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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <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>Clear Roads Winter Highway Operations Phase IV Pooled Fund</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784243</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Phase IV will maintain Clear Road’s long-term goal mission to advance winter highway operations nationally by undertaking practical, practice-ready research related to materials, equipment, and methods. This supports state DOTs’ pursuit of new technologies, practices, tools, and programs that improve winter highway operations and safety while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Emerging priority areas of interest in FFYs 2027-2031 are likely to include advanced imagery, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, improved decision-making tools, operations coordination among states, updates to content and format of Clear Roads training materials, as well as others that cannot yet be anticipated over the next half decade.

In phase IV, Clear Roads will: (1) Address both operational and management research needs, investigating the most effective tools and practices for clearing snow and ice and for managing program resources, budgets, and performance measures. (2) Continue to promote an even stronger emphasis on the use of research results in the field. (3)         Provide expanded support for implementation and technology transfer through the development of user manuals, training modules, peer exchanges, and quick turnaround syntheses of the most effective state practices from around the country. (4) Give additional attention to new member states from the southeastern and southwestern portions of the country and their unique needs and challenges. (5) Address emerging winter challenges in traditional winter-weather states, such as operational effectiveness in extreme cold conditions and changes in salt supply, availability and cost. (6) Continue to collaborate with other organizations focused on winter maintenance (such as the Aurora Pooled Fund, AASHTO, FHWA, TRB, APWA, and NPRA) to further leverage the research funding investment.

In achieving these objectives, state and local winter maintenance organizations will be able to make informed operational and purchasing decisions based on objective evaluations of promising materials and equipment.

By pooling resources, agencies can conduct more extensive studies across a greater range of conditions than could be done by a single agency with only its own funds. Moreover, by collaborating, sharing information, and conducting impromptu surveys, agencies benefit from each other's experiences and avoid the duplication of research efforts. The outcomes of these projects will help agencies get the maximum financial benefit out of their investments in materials, equipment, and technologies. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:59:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784243</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NCDOT Research Reels</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2781152</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ 
Telling the story of how the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT’s) research projects have been 
implemented, and how they can be further implemented across the state and by other peer states, is imperative. In 
early 2024, the UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) began working with NCDOT’s Research and 
Development Office to produce videos showcasing transportation research funded by NCDOT and conducted at 
North Carolina universities. The aim of this video project was to showcase how NCDOT research products can be 
used and implemented by communities across the state. The videos are also intended to highlight the benefits of 
transportation research and how it makes North Carolina’s transportation system safer and more efficient. During 
the course of the project, HSRC produced five videos, and completed partial work on two more, covering a range of 
North Carolina transportation research areas.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:33:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2781152</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Applied Generative AI Pilot: Establishing the Rapid Applied Research Environment (RARE) for Construction &amp; Materials
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780490</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will establish the Rapid Applied Research Environment (RARE), an internal generative AI capability designed to help the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) address complex transportation challenges through applied artificial intelligence (AI) research. The project will use the Expert AI Co Research framework to develop and evaluate AI solutions for Construction and Materials challenges, including specification modernization, data extraction, technical research, and historical data recovery. The results will be used to measure efficiency improvements, evaluate the feasibility of AI tools, and develop a repeatable framework for using AI in future ITD research and operations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:09:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780490</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Completion of Hydrologic Design and Platform Data (TR-792 Phase II)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775961</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Flooding is Iowa's most persistent and costly natural hazard, responsible for approximately 80 percent of all federally declared disasters in the state since 1989. The Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) Project TR-792 demonstrated that On-Road Structures (ORS) are a practical tool for reducing peak flows and protecting downstream communities and infrastructure. TR-792 identified approximately 250,000 potential ORS sites statewide, developed an automated hydrologic design methodology, and deployed results through the Iowa DOT On-Road Structures (IDOT-ORS) web platform. Watershed-scale modeling in six representative HUC12 watersheds showed that strategically deployed ORS systems can reduce 50-year storm peak flows by approximately 18 percent at watershed outlets.

