<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>IDOT, FHWA, USFWS, USACE Aquatic Species Bridge Replacement Programmatic Agreement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2611029</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is required to comply with environmental laws and regulations when threatened and endangered species are present at a construction site. IDOT currently coordinates with federal and state regulatory resource agencies on a project-by-project basis. Researchers will develop a proposed programmatic agreement that IDOT may use to standardize and expedite the coordination process when threatened and endangered species are present at bridge construction sites. In addition, they will use the proposed agreement as an outline to develop additional programmatic agreements for IDOT. Successfully implementing a programmatic agreement for bridge construction and rehabilitation projects will allow IDOT to address required environmental concerns in a timelier manner, reducing the time between developing a construction project and starting construction.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:15:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2611029</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Capabilities, Opportunities, and Research Needs in UAS Technology for High-Precision Bridge Inspection</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2600574</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Technologies to perform bridge inspections are rapidly advancing, highlighting the need for transportation agencies to explore their potential use for bridge inspection work. This project will examine how unmanned aircraft systems can improve the safety, efficiency and quality of various types of bridge inspections. Researchers will identify barriers to implementation as well as develop recommendations for effective use in Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) bridge inspections. Effectively using new bridge inspection technologies will allow IDOT to make better decisions in contracting inspection work and buying inspection equipment, allowing the agency to inspect, repair and load rate bridges more accurately and with less interference to traffic.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:43:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2600574</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Concrete Strength Sensing Using REBEL Sensors</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2595171</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Accurately determining the strength of in-place concrete helps to ensure its quality, avoid premature failure and keep construction projects on track. This project will evaluate the use of REBEL (resonance-based embedded layer) sensors, which nondestructively assess real-time strength of concrete, for use in Illinois Department of Transportation projects. Researchers will evaluate the accuracy, reliability and practicality of REBEL sensors compared to IDOT’s currently specified test methods. The results of this project will help IDOT decide if it can incorporate acoustic resonance methods, like REBEL sensors, into its specifications as well as determine the validity of REBEL sensors for use in IDOT projects. Allowing this method into IDOT’s specifications can potentially enhance overall quality control/assurance as well as provide accurate and real-time strength data that will help determine if a roadway can open early to the public.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:41:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2595171</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IL-Pave: Development of an Integrated Tool to Optimize Pavement Energy and Cost</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2589089</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Illinois ranks third in total lane miles as well as freight activity, according to the Federal Highway Administration, making it critical to build and maintain its roadways effectively and sustainably. One solution is to account for energy use and expenses throughout the entire life cycle of pavement, from selecting materials to end of life, using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis, respectively. Researchers will develop a tool for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) that will allow users to see energy and economic impacts for pavement projects in Illinois and to compare different pavement options side by side. Successful implementation of the tool will allow IDOT to choose pavement designs and maintenance options that balance performance with costs and energy impact.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:48:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2589089</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update of Traffic Factor Equations for IDOT Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2486928</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation agencies must adapt pavement design procedures to meet changes in traffic and advances in new technologies such as electric vehicles and trucks, which are expected to accelerate pavement damage due to increased weight from batteries. Researchers will update the equations used by IDOT pavement designers to convert mixed-traffic axle loadings into traffic factors for asphalt and concrete pavements while accounting for current traffic conditions and axle configurations. Traffic factor represents the total number of 18-kip equivalent single-axle loads, expressed in millions, that a given pavement may be expected to carry. They will also incorporate the impact of e-trucks and platoons — a group or convoy of closely spaced vehicles — on pavement design. Updating the traffic factor equations to meet current and future demands will allow the agency to properly design pavements to carry the anticipated loadings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:32:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2486928</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Estimation of the Load Rating of Existing Highway Bridges Based on Bridge Weigh-in-Motion Data</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417475</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To ensure safety and uninterrupted functionality, bridges are evaluated for live load capacity, including their reserve capacity for future live loads, which informs important maintenance decisions by state agencies. Previous studies have shown that conventional analytical load ratings without bridge-specific information can often result in overly conservative load capacity ratings, resulting in unnecessary load limitation and posting and remedial actions. As such, objective and data-driven knowledge of actual site-specific loads can result in more accurate load ratings and sizeable cost savings. Bridge Weigh-in-Motion (B-WIM) technology is a low-cost, practical solution to transform a bridge into a scale to characterize traffic loads. B-WIMs can use monitoring data collected from nondestructively instrumented bridges to obtain vehicle loading, speed, and type, as well as axle weights and spacings. This project aims to develop methods and processes for establishing a B-WIM program for the Illinois Department of Transportation and utilizing the data from B-WIM for load capacity ratings. Researchers will aim to come up with a system design that can deliver an accuracy within a tolerance range of ±5% with a confidence level of 95% across the majority of outcomes. The project will provide Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) with a comprehensive review of the best practices, a methodology to design and deploy B-WIM systems for Illinois bridges, and a load rating procedure that leverages B-WIM survey data for objective data-driven load rating of IDOT bridges.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:19:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417475</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Field Assessment of Traffic Control Devices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417470</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The aim of this project is to develop a contractor certification program that ensures traffic control devices are field ready each construction season. Researchers will develop an inspection framework for roadway contractors as well as develop field-inspection methods and equipment for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) personnel. Establishing a contractor certification program will improve traffic control devices’ retroreflectivity, appearance, legibility and structural integrity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:14:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417470</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>WI/IL Peer Exchange 2024</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348140</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This pooled fund is to facilitate Illinois and Wisconsin coordinating a joint peer exchange, including, but not limited to, hiring consultants to help facilitate and/or arrange the peer exchange. The objective of the peer exchange program is to give State Department of Transportation (State DOT) Research Programs a means to strategically improve the quality and effectiveness of their research program.  Illinois and Wisconsin will focus on inviting participants from RAC Region 3.  Topics discussed at this peer exchange will mutually benefit both State DOT’s research programs.  Some anticipated outcomes and benefits of the peer exchange include the following: (1) State DOT participants sharing information with each other regarding methods and policies for tracking the implementation status of research projects; (2)  comparing WisDOT’s methods and policies with other state DOTs on the research project development process and determining best practices for building a ‘shelf’ of research projects; (3) gathering best practices for knowledge management and knowledge transfer from other State DOTs; and (4) information sharing and determining best practices for research project management software/systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:33:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348140</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of a Pavement Friction Management Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2229010</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Friction between pavement and vehicles is a key part to highway safety, allowing drivers to change directions safely as well as reducing skidding or hydroplaning. The aim of this project is to help Illinois Department of Transportation develop a statewide pavement friction management program. Researchers will help the agency develop a tool to track areas where friction treatments are needed as well as identify effective treatments. Better addressing and tracking roadway friction will help IDOT effectively identify areas of concern, determine the best treatment and execute long-term plans to maintain and replace friction treatments statewide, contributing to safe travel for road users.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:42:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2229010</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing a Framework for Establishing a Risk-Based Geotechnical Asset Management Program in Illinois</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2229009</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Geotechnical assets serve as a foundation for various components of the transportation system such as pavements and bridges. This project will establish a framework for a risk-based geotechnical asset management program to be implemented by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Researchers will establish procedures for data collection, perform condition assessments as well as create a database platform and data management process for geotechnical assets. Actively managing geotechnical assets will reduce the risk of failures and their resulting impact on the performance of the transportation system, helping to avoid disruptions in service as well as costly and time-consuming repairs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:37:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2229009</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>