Advancing Inspector Development Programs Using Digital Technologies and Effective Recruitment and Retention Strategies

Workforce shortage is a serious problem in the construction industry. Particularly, the significant lack of qualified inspectors is well known in the highway construction sector, and it poses a serious threat to delivering construction and maintenance projects with adequate monitoring and inspection for acceptable quality of work. Most DOTs have an inspector development program with training modules. However, these modules are long outdated, and could greatly benefit from modernization using various digital technologies that can significantly enhance the learning experience of trainees. This project aims to collaborate with experienced Texas Deportment inspectors to review and modernize the existing inspector development modules. This modernization will improve training effectiveness and strengthen trainees’ inspection knowledge and skills. A set of updated modules will be developed and tested in real training sessions. In addition, effective strategies and methods to recruit and retain inspectors will be developed and delivered at the conclusion of this project. Enhancing inspector development programs and effective recruitment and retention strategies will result in higher-quality construction inspections, ultimately extending the lifespan of transportation infrastructure.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $504,433.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552344813

  69A3552348318

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Infrastructure Transformation

  Prairie View A&M University
  Prairie View, TX  United States  77446
• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Jeong, H

• Start Date: 20260201
• Expected Completion Date: 20280131
• Actual Completion Date: 20280131
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Source Data: 03-47-TTI

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Recruiting; Training; Workforce development
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 02001906
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Infrastructure Transformation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552344813, 69A3552348318
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 10 2026 8:30AM