Research Needs Statements

 

Read up on writing Research Needs Statements in this issue of the Conduct of Research Committee Newsletter.

 

Research Needs Statements  Early Integration of Technology Transfer into the Research Process

 

 Early Integration of Technology Transfer into the Research Process

 

 Objective:  Research is needed to assess the following:

 

•  Current practices for planning for transferability in research project conceptualization (scanning, benchmarking, etc.)

• Potential for innovation in building transferability into the process (systems approaches, stakeholder-driven processes, etc.)
• Integration of transferability into the selection and funding process

 

Related Work: 

Citations for key recent articles are listed below.  Extended bibliographic information (including abstracts) is provided as an attachment to this statement.  The list is not intended to be exhaustive rather to give evidence of the range of existing information and a starting point for additional literature review.

 

•  Lin, J. J., Feng, C. M., and Lee, Y. N. “Influence of Accessibility on Innovation: Empirical Study of Electronics Industry in Northern Taiwan” Transportation Research Record, No. 1994.  2007

• Nakanishi, Y., lrahman, O. A., and Horn, R. “Transportation Technology Transfer Training and Education Needs” Transportation Research Forum.  2007.

• Dunston, P.; Sinfield, J., and Lee, T. Y. “Technology Development Decision Economics for Real-Time Rolling Resistance Monitoring of Haul Roads” ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 2007.

• Altamirano, M. A., Herder, P. M., and De Jong, W. M. “Cross-National Benchmark of Innovative Contracts in Road Infrastructure: The Use of Games for Investigating Future Scenarios”  The Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARRC World Road Congress. 2007

• Pakkala, P. A., de Jong, W. M., and Aijo, J.  International Overview of Innovative Contracting Practices for Roads.  Finnish Road Admistration.  2007.

• Frazier, L.  “Integrated Technologies Connect Project Particpants”  CE NEWS, Vol. 19, No. 7.  2007

• CALTRANS. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in California: A Technical Reference and Technology Transfer Synthesis for Caltrans Planners and Engineers.  2006

• Sillick, S. and Abernathy, C. Research, Development, and Technology Transfer Guidelines for the Montana Department of Transportation.  2006.

Government Docs:

•  Volpe.  A Guide to Transportation Technology and Innovation.  2004

•  TRB. Managing Technology Transfer, SPECIAL REPORT 256,

• A Strategy for the Federal Highway Administration, Research and Technology Coordinating Committee. 1999.

NCHRP Projects:

•  7 Keys to Building a Robust Research Program (NCHRP Synthesis 280)

• Facilitating Partnerships in Transportation Research (NCHRP 312)

  Transportation Technology Transfer: Successes, Challenges, and Needs.  NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice No. 355

• Facilitating the Implementation of Research Findings: A Summary Report (NCHRP 382)

• Systems Approach to Evaluating Innovations for Integration into Highway Practice (NCHRP 442).

 

Urgency/Priority: Research not considered urgent but it is a very high priority  

 

Cost: $100k - $200k.  It is anticipated that the research could be be accomplished as an NCHRP project over a maximum of a two-year timeframe. 

 

Would require:

 

•  Assembly of an NCHRP panel

• Lit review
• Identification stakeholders (beyond NCHRP panel)
• Survey instrument to assess what is currently being done to facilitate integration in  transportation and similar fields that require large-scale public investment, are exposed to similar end-user liability issues, span various institutional levels, require public-private sector coordination... What stakeholders perceive as needs and issues related to topic... Results from first survey item could yield opportunities for research team to conduct site visits/in-depth interviews
• Development of a formal report including recommendations and a proposed outline of pilot program to be tested at an appropriate organization (most likely a willing State DOT).  The pilot program could be let out with NCHRP or similar funding to allow/encourage an organization that funds and consumes research results to test the pilot program and report back on success failures, etc.  This would require a separate budget and participants but it should be included into the scope and results of the research project proposed under this needs statement.
• Presentations at conferences and publication of results during and after project.

