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

Coordination and Collaboration (C&C) Task Force

Meeting Minutes

7/26/10

Attendees: Sue Sillick (Montana DOT), David Jared (GDOT), Jason Bittner (Univ. of Wisconsin), Ned Parrish (Idaho DOT), Daris Ormesher (SDDOT), Linda Preisen (Univ. of Minnesota), Leni Oman (WSDOT), Barbara Post (TRB), Martin Pietrucha (Penn State), Jim McDonnell (AASHTO), Erik Maninga (AASHTO), Kim Linsenmeyer (CTC & Associates), Kendra Levine (Univ. of Calif.-Berkeley), Amanda Wilson (RITA), Pete Zaniewski (CalTrans), Jeff Brown (ALDOT), Barbara Harder (B.T. Harder, Inc.), , Lisa Loyo (TRB), Tim Klein (RITA), Michael Trentacoste (FHWA), Larry Sutter (Michigan Tech), Robin Kline (RITA),Spencer Graves (Structure Inspection & Monitoring)

REVIEW OF ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Introduction

  • The RAC Coordination and Collaboration Task Force and the TRB Conduct of Research (COR) Coordination and Collaboration subcommittee have combined forces (Known as the C&C TF) for some time now, working on topics of mutual interest and with broader reach.

Research in Progress (RiP)

  • Reviewed project status categories and developed definitions in RiP. Surveyed RAC. Input was also given by FHWA, TRB Information Services Committee (B0002), and TRB LIST (ABG40). TRB made changes as recommended. E-mails were sent to RiP data providers regarding the changes.
  • Initial discussions held with Bob Sweet –chair of TRB Info. Services Committee (B0002) to increase the number of entities conducting transportation research entering data into RiP.
  • University of South Florida staff is reviewing RiP records to determine if there areduplicativeefforts.

Funding Guidebook

  • Leni developed a document bringing together deadlines for submitting problem statements to the TRB Cooperative Research Programs (CRP). Sue requested TRB staff post this information to the funding guidebook.

Transportation Research Collaboration (TRC) Website

  • RITA is developing this SharePoint site. It will house their Research Clusters (14 areas of current research priorities; priorities are somewhat dynamic and will change as necessary) web pages.
  • This task force asked for and was given space on this new site. The task force’sportal is called Research Project and Program Management. Pages linked to this portal are Setting the Research Agenda, Conduct of Research, Delivering Results/Communicating Value, Collaborating in Research Activities (tools for collaborating in research), Team Collaboration (a space for teams to collaborate).
  • Pilot site will be tested by a few groups, including this task force. Once this testing is complete, the site will be open to everyone for viewing, but in order to post items, a log in will be required. There is a link to request a log in on the site.
  • The Setting the Research Agenda page will bring together all of the efforts that may lead to developing a coordinated national research agenda.
  • It was recommended that guidance be developed to give boundaries as to what types of information should be posted to these pages.
  • RITA will decide what’s appropriate content for site (“policing”).
  • It was requested that the look and feel be different from a standard RITA web site. Note: RITA has someone looking at this.

University Transportation Centers

  • A few years ago, Western Transportation Institute (WTI) staff developeda report highlighting the facilities of the ten national UTCs. WTI has recently received funding to develop a living web tool to highlight the lab facilities of all UTCs, whether they are federally funded or not.
  • Sue is on the advisory committee for this new effort and will be asking this task force for input after the first meeting.
  • RITA will house the final product on their website. This tool would also fit in well with the new Research Project and ProgramManagement portal on the TRC website.

International Collaboration

  • TRB has received records from European partners, including ITRD (European counterpart of TRIS).
  • Combined TRIS & ITRD to be released in January, in English, French, German, and Spanish.
  • There is a new group looking at international information sharing. This group hasn’t met yet.
  • CalTrans is participating in the planning of a Workshop on International Collaborationfor the 2011 TRB annual Meeting. This workshop will be sponsored by COR and others.
  • FHWA now member of Forum of European Highway Research Labs (FEHRL); member countries have something similar to TPF program; collaboration between programs possible
  • FHWA exchanging personnel with foreign countries
  • NCHRP Participation in European Road Association (ERA)’s ERA-NET Road Research Program: Dave Huft leading panel. Jason Bittner and Nancy Chinlund are on the panel.

Transportation Knowledge Networks

  • Opportunity for Program Management as well
  • Strategic plan on developing common vision building off of TRB Special Report 284 (Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Management Strategy for the 21st Century) and NCHRP Report 643 (Communicating the Value of Research) and getting structure
  • Use of Web 2.0 for the TKN’sis being investigated (policies vs. what people are doing)
  • New NCHRP study (20-90), “Improving Access to Transportation Research Information” (what are information silos, how do we organize them, etc.?)
  • WTKN interested in unpublished (“gray”) literature

Transportation Research Knowledge Centre

  • Working on webinar this fall on this topic to begin the discussion of needs for something similar in the US.

REVIEW OF AASHTO STANDING COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH (SCOR) STRATEGIC PLAN IN RELATION TO ROLE OF C&CTASK FORCE

Goal 2.C

  • This goal refers to support for a framework for a national multimodal transportation research program and the C&C TF role in providing this support.
  • Many of the tools this task force is developing support the development of this framework. Also, see bullet 4 under the Transportation Research Collaboration website discussion above.

Goal 2.C.2

  • This goal specifically requests this task force highlight specific research projects that support the national research agenda. The concern here is how can this task force accomplish this task if there is no national research agenda developed. RAC leadership will help clarify to role of this task force.
  • Is C&C TF doing what’s requested by providing tools? Sandra Larson: “Yes”

3.B.2

  • Opportunity to find research results by topical area
  • May begin collaboration between modes
  • Put calendar out there for conferences crossing modes

3.B.3

  • Should be looking at HUD or EPA? Yes, but little money
  • USDOT major player
  • Health & Human Services? Involved with transit
  • Corps of Engineers may be resource
  • Need someone to put this together

COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER TASK FORCES

  • RITA website
  • Not just for research managers, but researchers et al.
  • Who will populate it? How will it be maintained?

OTHER C&C ACTIVITIES

  • Keep Task Force activities up to date.
  • Refer to latest notes or put link in Tracking Chart so all will be in one place.
  • Conduct webinar to introduce C&C TF and products developed and in development.
  • Marketing—needs consideration, as well as actual development.

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