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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzgxIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSI3MzAiIC8+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>Guidelines and Best Practices for Determining the Life Cycle Cost of Various Superstructure Types</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731917</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The selection of superstructure type during the study phase of a design project is currently made based on the estimated
construction cost and a subjective and inexact assessment of the life cycle cost of the structure. This method of selecting the
preferred alternative has led to the introduction of bias into the decision-making process and tends to lead to the selection of
concrete superstructures more often than steel superstructures. Rarely is this decision tied to objective data based on historic
maintenance records of similar superstructures and has never accounted for 
Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT’S) ability to extend the life of steel
superstructures by incorporating bolted and welded repairs, which are not possible on concrete superstructures. Disregarding
this information in the selection of a superstructure type increases the risk of not using the available bridge funding as
efficiently and effectively as possible.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:05:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2731917</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Designing and Constructing Permanent Stable Foundation Layers in Areas of Sulfate Rich Soils</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727387</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The presence of a suitable foundation layer plays a significant role in the constructability and long-term performance of pavements. During construction, these layers must provide sufficient support for placement and compaction of subsequent pavement layers, and during service life, these foundation layers play a critical role in the pavement structure by supporting the upper pavement layers and spreading loads to provide long-term pavement performance. When designed correctly, lime stabilized layers have a long history of providing permanent support in areas of plastic soils. However, lime has been removed from recent projects because of concerns over soluble sulfates. The use of select fill and geogrids has not provided projects with the support needed to successfully complete construction, and in some cases even handle construction traffic. These failures cost millions of dollars to fix and result in significant project delays. Adequate and permanent foundation layers are critical to performance of both flexible and rigid pavement structures. The research team will document the effectiveness of current practices for identifying sulfates on construction projects and determine if new or improved technologies exist to more effectively and reliably detect sulfates. The research team will deploy these tools on actual construction projects and document their effectiveness. Using advanced lab testing, the research team will determine treatment alternatives for soils containing sulfates. Based on the findings, the research team will recommend soil treatment or pavement structural design alternatives to provide permanent and stable foundation layers. The findings from this project shall be used to recommend updates to project selection, treatment guidelines, test procedures, specifications, and the Pavement Manual.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:37:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727387</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update Standardized Measurement Systems and Laboratory Test Procedures to Improve Motorist Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727316</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The growth in construction and maintenance activities throughout the state has prompted an increase in the throughput for standardized measurements, laboratory tests, and similar processes performed by TxDOT on a routine basis. TxDOT, as well as its affiliated stakeholders, must meet this increased demand with a limited availability of trained workforce while ensuring high quality and consistent work products. While many of these processes have been developed and used for several decades, recent advances in technologies such as sensors, computing, logic controllers, machine vision, and actuators have now made it feasible to fully or partially automate several of the existing processes or, where feasible, replace some archaic processes with modern advanced and automated methods. The research teams will conduct one or more scouting tours of divisions and districts to create an inventory of processes and identify their potential to be automated. The research teams will use a scoring system with input from TxDOT to prioritize processes that can be partially or fully automated and benefit TxDOT. The research teams will develop, validate, and facilitate implementation of selected solutions with appropriate workflow integration and training of TxDOT’s personnel.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:52:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727316</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Efficacy, Advancement, and Monitoring of Carbon Fiber Composite Cable (CFCC)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724770</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Carbon Fiber Composite Cable (CFCC), and the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) materials are being used for prestressing
applications in Michigan bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects with the most recent generation of CFCC is a 0.7-inch strand
configuration. The quantity of stands is similar to conventional strands, and concomitant updated design criteria. Determining the
efficacy of the new 0.7-inch CFCC strand long-term behavior is essential for future design and construction considerations.
Monitoring the CFCC elements in newly constructed bridges (with 0.7-inch strands) and some prior construction (from OR14-039)
will provide an understanding of the long-term behavior and realizations of recommendations on future designs, and continued
considerations of field deployment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:05:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724770</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Digital process methods and implementations for field</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724769</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Static information created by siloed production methods can lead to duplication of effort and lack of connectivity between
phases as information is passed between survey, design, construction, and asset management. In addition, not utilizing
effective change management strategies to update processes and train staff can slow progress in adoption of new digital
processes and approaches. This research will build on previously completed research to investigate and provide actionable
methods and change management strategies for utilizing digital processes and technology for construction field applications.
This research will identify and present strategies for streamlining processes for construction including but not limited to,
equipment procurement, staff training, integration of tools, and digital inspection methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:55:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724769</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Identifying Precipitation Variability in Georgia 
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719329</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of this research project are to provide scientific evidence to support Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in choosing the correct scenario for each of the regions to reduce the risk of constructing drainage structures and a case study that explores how future rainfall conditions might impact construction costs if increases in precipitation are identified.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:52:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719329</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Automated QA/QC and Guidance for Inspecting Robotically-Welded Steel Structures
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process for inspecting welded steel structures using infrared thermography (IRT), automate the front-end (i.e., data collection) and back-end (i.e., data analysis and decision-making) of the QA/QC process, and create publicly accessible resources and guidance on implementing IRT-based assessment.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:25:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</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>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>Develop a Risk-Based Framework for Selecting Hydrologic, Hydraulic, and Scour Criteria for Temporary Hydraulic Structures and Encroachments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712198</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Temporary hydraulic structures, such as bridges, culverts, and temporary access fills, are widely used during construction and emergency response to maintain transportation access and restore mobility following infrastructure damage. Unlike permanent structures, these installations are often designed for shorter service lives and may not meet the same hydrologic and hydraulic criteria. However, current design practices vary significantly across state departments of transportation, with no consistent national guidance for determining appropriate risk levels or design storm frequencies.