 

User Community: State DOTs, LTAP programs, universities,

Implementation:  General implementation will be facilitated by the development and presentation of results form the overall project.  If successful, the execution of a subsequent pilot program (as described above) would facilitate a more targeted implementation result.

Effectiveness: Project effectiveness measured by:

•  Level of participation of stakeholders

• Depth and quality of survey responses
• Extent of efforts to disseminate project results

Much of the success would hinge on the ability to realize the suggested pilot program.

 

Sponsoring Committee: ABG30, Technology Transfer

Source Info: Technology Transfer Committee Members

Date Posted: 03/06/2008

Date Modified: 03/06/2008

Index Terms: technology transfer, innovation, transferability, knowledge, research process, research funding

 

Title: Influence of Accessibility on Innovation: Empirical Study of Electronics Industry in Northern Taiwan

Authors: Lin, Jen-Jia information; Feng, Cheng-Min information; Lee, Yang-Ning

Journal Title   Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board information No. 1994

Abstract: Knowledge capital promotes innovation in production, management, and marketing; decreases costs; and increases benefits, quality, and sales growth. Increasing numbers of firms are establishing links with educational and research institutions (ERIs) to accumulate knowledge capital. Such links generate knowledge spillover: firms located near ERIs can enhance innovation through spatial knowledge externalities. Accessibility to ERIs, its effects on innovation in the electronics industry, and the role of transportation infrastructure in the development of knowledge-based economies were studied. The study samples analyzed by multiple regression models were located in northern Taiwan between 1996 and 2001. The empirical evidence supported the following conclusions: (a) improved accessibility to ERIs significantly enhanced innovation, (b) the effects of enhanced innovation were significant within a distance limitation of 20 to 30 km from ERIs, (c) accessibility to universities creates more effects than does accessibility to research institutions, and (d) the effects of ERIs on innovation in metropolitan areas were less significant than were those in nonmetropolitan areas. Empirical evidence showed that integrating the policies of industry, education, and transportation is essential for stimulating further innovation in the electronics industry.

 

Title: Transportation Technology Transfer Training and Education Needs

Authors: Nakanishi, Yuko J information; Elrahman, Ossama Abd; Horn, Richard

Conference Title: Transportation Research Forum, 48th Annual Forum: 2007

Abstract: This paper describes how technology transfer is defined as the activities leading to the adoption of a new-to-the-user product or procedure by any user or group of users. Technology transfer is a means of directly affecting the rate and nature of innovation and improvements to the transportation system. Whether there is a new device to apply or a more effective manner of performing a task, technology transfer is an essential part of that innovation. The expertise necessary to understand and apply all facets of technology transfer pull and push activities including technical, procurement, institutional, marketing, resource management, training and legal issues is immense. It is difficult for recent hires or professionals new to technology transfer to grasp the fundamentals and be “up and running” in a short period of time. While the need for trained technology transfer professionals has been expressed in   prior research on this topic in specific components of the industry, the authors conducted relevant research and undertook a survey to determine the nature and extent of the need and to gather information useful for the establishment of a Transportation Technology Transfer Certificate Program.

 

Title: Technology Development Decision Economics for Real-Time Rolling Resistance Monitoring of Haul Roads

Authors: Dunston, Phillip S information; Sinfield, Joseph V information; Lee, Tai-Yuan

Journal Title: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management information Vol. 133 No. 5

Abstract: Proponents of advanced technologies for the delivery of constructed facilities assert that information and automation technologies can significantly reduce construction costs. However, technology transfer has been greatly limited as practitioners are reluctant to adopt new technologies for myriad reasons including concerns over expertise requirements, value versus traditional approaches, implementation practicality, and risk. All of these concerns ultimately relate to cost versus benefit. While considerable automation research has been documented, thorough economic justifications in the literature have been rare in comparison. In this paper, the writers present and illustrate a model to assess the economics of construction equipment automation using a case illustration focused on the allowable cost of sensor technologies for real-time, in-field rolling resistance monitoring. Rolling resistance is vital in determining power train requirements, fuel consumption, and travel time associated with hauling operations. The absence of a true understanding of field changes in rolling resistance may result in a lack of insight regarding the interaction of jobsite characteristics and the performance potential of hauling operations.