This Phase II proposal will build upon and expand the work completed by TR-792 by working on three interlinked objectives. Objective 1 extends the automated planning design methodology to all feasible ORS sites across Iowa, including scenario analyses that evaluate the effect of alternative roadway elevation assumptions (e.g., raising the road by one or three feet). Objective 2 develops a surrogate machine-learning model, trained on process-based hydrologic simulations, to enable rapid, large-scale estimation of watershed-scale flood reduction benefits. Objective 3 modernizes the IDOT-ORS platform, integrates all new datasets and scenario modeling capabilities, and deploys a targeted communication strategy, including educational videos, training materials, and digital brochures to translate technical outputs into actionable guidance for county engineers, watershed managers, and emergency management professionals. Similar to the approach followed for TR-792, the proposed research will be performed by a team of researchers from Iowa State University and The University of Iowa.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:49:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775961</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Ongoing Evaluation of Full-Scale Unpaved Roads Research Test Sites</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775959</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of the proposed project is to evaluate past Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) unpaved granular-surfaced (gravel) road test sites to identify ones that could provide useful long-term performance data from additional field tests, and to develop a list of proposed sites, test methods, and analysis methods for a Phase II experimental project. Deliverables include a Data Collection Template, a Site Condition Summary, and a final report that serves as a scope recommendation and roadmap for a Phase II project.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:19:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775959</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Infrastructure Asset Management Academy (IAMA) for Engineers and Planners</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692314</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Spanning millions of miles, the United States is home to a vast public roadway network that is relied on every day to connect a growing population with jobs, communities, essential services, and goods. Over time this critical transportation network has aged, and now a significant portion of U.S. roads are in poor or mediocre condition. Previous federal legislation has recognized the need for investment in American roads and bridges, including mandating that state agencies develop and implement Transportation Asset Management Plans. During the last decade, significant progress has been made. However, the complexity and scale of managing modern transportation networks require specialized knowledge that expands into disciplines beyond traditional engineering. Today’s asset owners must also manage and analyze large amounts of data, consider lifecycle and economic costs, develop risk management programs, and strategically deploy maintenance activities and capital investments to ensure long-term performance. The goal of this project is to train today’s asset managers in these key areas and provide them with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions that can extend the service life, improve durability, and minimize the risk to their assets. CAIT’s Infrastructure Asset Management Academy is a 4-course program that brings expert speakers together to enable state DOTs and their staff to utilize emerging asset management technologies; better collect, manage, and integrate large amounts of data; break down organizational silos; and ultimately implement a risk-based, data-driven asset management program that can extend the service life of their infrastructure.   ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:40:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2692314</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>An Integrated AI-Powered Approach for Road Infrastructure Health
Monitoring Using UAV and ERI Technologies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696933</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The stability of transportation infrastructure, particularly slopes adjacent to roadways, is critical for ensuring safety and longevity. However, traditional monitoring methods (e.g., inclinometers, extensometers, piezometers, sensors, etc.) often fail to provide comprehensive subsurface insights for early slope failure detection. While significant advancements have been achieved by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based imaging techniques, such as red, green, blue and light detection and ranging, for surface monitoring, several challenges and research gaps remain, such as deeper subsurface data acquisition and automation in surface and subsurface data fusion. This research proposes a data fusion framework integrating UAV-based sensing of slope surface and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI)-based sub-surface characterization to enhance slope stability assessments. Integrating advanced data fusion methodologies using Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), this research aims to develop an infrastructure health monitoring (IHM) framework. This research directly contributes to transportation infrastructure's durability and extended service life by providing a holistic view, advancing early‐warning capabilities, and optimizing maintenance strategies. The integrated monitoring system developed from this study will enable preventative interventions and deliver the precise information required for maintenance. In addition, advanced data fusion using ML and AI enhances infrastructure management technology. By integrating UAV and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) technologies, this study addresses the limitations of conventional IHM and offers a novel, scalable solution for transportation agencies. The developed framework will serve as a model for data-driven, technology-enhanced geohazard assessments, ensuring safer and sustainable transportation networks.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:32:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696933</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advancing Inspector Development Programs Using Digital Technologies and
Effective Recruitment and Retention Strategies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696934</link>
      <description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:30:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696934</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Increasing the Lifespan and Resiliency of Bridge Deck Concrete Containing
SCM Through Durability-Based Performance Evaluation and Structural-Level</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696935</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The long-term durability of concrete bridge decks is critical to ensure safe and cost-effective transportation infrastructure. While Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) are widely used to enhance the durability performance of bridge deck concrete, their long-term deterioration under both live-load and environmental (exposure conditions)-load remains inadequately understood. The research will evaluate in-service SCM bridge decks using Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods to track deterioration trends and correlate them with traffic loading and environmental exposure. Concurrently, representative SCM bridge decks will be constructed at the BEAST facility, where accelerated testing will simulate 15 to 30 years of traffic-induced damage through rolling loads, freeze-thaw cycles, and salt brine exposure, and deterioration progression will be monitored through the NDT assessments along with establishing a correlation between average daily traffic and bridge deck deterioration. The laboratory-based durability evaluation, followed by refinement of the TTI Tool, will be conducted at TTI for rapid and reliable durability-based performance evaluation (e.g., optimum SCM dosage for alkali-silica reaction mitigation; autogenous and drying shrinkage strains, shrinkage-based cracking potential; time to rebar corrosion initiation and probability of failure; and freeze-thaw service life based on estimation of time to critical saturation) of the selected SCM deck mixtures. A new and innovative combined approach (i.e., the TTI-Tool-based material level durability evaluation combined with performance prediction due to live-load + environmental load) will be developed for predicting the deterioration curve over time under field conditions for SCM field bridge decks. This will improve the durability and extend service life for new deck construction and improve repair strategies based on the remaining life prediction for the existing concrete bridge decks.
Developing this kind of combined approach aligns with NCIT’s focus on improving infrastructure durability by enhancing data-driven decision-making for bridge deck design, maintenance, and rehabilitation, and contributes to asset management and fostering more resilient transportation infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:27:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696935</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analysis of National Travel Trends</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775055</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the past few decades, the transportation landscape has undergone a significant transformation, driven by technological innovations, demographic shifts, and evolving socio-cultural norms. The proliferation of information and communication technologies has revolutionized how and where individuals undertake daily activities, increasingly substituting physical travel with virtual alternatives and reshaping work through telework. Changes in technology have also altered mode characteristics and performance and introduced new options such as micromobility, ride-hailing, autonomous vehicles, and robotic delivery.