 Recent studies indicate that many agencies rely on case-by-case assessments, qualitative risk evaluations, or inconsistent application of evaluation criteria for temporary structures. Additionally, there is limited use of quantitative risk models and little integration of factors such as traffic impacts, environmental considerations, and failure consequences. The lack of standardized guidance can result in designs potentially contributing to increased conservatism and lifecycle costs, or to reduced system resilience and increased risk in some scenarios. Research is needed to identify and incorporate factors such as costs, structure lifespan, traffic, scour conditions, environmental impacts, failure risks, and regional variability to help determine how to select hydrologic, hydraulic, and scour criterion for temporary structures and to measure performance.

The objectives of this research are to develop (1) a practitioner’s guide and a data-driven risk-based decision-making framework for selecting hydrologic, hydraulic, and scour design criteria for temporary hydraulic structures and encroachments; and (2) a standalone memorandum with language suitable for AASHTO’s consideration in evaluating potential updates to the AASHTO Drainage Manual.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:42:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712198</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Surveying Workforce Needs to Support Highway Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712197</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. surveying and geomatics profession is a multidisciplinary field requiring extensive knowledge of math, science, and geography. Civil engineering curricula may provide only limited exposure to surveying and geographic information systems (GIS), which may contribute to the growing shortage of the technical talent needed for delivering accurate and timely survey data. This challenge is further compounded across all education levels with limited enrollment in existing geomatics programs and limited availability of geomatics and geospatial technology courses, even as the use of geospatial information through digital devices continues to increase.

In addition to the intellectual and technical considerations associated with effectively utilizing geospatial data, several factors can influence its broader adoption and application. One key consideration is the learning investment needed to fully leverage geospatial datasets while adapting to this evolving field to maintain proficiency. Furthermore, recent studies have highlighted growing workforce demand in geomatics engineering and related disciplines nationwide. Therefore, research is needed to identify and assess the current surveying workforce status and needs for supporting highway construction.

The objective of this research is to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) to: (1)       Identify the educational and knowledge gaps contributing to workforce shortages, (2)      Develop data-driven fundamentals for workforce planning, program development, and recruitment investments, and (3) Develop strategies to prepare for emerging technologies and future needs in highway construction and digital project delivery.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:38:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712197</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>Development of Right-of-Way Engineering and Design Fundamentals</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712192</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Historically, transportation projects have been developed by professionally disconnected groups, including design teams, operations teams, environmental teams, and right-of-way (ROW) or real estate teams overseeing land acquisition. Likewise, these groups have relied on specific national-level resource publications that provide guidance to the focus of each professional section. While these industry-standard publications provide foundational guidance on their respective fields, they consistently lack substantive approaches to ROW engineering and design (ED), which is critical to successful project delivery.

ROW-ED inherently bridges disciplines, making isolated team structures ineffective for the cross-functional collaboration it demands. State departments of transportation (DOTs) that utilize ROW-ED teams are aware of the overall benefits of an integrated approach in delivering cost-effective and context-sensitive approaches to project delivery. Several 
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) projects are underway that identify ROW-ED processes in developing proper guidance for foundational ROW-ED tasks. While the proposed research will build on outcomes from earlier studies, additional investigation is needed to formulate ROW design methodologies.

The objective of this research is to develop essential practices and policies for ROW-ED, including an ROW design matrix for use by state DOTs in determining appropriate ROW needs during project scoping and development.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:06:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712192</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing Workflows for Digital Project Delivery to Support Transportation Asset Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712189</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Digital project delivery (DPD) is emerging to address challenges in the traditional delivery of transportation infrastructure projects, such as low productivity, workforce shortages, and the complexity of managing multiple stakeholders, vendors, and site-specific conditions. Utilizing DPD can enhance project outcomes related to schedule, cost, quality, and safety. A major component of DPD is the creation of digital design models during pre-construction, along with the collection of digital project data during construction to inspect and verify work against those models. While recent research has explored methods for creating digital as-builts (DABs) through field data collection, there is still a need for standardized workflows to transfer this information from construction into long-term operations and maintenance.

Data collected through DPD has significant value beyond project delivery and can be reused to support Transportation Asset Management (TAM) and life-cycle decision-making for transportation assets. State departments of transportation (DOTs) are already adopting DPD to improve project performance while also working to maintain and improve asset conditions with limited resources. As digital technologies continue to evolve, the need for practical strategies that connect project delivery data with long-term asset management is becoming increasingly important. Research is needed to (1) identify current practices and assess emerging strategies for integrating DPD data with TAM business needs, and (2) develop implementable strategies to streamline comprehensive workflows to improve user/owner outcomes.

The objectives of this research are to: (1) Identify approaches developed by state DOTs to implement DPD, (2) Identify challenges experienced by state DOTs in transitioning to DPD, (3) Identify approaches to generating DABs as part of DPD efforts to support TAM and the maintenance of data throughout the asset life cycle, and (4) Develop guidelines for bridging the gap between project delivery and asset management phases to better integrate available data and close the data loop.


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:57:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712189</guid>
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