<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=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzkzIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSI3MzAiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnMgLz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" 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>TRB Core Program Services for a Highway RD&amp;T Program – Federal Fiscal Year 2026/TRB (State DOTs) Fiscal Year 2027</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692353</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The transportation research community consists of numerous partnerships to aid in the conduct of research and the implementation of technologies and innovations.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the State Departments of Transportation (SDOTs), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are among these partners, who work closely in many facets of the national research program. The Transportation Research Board's (TRB’s) mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results. TRB fulfills this mission through the work of its standing technical committees and task forces addressing all modes and aspects of transportation; publication and dissemination of reports and peer-reviewed technical papers on research findings; administration of contract research programs; conduct of special studies on transportation policy issues; maintenance of Transport Research International Documentation (TRID); and hosting an annual meeting that attracts approximately 14,000 transportation professionals from throughout the United States and abroad. This pooled fund provides a mechanism for States to transfer funds to FHWA to add to the TRB Core Program Services cooperative agreement.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:24:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692353</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tribal &amp; Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety (TRAVELS) </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2687129</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Tribal & Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety (TRAVELS) is the passenger transportation component of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) Research Program, led by the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The project addresses persistent mobility challenges in rural and Tribal communities, where residents often face limited transportation options, long-distance travel needs, restricted access to healthcare and essential services, and fewer after-hours or on-demand services. These challenges are further complicated by roadway, infrastructure, weather, and economic constraints that can limit the feasibility of conventional and emerging mobility solutions.


This research examines how automated vehicle technologies, supportive infrastructure, communications systems, and service design strategies can be integrated to improve safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency in rural settings. The project includes demonstration and deployment activities in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Oklahoma, focusing on use cases such as healthcare access, economic transportation, and tourist & event shuttle services. Through testing, evaluation, and before-and-after analyses, the project seeks to identify practical pathways to accelerate automated mobility deployment in rural and tribal areas.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:46:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2687129</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) Phase 5</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683017</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) pooled fund began in 2006 to support collaboration, innovation, and development in freight planning, freight policy, and operations across the 10-state Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin). The Coalition’s operations are founded and guided by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Board of Directors of MAASTO and the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison.

The MAFC’s major emphasis areas support advances in multimodal freight planning practices, freight operations and technology, and freight policy, all in a collaborative framework. Importantly, the emphasis areas are determined by the participating state professionals. The work is completed in service to both the states and the region, as well as towards advancing national freight planning priorities throughout the MAASTO region. The projects and activities of the MAFC support critical linkages between freight movement and services, as well as economic and community development. The freight coordination of the MAASTO region can provide guidance and identify best practices at a national level relating to multistate coordination of freight activities and in support of goals within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

This solicitation is for the fifth iteration of the MAFC pooled fund. Previous iterations were TPF-5 (156), TPF-5 (293), TPF-5 (396), and TPF-5 (509).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:48:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683017</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>National Road Research Alliance (Phase-3)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2678150</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This solicitation is for the continuation of the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) for another 5 years and to continue to support Veda development to increase efficiency and effectiveness of both efforts. The NRRA exists to strategically implement cooperative pavement research. State agencies, industry, academia, consultants and associations work together to identify problems, complete research projects and implement results. The goal is to help agencies nationwide achieve consistent benefits from real world road research. It also seeks to provide members a forum to discuss issues and an outdoor, real-world laboratory (MnROAD) for evaluating cutting-edge pavement technologies.  The NRRA consists of five project teams: Flexible, Rigid, Geotechnical, Intelligent Construction Technologies, and Preventive Maintenance and is governed by an Executive Committee made up of two representatives from each government agency participating in the study.   Each team activities include prioritization of short and long-term research, development of long-term research test sections at MnROAD and providing input for technology transfer.  


