Identifying Curriculum Needs for Workforce Development in Transportation Asset Management

Transportation asset management (TAM) professionals are facing increased professional demands due to the challenge of managing deteriorating transportation infrastructure with budget limitations and new regulations such as those contained in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). These professionals are also expected to possess technical knowledge and personal and communications skills to lead their agencies' TAM efforts. These skills and knowledge areas include data collection, filtering, and analysis; visualization; multi-criteria decision-making; optimization; communication; change management; and leadership. Non-academic organizations have created educational and professional development opportunities in asset management to address this demand, but these offerings are often not targeted to applications in transportation and can be viewed as expensive, time-consuming alternatives that only offer partial solutions to specific gaps in knowledge. Research is needed to determine the competencies and skills expected from TAM professionals and to identify needs for the development of new curriculum and/or new accreditation programs for workforce development in TAM. By specifically identifying educational needs evidenced by the gap between required competencies and available offerings, this research will be the first step in improving TAM professionals’ capabilities and, subsequently, state department of transportation (DOT) and other transportation agency TAM performance. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to develop (1) a gap analysis of TAM education and implementation practices within state DOTs and other transportation agencies; and (2) a research roadmap identifying opportunities for curriculum development and other professional development avenues for the current and future TAM workforce.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5700
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $250,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 23-42

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Brooks, Michael

• Start Date: 20250310
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Curricula; Education and training; Personnel development; Selection and appointment
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Education and Training; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919273
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 23-42
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 21 2024 5:27PM