US Domestic Scan Program -- Business Plan

The exchange of information between state departments of transportation is mutually beneficial to their respective programs, but has occurred mainly through indirect meetings at conferences or ad hoc encounters of individuals. Though advantageous to the visiting agencies, the dissemination of information and exchange of technology is limited to those present. Furthermore, at conferences, the topics presented are predetermined by conference organizers; presentations often do not accommodate interactive discussions; and site visits are usually confined by constraints of regional locality, resources, or funding. A proven approach for information sharing and technology transfer is that which has been adopted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) at the international level, whereby informational exchanges are funded and professionally coordinated and documented. AASHTO has been active in technology transfers at the international level with its involvement in NCHRP Project 20-36, Highway Research and Technology -- International Information Sharing, the World Road Association (PIARC), and globally attended conferences such as TRB. Throughout the year, there are also visits from foreign highway and engineering departments. The benefits of these technology exchanges have been realized and documented. This potential also exists for scans at the domestic level. Furthermore, where language, standards, and contractual limitations are similar, information exchanges can occur to a more specific degree. This allows for faster assimilation of technology transfers. The objective of this project is to develop a business plan for a domestic scan program that will enable information sharing and technology exchanges among the state departments of transportation. The program should be modeled after NCHRP Project 20-36, making use of techniques and procedures that have evolved and been successful while modifying and adapting them specifically for application to the domestic scene. A domestic scan is assumed for the most part to take advantage of on-site visits to different locations. However, on-site visits may not be the only method applicable for information sharing and technology exchanges. Depending on subject matter and degree of practice, other methods such as gatherings of various types or teleconferences may be more appropriate and should not be overlooked in the business plan.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Completed
  • Funding: $50000.00
  • Contract Numbers:

    Project 20-68

  • 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
  • Performing Organizations:

    Cambridge Systematics, Incorporated

    150 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 4000
    Cambridge, MA  United States  02140-2369
  • Principal Investigators:

    Neumann, Lance

  • Start Date: 20040930
  • Expected Completion Date: 0
  • Actual Completion Date: 20050730
  • Source Data: RiP Project 11576

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01462994
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
  • Contract Numbers: Project 20-68
  • Files: RIP, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:14PM