Highway Research and Technology -- International Information Sharing

Highway authorities world-wide share many common concerns in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of highway systems. Most developed nations also support programs of research and development (R&D) on highway issues. The potential for information sharing and technology transfer is great. Coordination of research in the United States has focused primarily on technology transfer and information dissemination among the large and diverse community of state and local highway agencies within this country. There is a need to utilize a systematic exchange mechanism to learn from counterparts abroad, where many new developments have been tested and successfully used for highways. OBJECTIVE: The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 20-36 Project provides a coordinated approach to international information sharing and technology exchange. The project activities have a much broader scope than the typical NCHRP project in encompassing exchanges on all facets of highway technology, policy and management with our international partners. The project’s overall objective is to improve highway safety, development, maintenance and operations through dissemination of innovative technology and successful practices from around the globe. Such process enhances the roles of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in providing coordinated leadership for the exchange of international highway research and development, and provides state departments of transportation with information on practices and technologies that could help accrue technical and economic benefits. TASKS: The project objective is achieved through AASHTO delegates’ participation on international technology scans which bring back innovations that can serve U.S. transportation needs. The project also supports state participation on technical committees of the World Road Association (PIARC), and on committees of the Joint OECD/ECMT Transportation Research Program, and enables state department of transportation (DOT) officials to be represented at major international conferences such as the ITS World Road Congress. The project also sponsors visits of foreign transportation experts and professionals to learn about practices and technologies of potential benefit to state highway agencies. The benefits derived from these efforts result in cost-savings, improved safety and facilitation of transportation development and operations in the United States.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=579

Language

• English

Project

• Contract Numbers:

  20-36

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

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

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Irvin, Deborah

• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Start Date: 19930126
• Expected Completion Date: 20280914
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperation; Highway design; Highway maintenance; Highway planning; Highway safety; Information dissemination; Research; Technological innovations; Technology transfer
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01970477
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-36
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 5 2025 4:52PM