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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzgwIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSI3MzAiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnMgLz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Assessment of Establishing an NDOT Aeronautics Division and Identification of Sustainable Funding Mechanisms</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2739295</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) current aviation program provides an important foundation through statewide aviation planning, airport system coordination, safety inspections, and administration of the Nevada State Airport System Plan. At the same time, many aviation and aerospace-related responsibilities are distributed across multiple organizations, including NDOT, the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), federal agencies, airport authorities, and local governments. 
This distributed structure reflects Nevada’s historical approach to aviation and aerospace development. NDOT has primarily supported planning, inspections, and coordination, while GOED has historically administered air service development activities, supported airline recruitment, coordinated route development initiatives, and advanced aviation and aerospace-related economic development. As aviation technologies, rural airport needs, military operations, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) testing, and advanced air mobility (AAM) opportunities continue to evolve, Nevada must determine how these responsibilities should be organized, coordinated, funded, and implemented to support statewide transportation and economic development objectives. 
A key question facing Nevada is how aviation and aerospace responsibilities should be organized among NDOT, GOED, federal agencies, airport authorities, local governments, and other stakeholders to best support the state’s transportation, economic development, innovation, and long-term aviation objectives. Effective statewide aviation programs require clear governance structures, defined authority boundaries, reliable coordination mechanisms, sustainable funding, and organizational capacity. These elements have not yet been comprehensively evaluated within Nevada’s current institutional, statutory, and funding environment.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this project is to provide NDOT with a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of organizational, operational, governance, and funding approaches that can support Nevada's current and future aviation responsibilities. The assessment will evaluate a range of implementation options, including the potential establishment of an Aeronautics Division, while identifying sustainable funding strategies and practical pathways for long-term aviation, UAS, and emerging aviation program development. The research will equip NDOT leadership and policymakers with actionable information needed to evaluate organizational, operational, financial, and governance considerations associated with assuming expanded aeronautics responsibilities within the state of Nevada.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:30:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2739295</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cannabis Use and Fitness-for-Duty Standards for Aviation Personnel</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724767</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine faces an urgent need to establish clear, scientifically defensible, and operationally actionable fitness-for-duty standards for pilots and air traffic control specialists (ATCS) in the context of evolving federal cannabis policy. Recent federal actions, including Executive Order 14370 and subsequent partial rescheduling of cannabis, have created a dual-status regulatory environment (Schedule I recreational vs. Schedule III medical use), while DOT drug testing and FAA medical certification standards remain unchanged. This misalignment introduces significant operational risk by: (1) increasing the likelihood and normalization of cannabis use; (2) complicating disclosure and compliance; and (3) leaving the FAA without validated criteria to determine when individuals are no longer impaired. The central policy question is: Following cannabis use, what elapsed time ensures both (1) absence of operational impairment and (2) compliance with DOT drug testing requirements? Due to the urgency of near-term policy decisions and the inability to conduct new primary research in the required timeframe, the FAA requires structured, policy-relevant interpretation of existing scientific evidence. This project will deliver that capability through a National Academies–facilitated expert meeting series over ~12 months, enabling FAA policy development and implementation within 12–18 months.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:41:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724767</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>2026 Employee Survey 
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719330</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives are assist with the review and update of 2026 employee survey, review and select methods of survey implementation, conduct survey, analyze the survey results, assist in presentation of survey results to Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Division and District Offices, and develop executive summaries and survey findings reports.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:01:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719330</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building a Sustainable Workforce: Enhancing Employee Retention at GDOT
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719324</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
This research project aims to improve employee retention, particularly Transportation Engineers and Transportation Specialists. By identifying and analyzing current practices alongside employee experiences and expectations, it will offer evidence-based insights to inform decision-makers, including the Office of HR.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:39:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719324</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Operational Impacts of Women’s Health Factors on Pilot Availability and Certification</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719307</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The number of certificated female pilots in the U.S. aviation system continues to increase and is projected to reach approximately 15–20 percent of the pilot workforce within the next decade. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certification policy, Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) guidance, and aeromedical training materials contain limited and inconsistent information addressing health factors specific to women pilots.
Women’s health factors—including pregnancy, postpartum recovery, hormonal therapies, menstrual disorders, and menopause—may temporarily affect medical eligibility, certification timelines, and operational availability. In the absence of a systematic, evidence-informed understanding of these factors, the FAA lacks the ability to anticipate certification impacts, promote consistency in AME decision-making, and support pilot workforce planning. This research will identify and characterize women’s health factors that influence pilot medical certification and availability, providing actionable insight to improve certification efficiency, reduce variability in aeromedical decision-making, and enhance forecasting of pilot availability. Results will inform targeted updates to FAA guidance, training, and policy materials without establishing new certification standards.
There are no statutory deadlines associated with this research; however, completion within 12 months is required to support near-term improvements to aeromedical guidance as the female pilot population continues to grow. The research requires collaboration with an external academic partner and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval due to the use of human-subjects data.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:31:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719307</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR 783 Contractor Performance Evaluation 2.0</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719304</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to develop a data-driven Contractor Performance Evaluation System 2.0 (CPES 2.0) for the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to support performance-based contractor prequalification. Building on existing methodologies and incorporating lessons from peer agencies, the research will focus on improving fairness, accuracy, and adaptability to evolving project delivery methods.
The primary objectives are: (1) Review and analyze current SCDOT contractor evaluation processes and data sources to identify strengths, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
(2) Benchmark contractor performance evaluation systems used by other state DOTs to identify effective practices, especially those accommodating alternative delivery methods and project complexities. (3) Develop a comprehensive evaluation framework with data-driven scoring algorithms that ensure fairness, consistency, regulatory compliance, and adaptability across project types and delivery methods. (4) Develop revised Resident Construction Engineer and contractor questionnaires to support enhanced data collection and evaluation accuracy.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:59:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719304</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR 781 Optimizing SCDOT’s Permitting, Mitigation, and Compliance Systems to Improve Project Delivery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719301</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overarching goal of Phase III is to optimize South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT’s) permitting, mitigation, and compliance
systems by leveraging emerging technologies. The objectives are to (1) maintain the existing
applications and enhance them through feedback from SCDOT users and consultants, (2) migrate
the geographic information system (GIS) applications to Experience Builder for improved functionality, (3) update the e-permitting
app to align with upcoming regulatory changes, (4) develop standardized templates for permit
drawings, and (5) explore emerging technologies to check the permit drawings and provide
feedback on errors and required changes, predict wetland impacts for future projects, and autogenerate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applications classified as Categorial Exclusions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:53:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719301</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing an Automated Framework for Aggregating Right-of-Way Data through GIS and Computer Vision Methods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714448</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Ohio Revised Code 125.16 requires current and accurate records of tangible personal property and real property be maintained. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) can obtain records of state-owned right-of-way (ROW) by specific locations and/or project, however there is no simple repository or mechanism to obtain information in a wholistic, statewide manner. ODOT's Office of Real Estate has an online Arcis application, OhROW, that lets people click on a map and get direct access to ROW plans. However, OhROW does not have any data aggregation capabilities, data is not queryable, and not all areas are available in the application. ODOT's Office of Data Governance is working on an initiative to obtain ROW line data from new 3D plan sets. This process is tremendously slow and dependent on the availability of 3D plan sets that include some kind of ROW lines. It is estimated that it could take up to 50 years to cover all of ODOT's road network using this process. Other state DOTS, such as Texas and Nevada, have attempted to address this issue by manually reviewing every plan set of their road network and manually inputting the legal descriptions to make polygons of their ROW. This process is very labor intensive, time consuming, and is expected to take several years to complete. An innovative approach to obtain ROW data, in granular details (such as acreage, type, access parcels, nature of control, etc.), and create maps is needed. OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative approach to identify ODOT owned property, propose methods for storing datasets, and utilize the data to pilot the approach by generating property maps of a specific county, city, township or State Route. The approach should be repeatable, reliable, and streamlined and findings should include recommendations for statewide implementation of the innovative approach.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:19:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714448</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Construction Workforce Conditions and Their Effects on Productivity and Project Scheduling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712203</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation construction projects often involve accelerated schedules, extended work hours, and work performed in challenging environmental and safety-sensitive conditions. These conditions can affect the physical and mental well-being of state department of transportation (DOT) and contractor staff and may negatively influence workforce productivity, safety, and project delivery outcomes.