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:10:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2678150</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Technical Specification and Publication Web Service </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673099</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Starting in 2021, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Research Section opted to provide access to an online standards portal for all of MoDOT. After some trial and error, the Research Section has changed vendors and limit-access to standards commonly used by MoDOT’s Bridge Division. Based on feedback from the Bridge Division, the Research Section should be able to tailor the service to meet their needs. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:23:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673099</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>FY 25/26 Florida Local Technical Assistance Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673041</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall goal and associated objectives of the Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center is to deliver a highway training curriculum and technical assistance that will provide local agencies with tools to build their capacity and means to innovatively address their roadway network challenges and be reflective of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s current core areas of Safety, Infrastructure Management, Workforce Development, and Organizational excellence.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:15:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673041</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Finding the Bed Shear Stress Using the Logarithmic Law at Channel Roughness Transitions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672767</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Flow through transition of bed roughness occurs in many situations in highway transportation including culverts, bridge abutments, and roadways in the floodplain, where the bed materials can change abruptly from one type to another. A sudden change in bed roughness also occurs frequently in the laboratory when soil erosion and scour is studied using a sediment recess in an open-channel flume. In all the above, the bed shear stress is a fundamental flow parameter that must be determined accurately.

A research project is proposed to investigate the use of logarithmic law (log law) for finding bed shear stress near a sudden change in bed roughness. Velocity field measurements will be obtained using a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. The measured data will be used to determine the distribution of bed shear stress by control volume analysis using the linear momentum equation to determine whether the log law can be applied to a developing boundary layer downstream of a bed roughness transition and develop procedures to reduce the measurement uncertainty of the method.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:58:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672767</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Concrete Materials Research Synthesis</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671998</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The outcomes and objectives of this synthesis will include the following: (1) Compile, review, and summarize selected concrete materials research sponsored by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). (2) Identify common themes, research findings, and implementation outcomes related to concrete durability, performance-based approaches, and mix design practices. (3) Evaluate how previous research aligns with current agency priorities and national best practices. (4) Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for future research that can advance the agency’s materials and construction quality initiatives.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:18:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671998</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Center for Efficient Mobility (CEM) Innovation Accelerator</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636170</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will establish an “Innovation Accelerator” for the Center for Efficient Mobility (CEM)  to act as an incubator for commercializing technologies related to healthy and efficient mobility. The CEM consortium led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has already laid the groundwork for this effort through the identification of stakeholders and partners and the establishment of an innovation ecosystem to accelerate the development, adoption, and commercialization of new transportation technologies, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation.  This project will formalize the innovation ecosystem within CEM, supported by commercialization support and stakeholder engagement. It will include commercialization support from technology commercialization and licensing offices at TTI and the A&M System, with support from facilities at our partner institutions, and input and advice from stakeholders. Through support, seed funding, commercialization grants, and the necessary legal and business support, CEM will champion students, faculty, and researchers in their efforts to commercialize any intellectual property developed as part of the grant. CEM will leverage the support of Texas A&M’s Innovation Office (https://innovation.tamus.edu/). CEM will also work with their counterparts at other consortium members such as Georgia Tech's CREATE-X and Quadrant-i initiatives (https://commercialization.gatech.edu/ ) and work with researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to spin off new companies based on CEM research.   The key aspects of this project include:  Stakeholder Engagement – CEM will formalize a stakeholder engagement and advisory function to identify needs and problems that can be solved through research and technology developed by CEM; Innovation Ecosystem – Students, researchers, and faculty will be supported as they advance research outcomes. The innovation ecosystem will connect them to experts, entrepreneurs, and business communities. Testing facilities and seed funding will also be made available as needed to support technology development.  Commercialization Support -  Commercialization experts from within the consortium  will provide education,  technical support, legal and business support   to researchers who develop technologies with potential for commercialization.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:56:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636170</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Designing Safer Streets</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2662686</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Designing Safer Streets is an implementation strategy in which the transportation network is planned, designed, built, operated, and maintained to enable safe mobility within the transportation system. The pooled fund will be established to conduct research on innovative strategies to design and implement a safe streets.  

