AASHTO Research Advisory Committee

Value of Research Task Force

Meeting Minutes

Date

/ September 11, 2013 /

Time

/ 11:00-noon CST

Co-Chairs

/ Mark Morvant, Louisiana DOTD
Linda Taylor, Minnesota DOT / Scribe / Mark Morvant/Linda Taylor
Subject / Value of Research Taskforce
Attendees / State DOT – members
Mark Morvant, LA (co-chair)
Linda Taylor, MN (co–chair)
Darryll Dockstader
Bill Stone, MO
Cindy Smith,MS
Dave Huft, SD
State DOT – friends
Robert McCoy, NM
SoumyaDey, DC
Gary Hook, OH
Jimmy White, VA
Vicki Morrison,
Billy Connor, AK
Juan Pava, IL
Tim McDowell, WY
Dale Peabody, MN
James Fallon, CT
Linda Narigon, IA
Steve Bower, MI
Coco Briseno, CA
Ann Overton, VA / Other organizations – friends
Barbara Harder, Barbara Harder & Assoc.
Pat Casey, CTC & Associates
Brian Hirt, CTC & Associates
ShashiNambisan, Iowa State University

Key Points Discussed

No. / Topic / Highlights
1 / Review of July 2013 minutes / Task force approved the meeting minutes
2 / 2013 High Value Research Projects (update) / Research Impacts: Better, Cheaper, Faster
Posted on Website
Announced in TRB weekly e-newsletter
Research Makes a Difference Brochure
Distributed to AASHTO RAC
To be distributed to AASHTO annual meeting attendees
AASHTO Annual Meeting
Certificate Presentation
Sweet Sixteen Project Session (selected by SCOH)
TRB Poster Session
Commitments from 15 out of 16 states
3 / 2014 High Value Research Projects Submittal & selection process / Linda reviewed the summary of voting practices by regions.
Topics discussed included: how to handle tie votes, type projects that should be considered, how encourage all DOT to submit HVR projects and vote, consistent guidance for all regions, deadline for submittals, number of submittals with elevated recognition, and allowing state to nominate HVR project,After some discussion, the taskforce felt that DOT should not nominate HVR because difficult to assess regional and national value of HVR projects. Taskforce decided to provide some HVR guidance to regions and clarify research timeframe and type of project for submittal.
4 / RPM ToolsWebinar / Mark reviewed the draft agenda for the RPM webinar as follows:
RPM introduction and development historyDarryll Dockstader
RPM software overview & updateSteve Ziegler
Montana experienceSue Sillick
Illinois experienceJuan Pava
Another State experience??
Q & APanel
Members did not appear interested in initiating a working group for RPM. Mark will follow up with NCHRP Technical Panel for additional volunteers for participation in webinar.
5 / Establishment of Working Group: Quantifying the Value of Research and Performance Measures / Purpose: Seek out methods and tools to quantify the benefits of research program and projects
Taskforce decided to combine the Performance Measurement and Best Practice for Quantifying Benefits of Research into one working committee. AASHTO-RAC listserv- two surveys conducted on performance measure Missouri 2009 and Value of Research 2010 (list of research measures taken from DOT’s website).
Working Group volunteers: Juan Pava, Bill Stone, Robert McCoy, Darryll Dockstader, Mark Morvant, Linda Taylor
6 / Establishment of Working Group: Marketing of Value of Research / Purpose: Explore further marketing opportunities to promote the Research Impacts: Better, Faster, Cheaper projects-
IE. Develop brochures on specific topics(Infrastructure); document ways other DOTs are promoting projects, etc.
Working Group volunteers: Mark Morvant, Pat Casey, Nick Busse (MN) and check with Tim McDowell on staff person; LA willing to provide resources to produce materials.
6 / Next conference call date / November 13, 11:00 CST
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Action Items
No. / Action Item /

Owner

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Target Date

1 / Barbara Harder will check into whether Conduct of Research will sponsor the HVR poster session / Mark / Sept. 30, 2013
2 / Determine if going to develop a HVR article until after the AASHTO Annual meeting. / Mark / Oct. 20, 2013
3 / Mark will follow up with NCHRP Technical Panel for additional volunteers for participation in webinar. / Mark / Oct. 15, 2013
4 / Develop guidance for HVR process / Linda / Oct. 15, 2013
5 / Work group leads and next steps / Linda/Mark / Sept. 30, 2013
6 / Develop performance measure survey / PM Working Group / Oct. 31, 2013
7 / Schedule work group meetings / Linda/Mark / Sept. 30, 2013