Long work hours, demanding schedules, and changing environmental conditions have contributed to growing concerns regarding workforce stress, burnout, fatigue, and mental health challenges within the construction industry. Research and industry surveys have highlighted the need to better understand how workforce conditions influence productivity and project performance. However, there is limited guidance on incorporating workforce well-being considerations into project scheduling, phasing, and construction management practices.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide to assist state DOTs in evaluating environmental, physical, and mental conditions affecting the transportation construction workforce and their impact on productivity and scheduling expectations. The research is intended to support healthier, safer, and more sustainable project delivery practices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:14:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712203</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Streamlining Compliance Criteria and Preemptively Identifying Slowdowns for Hastened Project Delivery – Lessons from Efficient Agencies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712199</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation agencies and decision-makers increasingly prioritize timely project delivery, including shorter durations between funding allocation and construction. This emphasis is reflected in a growing focus on schedule performance and transparent communication of project timelines. Stakeholder expectations&mdash;including those of elected officials and the public&mdash;underscore the importance of clearly understanding and managing factors that influence project schedules.
Quantitative, project-level data are essential for identifying patterns of delay, informing process improvements, and supporting the development of realistic and reliable schedules. With robust data, departments of transportation (DOTs) can more effectively assess project readiness, using performance-informed metrics to guide decision-making. In addition, information on the effectiveness of mitigation strategies&mdash;particularly measured reductions in delay duration&mdash;can help agencies prioritize resources and apply approaches that offer the greatest benefit.
State DOTs have developed a strong understanding of common sources of delay in areas such as environmental review and permitting. However, the availability of quantitative, project-level data for other types of delays remains limited. In particular, agencies may not consistently have data on the typical schedule impacts associated with specific issues or the relative effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. While existing research often identifies causes of delay, it less frequently quantifies their schedule impacts&mdash;especially for complex projects&mdash;or estimates potential time savings associated with mitigation measures. This limits agencies' ability to take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to comparing delay drivers, identifying process efficiencies, and evaluating tradeoffs between mitigation benefits and costs.
This scan will identify and examine organizations that have developed effective procedures to:
(1) Identify measurable sources of delay,
(2) Collect project-level quantitative data on the schedule impacts of those delays, and
(3) Apply mitigation strategies that support recovery of schedule time.
The resulting observations will provide practical, transferable lessons to support agencies in managing project development schedules and improving overall program efficiency.
Key factors to be investigated include:

Identification of measurable delay issues, 

Average and range of delay duration, by issue and project type, 

Mitigation strategies developed to address specific delay types, 

Average and range of time savings associated with mitigation, by issue and project type, and 

Approaches for applying these metrics to develop more reliable schedules for future projects.


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:02:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712199</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Making Knowledge Management Work for DOTs: A Guide to Fostering Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712194</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Knowledge management (KM) is growing among state departments of transportation (DOTs), and culture is an essential ingredient of KM. Agencies must value and support learning; otherwise, employees are not likely to share what they know or invest the time needed for effective collaboration. Previous National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) studies on innovation and learning cultures have identified several factors that are conducive to a learning culture. These studies have acknowledged the importance of culture but have not explored it in detail. There is a need to build on prior research dealing with KM and innovation in transportation agencies, along with foundational studies of learning cultures, and exploring the intersection of KM, learning cultures, and organizational change at DOTs.

This objective of this research is to develop a guide for state DOTs to strengthen organizational cultures that foster collaboration, learning, and adaptability. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:13:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712194</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Risk-Based and Cost-Effective Agency Verification of Contractor-Collected Pavement and Bridge Profiles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712193</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) recognize that pavement and bridge smoothness is a key indicator of performance and public satisfaction. As state DOT staffing levels have declined, contractors have become increasingly responsible for collecting profile data, calculating smoothness indices, and sometimes determining pay factors. While federal regulations require independent verification of contractor data used for acceptance decisions, agencies remain uncertain about the level of verification needed to ensure accuracy and judicious allocation of public funds.

Current practices for validation and verification vary widely across state DOTs. Some agencies collect independent profiles on a subset of projects, while others rely on partial sampling, comparisons with contractor data, or limited review processes. The statistical reliability and risk implications of these approaches are not well understood. Additionally, advances in data collection technologies, such as high-speed profilers, have increased the volume of data, challenging traditional verification approaches. There is a need for research that helps state DOTs accurately determine pavement life through the potential use of emerging technologies and improved verification of contractor-collected pavement and bridge profile data.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide and supporting tool to assist state DOTs in conducting cost-effective, risk-based verification of contractor-collected pavement and bridge profiles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:10:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712193</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing Data Literacy Competencies and Practices for State Transportation Workforce</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712190</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) are undergoing a major transformation in how they collect, manage, and use data. Historically reliant on manual observations and field reports, DOTs now collect large and diverse datasets from traffic monitoring, asset condition assessments, maintenance records, freight compliance, Global Positioning System (GPS) probe data, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), drones, and video analytics. These technologies support more data-driven decisions related to infrastructure management, operations, and planning.