OBJECTIVES: To assemble a consortium composed of State Departments of Transportation; County, regional, local, or tribal transportation agencies; additional interested entities or organizations; and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program offices to meet national needs in support of safer streets. Activities of the consortium include: Identify planning, roadway design, human factors, safety, and operational issues related to safe streets elements and projects; Select new and existing safe Streets elements and/or projects for evaluation; Initiate and monitor research projects; Disseminate results; and Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among members.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:30:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2662686</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Safety Perspectives, Approaches, and Needs for Testing, Deploying, and Operating Vehicles Equipped with Driving Automation Systems (Automated Vehicles) on Public Roadways</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2655699</link>
      <description><![CDATA[States and cities across the country would benefit from enhanced technical resources that evaluate different safety perspectives, approaches, and needs in the United States and around the world for testing, deploying, and operating vehicles equipped with driving automation systems (automated vehicles) on public roadways and to assist them in addressing issues in driver licensure, liability and traffic laws under their regulatory jurisdiction. These resources would help inform updates to jurisdiction-specific or agency-specific needs and approaches to automated vehicle safety in the United States. These resources could also help inform the development of a more coordinated multi-jurisdictional, multi-state, or national scale approach for testing, deploying, and operating automated vehicles more safely on public roadways in the United States. 
Below are questions that will be explored as part of this research project. (1) What does safety mean? (2) How does safety get measured? (3) How are safety hazards analyzed and risks assessed and mitigated? (4) What constitutes a positive safety culture for an organization? (5) How does safety get communicated to others? (6) What are effective ways for building public trust? (7) What roles do and should different stakeholders play to ensure acceptable safety? (8) How safe is safe enough for determining when, where, and how to conduct public road testing and/or deployments with or without a safety driver? (9)  Who takes responsibility for ensuring acceptable safety during public road testing and/or deployments? (10) How does liability (including tort and product liability) get addressed in public road testing, deployments and operations of automated vehicles?

The goals of this project are to: (1) Create a clear understanding of different safety perspectives, approaches, and needs for testing, deploying, and operating automated vehicles on public roadways from numerous examples in the United States and around the world. (2) Recognize best practices for the roadway automation industry and state and local transportation agencies in the United States to consider as a basis for a future government-industry coordinated multi-jurisdictional or national framework for safe testing, deployments, and operations of automated vehicles on public roadways.
               ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:03:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2655699</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Digital Twin Modeling of NOx Formation from Transient Vehicle Operations in Hilly Terrains</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652170</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Paseo del Norte region is recognized for its high ozone (O3) concentrations, which are largely attributed to photochemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds from transportation sources. This issue is particularly acute in the border city, where heavy traffic flows between the sister cities of El Paso, USA, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, significantly impact air quality. Additionally, the Paseo del Norte region is characterized by its hilly terrain, which can cause the transient operation of automobile engines with excessive NOx formation. The proposed project aims to quantify the contribution of transportation NOx from automobile transient operations in hilly terrains through collaborative research between mechanical and civil engineers. First, the NOx flow rate will be measured from on-road testing of diesel vehicles at varying traffic conditions near El Paso, Texas, while transferring the acquired data to the cloud in real time. Second, the collected data will be used to construct the digital twin model incorporating the engine simulation and NOx reaction kinetics. Lastly, the digital twin will be utilized to quantify the contribution of transient NOx at varying traffic scenarios. A thorough understanding of the NOx formation mechanism will enable policymakers to optimize transportation systems and mitigate excessive sources of NOx in urban areas. Additionally, the digital twin facilitates the evaluation of transportation NOx from neighboring regions, including Ciudad Juárez in Mexico, based on minimal traffic information. The interdisciplinary nature of the proposed study will foster future workforces in the transportation sector with unique capabilities. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:14:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652170</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bridging Data Gaps with Modeled Data from Generative AI: Advancing Health in Transportation Research</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652171</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation-related factors, such as air quality changes and exposure disparities, have significant impact on health outcome. Communities near high-traffic corridors experience elevated exposure levels, yet efforts to assess these impacts are hindered by the lack of high-resolution health and socio-demographic datasets. Traditional air quality models, such as dispersion and interpolation techniques, estimate pollutant distributions but struggle to capture localized exposure variations and real-world uncertainties due to their reliance on static assumptions. These limitations reduce the precision of transportation health impact assessments. 

