toolkit to estimate what infrastructure might be impacted following a wildfire event. Hence, further development of the toolkit to take input features such as roads, culverts, and bridges to quickly assess which locations are vulnerable to post-wildfire erosion would ensure assessments are performed with the most advanced model to date for analyzing post-wildfire sedimentation and erosion.

This rapid assessment toolkit is complementary to the longer-term planning toolkit the team has outlined in another proposal. Specifically, this toolkit is designed for risk assessment immediately after a fire has occurred, whereas the long-term planning toolkit will simulate hypothetical wildfires to identify where the greatest risks exist throughout the state, so proactive measures can be taken prior to a wildfire occurring in those locations. Utah government agencies will be able to employ the toolkit proposed here to assess what transportation infrastructure would be impacted following a wildfire. Utah agencies could use the information derived from the toolkit to immediately begin to mitigate potential damages as part of the Burned Area Emergency Response efforts. Informed prioritization of locations for mitigation efforts and rapid response times should lower the financial cost of these events and help reduce interruptions to transportation.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:54:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2286652</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title> Achieving Multi-Purpose Roadside Vegetation: Reducing Weed Invasion and Fire Risk while Enhancing Pollinator Habitat</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1870688</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Idaho Transportation Department (ITD)’s roadside vegetation management practices primarily have focused on controlling erosion. However, there is interest in establishing native plants along department roadsides that can resist expansion of invasive weeds. Similarly, there is interest in reducing the risk of fire along roadsides, which is often greater in areas dominated by invasive plants, by establishing plants that have low flammability and generate low fuel loads. In addition, roadsides are increasingly recognized as important habitat for insect pollinators, such as butterflies and bees. There is growing interest in creating and enhancing roadside habitats to support pollinator abundance. This project will focus on testing revegetation practices that maximize multiple management goals. The overall objective of this study is to identify roadside restoration and management practices that simultaneously reduce weed invasion and fire risk and enhance pollinator abundance. As part of this project, 216 test plots will be established along ITD roadsides in common ecoregions, and data will be gathered to assess plant and pollinator responses to experimental treatments over several growing seasons. Researchers will analyze study data to evaluate the costs and benefits of multipurpose revegetation methods and provide recommendations for best practices for roadside vegetation management.  The objectives of this project include:
(1) Identifying factors that act alone or in combination to enhance native plant establishment.
(2) Identifying native plant assemblages that are resistant to invasion by weeds.
(3) Measuring fire fuel loads associated with plant assemblages established by different methods.
(4) Quantifying insect pollinator responses to restored plant assemblages.
(5) Identifying roadside revegetation practices that provide greatest return on investment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:21:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1870688</guid>
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