 

Title: Cross-National Benchmark of Innovative Contracts in Road Infrastructure: The Use of Games for Investigating Future Scenarios

Authors: Altamirano, M A; Herder, P M; De Jong, W M

Conference Title: The Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARRC World Road Congress information

Abstract: Many countries are experimenting with innovative contractual arrangements for the procurement of construction, maintenance and operation of roads. This paper aims to present a cross national comparison of the Finnish and the Dutch Model of Procurement and their respective developmental paths: from the traditional setting where many of the works were still done in-house, to the present mix of innovative practices. From the field research in these two countries a role play/social simulation has been developed. The simulation is an abstraction of the plans to change the traditional prescriptive contracts used in Periodic Maintenance, to more long term and performance oriented contracts that cover a whole road network. A generic version of the game has been built and tested with two different groups. The goal is to play the simulation with civil servants and representatives from the different actors in both countries and discuss the results with national experts. This paper presents the results from the comparison as well as some preliminary results of the social simulation. The insights from these two research activities could be of significant influence as to how the management of road infrastructure assets is organized in the future.

 

 Title: Integrated Technologies: Connect Project Participants

Authors: Frazier, LaVonne

Journal Title: CE News information Vol. 19 No. 7

Abstract: Rapid innovation is occurring in three broad categories of survey engineering and construction technology: positioning technology, wireless communication and information management. This article describes how these categories overlap and discusses the importance of integrating these advances to capture synergies that can transform project work. Each of the participants in infrastructure development--owners, government agencies, surveyors, engineering and construction firms, and contractors--participates in a continuum of interrelated project processes and works with a large number of providers. Integrated technology can strengthen the connection between all of these diverse participants.

 

 Title: International Overview of Innovative Contracting Practices for Roads

Authors: Pakkala, Pekka A; de Jong, W Martin; Aijo, Juha

Abstract: The main purpose of this report is to present the results of a joint project between Holland and Finland, which involves innovative contracting practices and performance indicators. The results are based upon an international benchmarking type study and are derived from the road infrastructure. This report also presents the lessons learned and useful practices. The various aspects of contracting included in the report are capital investment projects, maintenance contracting, resurfacing contracts, design/civil engineering services, public-private partnerships, quality/public values and performance measures and indicators.

 

Title: Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in California: A Technical Reference and Technology Transfer Synthesis for Caltrans Planners and Engineers

Corp. Authors: Alta Planning and Design; California Department of Transportation

Abstract: he primary purpose of this document is to provide the staff of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with a synthesis of information on non-motorized transportation. It is intended that this ?technology transfer? will assist Caltrans in accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists on the state highway system throughout California, serving as a resource on policies, laws, programs, the Caltrans planning and design process, guidelines, and best practices. The field of non-motorized transportation consists of a complex and fast-evolving mix of policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards. This document provides an overview of the subject, along with references to more detailed materials on particular topics. Relevant federal and state statutes and policies are summarized, along with the Caltrans planning process, regional and local planning efforts, and the project development process including facility design. Potential funding sources are described along with amounts, criteria, and typical applications. The document concludes with concept sheets on pedestrian facilities, traffic calming, and bicycle facilities. These are followed by appendices on a variety of topics, including pedestrian and bicycle safety conditions in California.

 

Title: Research, Development, and Technology Transfer Guidelines for the Montana Department of Transportation

Authors: Sillick, Susan C information; Abernathy, Craig

Corp. Authors: Montana Department of Transportation information; Federal Highway

Abstract: The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) conducts research to discover, develop, or extend knowledge needed to operate, maintain and   improve the statewide multimodal transportation system. Specific goals include: evaluation and advancement of new technologies, materials and methods; development of design and analysis techniques; and study of current transportation challenges. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance for the development and management of effective MDT Research Programs. Through the identification of the various research related functions and operational procedures of the MDT, this manual will produce a model of a research management system. The programs, projects, and products generated by the Research Programs, using the management system, are provided for the ultimate benefit of MDT's customers.