Research Coordination and Collaboration Meeting Notes: October 2, 2007

Research Coordination and Collaboration Meeting Notes: October 2, 2007

AASHTO RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC)

RESEARCH COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION TASK GROUP

MEETING NOTES

10/2/07

  1. Introductions/Housekeeping
  2. Introductions

Task Group Members Present: Steve Albert, Michael Bonini, Nancy Chinlund, Sandi Hoff, Sue Lodahl, Mark Norman, Sue Sillick, and Dawn Tucker.

Task Group Members Absent: Nelda Bravo, Jeff Brown, Colin Franco, Georgene Geary, Alison Hardt, Crawford Jencks, Laurie McGinnis, Leni Oman, Calvin Roberts, and Lou Sanders.

Friends Present: Tom Marchessault and Barbara Post.

  1. Volunteer for meeting notes -- Sandi Hoff
  1. Changes/additions to agenda?

None.

  1. Corrections to 8/8/2007 meeting notes? (attached)

None.

  1. Committee Roster – Revised (Attached)
  1. TRB Conduct of Research Coordination and Collaboration Goal Team – Update

Sue Sillick discussed the formation of a TRB Conduct of Research Committee Coordination and Collaboration Goal Team. There appears to be overlap between the two groups, which could result in opportunities to work together.

  1. Report on Action Items from last meeting
  2. Sue S. will prepare a list of current activities and accomplishments for the RAC Leadership and our website.

Sue S. will complete this month.

  1. Sue S. will update the membership list and post it to our website.

Done.

  1. Steve A. will work on a TRNews theme on partnering.

Steve reported that he and Sue S. submitted a draft outline to TRBNews. The TRBNews Editorial Board was excited about the concept, but requested a condensed draft. Steve and Sue will condense outline and look for collaborators to highlight the good work going on. They will be looking for authors from state DOTs, UTCs, and at the national level.

Steve suggested that we start with identifying some known success stories. Steve suggested looking to RITA for identifying success stories and then ask the state DOTs to request help from their UTCs in documenting their success story.

Steve stated that the UTCs have quarterly reports submitted to RITA that document their success stories; he suggested starting there. There was no disagreement from the group.

  1. Roy Messler, Barbara P., Mike W., and Amanda W. will work together to develop a search tool for unfunded needs (update attached).

TRB Research Needs Statement database was announced in the TRB e-Newsletter released this morning. The objective is to allow TRB committees an avenue to announce research needs. It is a portal to allow researchers, funders, and those with research needs to match up. To date, 125 committees have entered 700+ needs statements. As a point of clarification, all entries are supported by a TRB Committee, not a just a single individual.

Once something has been funded, it will be removed from Research Needs and moved to RIP. Sue S. brought up a possible disconnect in documentation when a project goes from being a Research Need to Research in Progress. She suggested that a statement be added to the TRB Committee instructions strongly encouraging TRB Committees to make sure when their research ideas are funded that the ongoing research is added to RIP. Mark N. said he would add this to the Committee guidance. Also, Mark N. will make it more explicit that all Research Needs be checked against RIP and TRIS to ensure that it is a valid current research need.

Leni (through an email to Sue S.) suggested that we work on a proof-of-concept for an all inclusive transportation research needs portal, beginning with TRB Research needs, TERI, and a state if we can find the right format. For the longer term, she suggested a database to accommodate all transportation research needs, identifying all of the entities supporting a particular research need.

Michael Wendt (WSDOT) will work with Barbara Post, Amanda Wilson, and others as necessary to develop a proof-of-concept search tool.

  1. Nelda B. and Barbara P. will work on completing the RIP data entry training (see attached).
  2. Some additional questions to consider are: How should we market this training? How do we keep the database clean? How do we ensure records are complete? Who else should be entering data into RIP? How do we make it palatable to get others to enter data into RIP? Why are some who are required to enter into RIP not doing so and how do we facilitate their data entry?

Sue S. demonstrated the on-line training for RIP data entry. She sent the RAC members the link so that each of them can view the training. The UTC directors were also sent the link.

Barbara is working with FHWA Office of Corp and Professional Development on the development of a training (webinar) for using/searching in RIP. No timeframe has been set for completion of the webinar due to personnel turnover. If there is difficulty keeping this project on track with FHWA, there was a suggestion made to use TRB staff to develop the webinar. Barbara P. thought that she would have an idea of the time frame at our next meeting.

How do we market RIP to encourage people to use it? We have to show them the value of RIP.

  • Use it to showcase research.
  • Use it as search tool to decrease chances of duplication.
  • Highlight anecdotal stories showing time and money savings. (Sue L. will check with Jerry to collect anecdotal evidence on the value for RIP.)

Barbara suggested changing the RIP webpage to highlight these issues and increase marketing. She also plans to create a FAQ page. Barbara would appreciate any other suggestions for increasing the marketing of RIP. She is looking for FAQs related to RIP.

Steve suggested discussing this topic with CUTC.

Who else is doing transportation research? How do we initiate cooperation from other groups (e.g., FAA Centers of Excellence)? The Task Group decided to wait until we have the trainings, webinar, etc. complete before asking others to participate.

Sue S. will contact the RAC leadership board to identify those who are not using RIP and query them to identify reasons why they are not using it.

  1. Sue S. will work with AASHTO, TRB, and Steve A. to discuss options for our website.

Sue S. will continue to work on this and report at the next meeting.

  1. Develop Statement of Objectives (SMART - Specific, Measurable, Agreed Upon, Realistic, and Time-Bound)
  2. What are some easy wins (low hanging fruit)?
  3. Partnering articles in TRNews.

See item # 3C

  1. Bubble Charts.

Leni will discuss at the next meeting.

  1. RIP data entry training and marketing.

See item # 3E.

  1. Research needs portal.

See item # 3D.

  1. UTCs theme / focus areas.

Booklets and a website are under development for the 10 national labs. A teleconference is scheduled for 2-3 weeks from now. The team has developed a schedule. RITA is developing a new UTC webpage that will have a list of the UTCs focus areas within their themes. The new webpage is 30-60 days from launch.

  1. Need to prioritize.

No new items identified.

  1. Next Meetings – Mark your calendars!
  2. 11/6/07, 12/4/07, 1/8/08 (moved due to holiday), 2/5/08, 3/4/08, 4/1/08 (no fools), 5/6/08, 6/3/08, 7/1/08, 8/5/08, 9/2/08, 10/7/08, 11/4/08, and 12/2/08.
  3. 11/6/07 Agenda items – Suggestions?
  4. Update from Dawn Tucker on RITA Coordination and Collaboration efforts
  5. Leni will demonstrate WIKI’s.
  6. Update from Laurie on TERRA?
  7. Update from Leni on NW RAC/UTC partnership?
  8. WTKN update from Leni?
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