Concurrently, demographic changes have altered travel needs and preferences. The population is aging, years spent in educational systems are increasing, and labor force participation rates have been declining. Migration trends from urban centers to suburban and exurban areas, as well as between metro areas, raise critical questions about service levels and infrastructure needs. Increasing diversity in lifestyles, attitudes, and values has added complexity to travel choices and patterns of activity, mobility, and time use.

This multi-stage project aims to shed light on trends in time, travel, transit, telework, and transportation spending over the past two decades and beyond. The effort will expand and extend ongoing analysis that the project team has conducted over many years, seeking to identify emerging trends such as behavior stabilization following the COVID-19 pandemic and the pace of influence from emerging travel options. Understanding these trends is crucial for addressing current and future challenges in transportation management, economic resilience, and societal well-being.

The project will utilize data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), the American Community Survey (ACS), and the new National Household Travel Survey (NHTS 2025), supplemented by national metrics on e-commerce, telework participation, roadway vehicle miles traveled, transit ridership, and airline travel. An advanced data fusion approach will integrate these diverse datasets through compilation, cleansing, merging, and aggregation, applying rigorous statistical tools to ensure accuracy and reliability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:58:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2775055</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Conduct Economic Impact Assessment of Transit in Texas</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2767431</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will conduct a comprehensive economic impact and value analysis of transit agencies operating in state funded areas of Texas and key stakeholders deriving benefit from transit. This analysis will quantify how public transportation supports economic growth and contributes to employment, wages, and business activity across the state's diverse transit systems. To ensure full statewide representation, the assessment will include metro, urban, and rural transit agencies, allowing comparison of economic outcomes across different geographic and operational contexts. Equally important, the project will evaluate nontraditional, social, and environmental impacts of transit. These include access to healthcare, improved livability, environmental benefits, and other quality of life enhancements that reflect the broader value of transit to communities and key stakeholders including employers, educational institutions, veterans services, and healthcare providers. The work will build on the ongoing efforts at the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to expand performance measures that capture a more complete picture of transit benefits. The project will also incorporate benefits experienced directly by riders, such as value of time savings, cost savings, and other user level advantages that contribute to the overall value of transit services. Finally, the project will assess correlations between ridership levels and observed economic impacts to help clarify how transit usage translates into economic outcomes. Together, these objectives provide a holistic evaluation of transit's economic value to Texas.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:25:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2767431</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Micromobility Adoption, Ownership, and Use Patterns in the United States</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2767440</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Micromobility modes—including conventional bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters, shared micromobility services, and other emerging personal mobility devices—are becoming increasingly important components of the United States transportation system. These modes offer opportunities to support short-distance travel, improve first- and last-mile access to transit, reduce automobile dependence, and promote healthier and more sustainable travel behavior. Despite growing adoption, there remains limited national evidence regarding who owns and uses micromobility devices, how frequently they are used, the purposes they serve, and the extent to which they substitute for automobile, transit, ridehailing, walking, or other travel modes.