The growing volume and diversity of transportation data have created significant challenges for integration, governance, and analysis. To address these issues, many DOTs are adopting standardized data formats and centralized governance structures that improve interoperability, reduce duplication, and support collaboration with external stakeholders. At the same time, data access has expanded across agencies, allowing planners, engineers, managers, and policy staff to work directly with increasingly complex datasets.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications are accelerating this shift, particularly in areas such as traffic incident detection, pavement performance prediction, asset management, and safety analysis. However, many transportation professionals lack foundational competencies in data governance, statistical reasoning, ethical data use, visualization, and interpretation of analytical outputs. The shortage of qualified data-science personnel within public agencies further increases reliance on undertrained staff and external consultants. Communication gaps between technical teams and transportation practitioners also hinder effective implementation of data-driven tools and practices.

The objective of this research is to improve data literacy within transportation agencies by identifying current skill gaps and workforce needs, evaluating data usage practices, and developing strategies to improve the ability of staff to collect, interpret, manage, and apply data effectively.

This research will identify baseline competencies required for transportation data literacy; examine barriers related to training, governance, and organizational silos; evaluate the impacts of limited data-science staffing; and explore best practices for training, communication, and knowledge management. The study will develop actionable recommendations for tailored training, improved data governance, reduced reliance on external consultants, and stronger data-driven decision-making across transportation agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:01:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712190</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Establishment of Personnel Certification and Quality Control and Quality Assurance Processes for Nondestructive Testing of Concrete and Steel Bridge Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712174</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The certification of personnel performing nondestructive testing (NDT) of steel and concrete bridges in field inspections is fragmented between certification bodies and is inconsistent from one owner to the next. However, the knowledge, training, and experience of technicians performing NDT is paramount in obtaining consistent and accurate data on the condition of the structure so that key asset management decisions can be made. Studies have shown that even technicians certified and practicing in other sectors, such as nuclear or oil and gas, underperform when placed on a bridge field inspection project. While some literature exists on the effects of this resulting gap in knowledge and experience, no process exists for personnel certification of engineers or technicians performing NDT for bridges. Additionally, there is no framework for quality controls or quality assurance (QA) processes that could be used or specified by owners to establish a minimum standard of care for NDT protocols.

Comparative studies quantifying how different certification schemes affect field measurement repeatability are limited, and there is little published evidence on cost-benefit tradeoffs for implementing bridge-specific certification and QA programs at state or national scales. Overall, the literature highlights the need for a national or regulatory framework that adapts ISO 9712 and SNT-TC-1A principles to bridge environments—incorporating field performance testing, bridge-specific competencies, continuing education, and systematic QA oversight—to ensure uniform NDT practices across transportation agencies.

The objective of this research is to study industry certification and qualification practices for bridge inspection and evaluation, assessing their effectiveness through a national and international literature review and a survey of bridge owners worldwide. The study will also examine certification protocols used in other industries, such as energy, aviation, and manufacturing, that employ NDT in construction, in-service inspections, and maintenance. The findings will inform the development of guidelines for a consistent, reliable certification program for NDT technicians.

The project should establish minimum personnel certification requirements and QA processes for transportation agencies to ensure uniform results across technicians applying NDT to concrete and steel bridge members. Recommendations will cover common NDT methods, including ground penetrating radar, ultrasonic and advanced ultrasonic testing, impact echo, infrared imaging, laser crack detection, and automated sounding. A framework will also be developed to help owners implement certification and QA for other NDT methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:57:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712174</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-5135: CARSx Traveler Information Message (J-2735) Module Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709429</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will facilitate joint engagement between Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and Castle Rock Associates. The objective of this proposal is to establish a collaborative, cost-sharing approach for work currently defined under an existing scope of work developed by Castle Rock for MnDOT, while ensuring that each state receives its own independent implementation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:27:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709429</guid>
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