This project addresses data gaps in air quality and health outcomes by integrating AI-generated data with  traditional modeling techniques. Bridging the data gap is essential to improving exposure assessments and provide a more comprehensive understanding of transportation-related health effects. The research develops and trains generative AI models for data augmentation, using harmonized datasets to create high-fidelity modeled data that reflects real-world patterns. Furthermore, we integrate the trained AI models with air quality simulation models to estimated transportation-related air quality scenarios and assess potential health impacts.
 
The project produces a validated generative AI model for data augmentation, generating high-resolution datasets that enhance geographic and demographic granularity in transportation health research. The application of scenario-based health impact simulations provides new insights into the relationships between air quality and health outcomes, improving the ability to evaluate transportation-related interventions. By combining AI-driven data synthesis with traditional modeling approaches, this research advances methodologies for transportation and environmental health assessments, providing more reliable data for exposure studies and policy evaluations. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:10:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652171</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Environmental Conditions on Stress Levels in Micromobility Users: An AI-Driven Multimodal Approach</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652172</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Micromobility solutions, such as e-scooters and bicycles, are increasingly utilized in urban transportation, providing flexible and sustainable mobility options. However, micromobility users face significant exposure to environmental stressors, including air pollutants emitted by motorized traffic. While prior studies have explored the physiological effects of transportation emissions, the psychological impacts, particularly stress, remain underexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing an AI-driven predictive model that evaluates the cumulative impact of transportation-related air pollutants on stress levels in micromobility users. By integrating wearable sensor data (e.g., electrodermal activity, heart rate variability, and skin temperature), air pollutant concentration data (e.g., PM2.5, NOx, and CO), and spatial context data (e.g., GPS and accelerometer readings), this research will leverage Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT) models to predict real-time stress levels and generate stress heatmaps. The results will inform policymakers, transportation planners, and public health officials, contributing to more sustainable and inclusive urban transportation systems. Additionally, the project will provide hands-on research opportunities for students, fostering workforce development in AI-driven transportation health studies. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:55:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652172</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Data Driven Evaluation of the Transportation Barriers to Water Access on the Navajo Nation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ This project seeks to address water access challenges on the Navajo Nation by analyzing the intersection of transportation challenges, potential transportation risks, and related burdens faced by Diné (Navajo) households through the lens of obtaining water for household use. By leveraging data from the Diné Household Water Survey (DHWS), the project combines geospatial, economic, and water access data to explore the transportation barriers associated with hauling water and purchasing bottled water. The project aims to assess the impact of these barriers on public health, particularly in relation to vehicular accidents, financial costs, and access to safe drinking water in an analysis and evaluation using geospatial analysis, collected data from surveyed households (N=1,800), and existing transportation reports outlining the vehicular- and road-risks on the Navajo Nation. By mapping water hauling routes and analyzing road conditions, the project will identify high-risk areas for accidents, provide insights into transportation infrastructure needs, and estimate the financial burden of water hauling on Diné households. Additionally, this research will help inform the Navajo Nation's water delivery programs and transportation planning efforts, supporting sustainable improvements to water access. In relation to preserving the environment, this project examines how water hauling practices contribute to fuel consumption and road deterioration. By addressing the infrastructure and safety concerns of water hauling, this project aims to optimize resource utilization while promoting improved water accessibility and transportation safety, ultimately improving public health and well-being within the Diné community.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652173</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>