This project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of micromobility adoption, ownership, and use patterns in the U.S using data from Wave 2 of the Transportation Heartbeat of America (THA) Survey, a nationally representative travel behavior survey of more than 8,000 U.S. adults. The study will examine household ownership and familiarity with a broad range of micromobility devices; characterize utilitarian and recreational use across demographic, household, geographic, and work-arrangement segments; analyze trip characteristics such as distance, duration, timing, and purpose; and investigate mode substitution patterns, safety perceptions, and motivations for use.

The project will employ weighted descriptive analyses, cross-tabulations, and visualization techniques to identify meaningful differences in micromobility ownership and travel behavior across population groups. Findings will provide a comprehensive national characterization of how micromobility modes are integrated into everyday travel and the roles they play in expanding mobility options, supporting first- and last-mile connectivity, and reducing reliance on motorized transportation.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:49:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2767440</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>DriveOhio Research on Call (ROC) FY2027-2029</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761961</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is charged with the management and maintenance of Ohio's vast transportation system. ODOT strives to execute this charge in the most effective and efficient manner possible. At times, ODOT encounters situations where low-cost, short-term, focused research tasks are needed to address an urgent issue. While important and potentially impactful, these research tasks do not warrant the level of a full-scale research project. Due to the time-sensitive nature of these tasks, it is possible that some of these tasks go unmet because the standard contracting process requires more time than available.  To address this issue, ODOT developed the Research-On-Call (ROC) program. The ROC is designed to provide direct, quick access to researchers in specific areas of expertise to conduct short-term, focused, urgent research tasks. This ROC will focus on tasks from DriveOhio.                            ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:31:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761961</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Division of Planning Researcher on Call (ROC) FY2027-2029</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761625</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is charged with the management and maintenance of Ohio's vast transportation system.  ODOT strives to execute this charge in the most effective and efficient manner possible.  At times, ODOT encounters situations where low-cost, short-term, focused research tasks are needed to address an urgent issue.  While important and potentially impactful, these research tasks do not warrant the level of a full-scale research project.  Due to the time-sensitive nature of these tasks, it is possible that some of these tasks go unmet because the standard contracting process requires more time than available.  To address this issue, ODOT developed the Research-On-Call (ROC) program.  The ROC is designed to provide direct, quick access to researchers in specific areas of expertise to conduct short-term, focused, urgent research tasks.  This ROC will focus on tasks from the Division of Planning.                        ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:54:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761625</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Accelerated Pavement Testing Working Group</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761146</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this pooled fund is to provide a forum for the exchange of technical information on accelerated pavement testing (APT) facilities. The main objective is to focus discussions, studies and knowledge exchange on the entire operation process, including experimental design, sensor selection and installation, data collection and analysis, monitoring processes, and database documentation and data storage with best data management practices, and disseminate research results and the road map for 
APT research. This will be done through formalized online meetings, face-face operational meetings, and one online international conference once during this pooled fund. A consultant will be hired to help document the desired outcomes of this pooled fund. APT operators and agencies will also be held responsible for full participation to make this effort successful. Currently there is no “common” way for all facilities to coordinate with each other than individual partnerships between facilities. Members of this pooled fund could include test tracks like (MnROAD/MnDOT, NCAT/Auburn, Florida, Virginia Smart Road, …) and linear vehicle simulators (LVS) like (FHWA Turner Fairbanks, University California Davis, University of Illinois, CRREL, ERDC- Waterway Experiment, Purdue University, Texas, Florida, …) along with international partnerships from Sweden, Japan, China, France, Spain, …).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:01:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2761146</guid>
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