AASHTO Research Advisory Committee (RAC)/TRB Conduct of Research (COR)

AASHTO Research Advisory Committee (RAC)/TRB Conduct of Research (COR)

Coordination & Collaboration Committee

Meeting Notes

July 22, 2009

Attendees: Nancy Chinlund (CalTrans; Co-Chair), Chris Abadie (LDOTD), Clint Adler (Alaska DOT), Jason Bittner (MRUTC), Pat Casey (CTC & Associates), Darryl Dockstader (FDOT), Gary Frederick (NYSDOT), Barbara Harder (B.T. Harder, Inc.), David Jared (Georgia DOT), Chris Jolly (FHWA Vermont), Mark Norman (TRB), Leni Oman (WSDOT), Ned Parrish (Idaho DOT), Barbara Post (TRB), Calvin Roberts (Michigan DOT), Glenn Roberts (NHDOT), Linda Taylor (MnDOT), Amanda Wilson (NTL), Bill Zaccagnino (FHWA)

INTRODUCTIONS/HOUSEKEEPING

·  Distribution of handouts. (1) Task Forces tasks; (2) List of accomplishments; (3) List of current activities; (4) May minutes.

·  Approval of May minutes. Minutes approved.

COMPLETED AND ONGOING ACTIVITIES

RiP Data Entry, Training, & Marketing

·  Correction to Task Force Update—training for RiP in collaboration with FHWA rather than RITA (p. 2 Task Force tasks)

·  RiP training. 27 or 28 states contributed past year. Probably need to reactivate training and marketing activities.

·  Brigita got funding for RiP for Sweden. 2000 records to be added. ITRE may be expanding also.

·  Opportunity in national realm to expand? Yes; Fed RiP (from NTIS).

·  Entry of RiP records by UTC’s. If state enters research project, they own it, and UTC could not edit. UTC can contact TRB, but can’t edit. UTC’s want permission to edit project they’re working on with state funding. UTC’s can enter their own records (in New York, UTC’s enter most RiP records). Some states have contractor enter the records. It would be easier for UTC to edit, but edits could bottleneck if not reviewed. Partners need to talk beforehand about records. Should state DOT’s be polled about this? Issue doesn’t have to be resolved right away. Set up smaller team to address this off-line.

Funding Guidebook

·  How do we push information out to those who can use it?

·  TRB Climate Change Task Force is asking how to develop problem statements. TRB webinar on July 13 mentioned as reference for them. There is also an NCHRP study on Climate Change and Adaptation, and NRAC has liaison on that study’s committee, which could be a contact for the Task Force (?).

Unfunded Research Needs Portal

·  Held up with Google on deployment.

·  How do we create documents that we can track better, without depending on search engine like Google? SiteMap option—too technical to use.

·  TRB GIS committee. Created research needs site (Wiki); not live yet.

·  Custom Google site that searches for unfunded research needs. Can’t search pdf files, but can search text documents.

TR News Article

·  The article is being reviewed. Barbara Post asked that C&C follow up with her re: status.

Website

·  A fact sheet on the website was distributed and information concerning the MashTrans.org homepage.

·  Nancy explained the basic structure of the SharePoint website, which allows researchers and R&D managers to collaborate and share best practices re: research mgt. techniques.

·  Per Darryll, the Future Needs Task Force plans to use the website.

·  The International Scan Team also plans to use post information on the site.

·  A consultant is currently developing the website, in collaboration with Frank Law, a CalTrans staff member. Subpages can be requested.

·  RITA advised that they are willing to migrate our site to their site. C&C will be able to manage our portion of site and tell them who has authority to edit.

·  Web 2.0 tools – Issue of ability to access at work. Kansas DOT uses Facebook.

SCOR STRATEGIC PLAN

·  C&C is responding to four goals within the plan. C&C membership should review the Plan and determine if any other goals should be addressed.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

Outreach/Marketing

·  The Communications Team has agreed to assist in developing a marketing tool. Please advise Nancy/Sue if you want to work on this.

UTC Focus, Expertise, Facilities

·  10 national centers (21 universities represented) developed document that showed their resources;

·  Can we take it larger? Say to all UTC’s across various tiers. Effort depends on what product is. Can link it from Jason’s UTC website. http://www.cfire.wistrans.org

·  Oct. 20—freight research at UTC’s integrating efforts (Long Beach) [right before national urban freight conference]. Nov. 12-13. TRB spotlight conference on infrastructure

·  Encourage UTC’s to use webinars to share findings more broadly, esp. national centers

International Collaboration

·  Scan team will work with joint committee to post information on the SharePoint site.

·  EU has website for multi-country research collaboration: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/. Not only deals with announcements, but has technical expertise forum. Might be able to use as model. May be able to link into also.

Roadmaps

·  CalTrans developed for Climate issues. Used this as basis for identifying collaborative opportunities with representatives of the Netherlands.

·  This committee might pursue use of research roadmaps as another type of collaborative tool.

Library connectivity

·  Sharing duplicate research reports. Ways of doing this?

·  Develop more strategic approach for handling research reports, newsletters, etc?

·  Could be joint project with TKN and LIST.

TRB WORKSHOPS/SESSIONS

Web 2.0.

·  Introducing and how can be used for transportation applications.

·  Web Tools Subcommittee has volunteered to help.

International Collaboration.

·  Discussion threads between DOT’s doing this, in various forms.

·  GDOT to provide info on its formal agreements with Israel and China.

·  Minnesota and Michigan also have international agreements.

ACTION ITEMS

·  Nancy will send an email to all attendees to inquire about on-going participation.

·  Nancy will develop a list of action items, as the basis for discussion at the next meeting.

ADJOURN (5:40 p.m.)

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