| Research Strategic Priorities |
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| Structures |
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ETG Members: Timothy Rogers, Solomon Yim,
Jeff Swanstrom, Bruce Johnson,
Scott Nelson, Steve Soltesz
- Load capacity evaluation and improvement of structural members. Research emphasis is on determining the load capacity of in-place structural elements and using high performance materials to increase integrity.
- Non-destructive evaluation technologies for assessing structures. Research is aimed at developing technologies for monitoring the real-time behavior and long-term health of structures.
- Remediation of corrosion in reinforced concrete. Efforts focus on improving and characterizing cathodic protection technologies and explaining the factors that lead to premature deterioration.
- Methods for disaster mitigation. Research objective is to develop measures to reduce the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis on transportation over bridges.
- Technologies for accelerating construction. Research is aimed at structural component fabrication methods that reduce the construction time and life-cycle costs of bridges.
- Service life design of critical bridge elements. Research emphasis is on planning for serviceability of decks, deck joints, and bearings during design and quantifying the benefits of using high performance materials to increase service life.
- Improvement of bridge deck integrity. Objective is to increase the life and reduce the life-cycle costs of bridge decks.
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| Constr, Maint. & Operations |
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ETG Members: Jeff Gower, Shane Ottosen,
Timothy Swift, Bruce Erickson,
Jeff Graham, Dave Rogge, Luci Moore,
& Jon Lazarus
- Effective Roadside and Work Zone Safety
- Effective Project Delivery and Quality Assurance
- Effective Pavement Delineation
- Efficient and Effective Maintenance Practices
Recognizing that the ETG's priorities are inter-related to ODOT's Mission Statement, (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/about_us.shtml), the Agency's Mission Statement will be used as an underlining selection criteria, if a problem statement is not covered by any of the above priorities.
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| Traffic, Roadway Safety & ITS |
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ETG Members: State Traffic Engineer, Dave McKane,
Nathaniel Price, Nick Fortey, Angela Kargel,
Christopher Monsere, David Kim,
Galen McGill, & June Ross
- Improve mobility and reduce congestion– Traffic operations improvements including intelligent transportation initiatives can be deployed to improve mobility and reduce congestion. Incidents often occur on congested highways and further disrupt traffic flow. Research projects are sought that investigate these improvements.
- Improve safety and mobility in highway work zones – Highway work zones are often the site of increased crashes as well as congestion. Research projects are sought that explore ways to improve safety and mobility in work zones.
- Advance safety management tools and techniques – A comprehensive safety management system that includes safety data collection, maintenance, and analysis can support the proactive consideration of safety in planning and guide safety investments. Research projects are sought that advance development and application of safety management tools and techniques.
- Improve highway operations performance monitoring – ODOT activities related to traffic operations and intelligent transportation systems lack a framework for system-wide performance measurement and management. Methods to develop components of this framework, techniques to forecast impacts of various investment scenarios on operations, and research to define investment tradeoffs are sought. Improved methods for measuring arterial performance are of specific interest.
- Evaluate new technologies and techniques – Traffic control and operations techniques and new technologies offer the potential for improved operations, safety and reduced maintenance costs. Research projects are sought to investigate new technologies and techniques.
- Encourage technology transfer – Transportation operations and roadway safety-related research, completed by other states, universities and national organizations, may offer benefits to ODOT. Projects are sought which will help ODOT utilize findings from completed research. Projects can include preparation of resource guides, manuals, and training materials.
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| Multimodal & Sustainable Trans |
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ETG Members: Jim Strathman, Jazmin Casas, Sheila
Lyons, Robert Melbo, Dinah Van der Hyde,
Jim Brock, Teddie Baker & Lyn Cornell
1. Impact of shifting economic conditions and trends affecting multimodal transportation demands and transportation related infrastructure.
2. Impact of land use and intermodal connectivity choices on safety at the interface of transportation modes, especially impacts on bicycles and pedestrians. The interfaces may include: transfers between modes, co-location of modes in a parallel arrangement, or the intersections of different modes.
3. Regional passenger rail interconnectivity: Optimizing existing freight railroad infrastructure with new strategic extensions and connections for regional intercity passenger services offering automobile-competitive travel times and interconnectivity with other modes while retaining freight haulage.
4. Methods for assessing multimodal transportation needs, capacity development, intermodal transfer facilities, resource/supply flow, infrastructure maintenance and preservation, stressing the application of ITS.
5. Development of integrated multimodal data warehouses for research and planning use. Critical gaps in bike/ped data.
6. Sustainable transportation: Multimodal options for goals & strategies, including incorporating green technologies, for achieving the Governor's carbon reduction goals; and including assessing the impacts of climate change and climate change adaptation strategies on modal transportation.
7. Congestion management using multimodal strategies.
8. Methods for evaluating multimodal investment programs; eg: ConnectOregon II.
9. Studies of changes in regional supply chain trends reducing supply/shipping distances. Including opportunities and constraints such as: land use constraints for siting shipping facilities, and conditions that facilitate a variety of modal choices.
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| Roadway Design & Driver Safety |
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ETG Members: Tom McClellan, Karen Dixon,
Anne Holder, Harold Lasley,
David Polly, Nick Fortey,
& Mark Joerger
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Urban / Suburban Design and Features - Research on speed zone transitions, efficient traffic calming, effective roadway geometry, meaningful clear zone requirements, and urban gateways.
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Roadside Features - Investigations into visual issues, changing driver behavior, visual barrier improvement, and proper application of barrier systems.
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Roadway Environmental Issues - Optimizing roadway functionality and determining best environmental practices in roadway design.
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Continuing Driver Education to Improve Safety and Reduce Congestion. -Effective uses of media and law enforcement to educate drivers in aspects of driving safety and more general knowledge of roadway design and usage.
- Reduce the number of unsafe drivers on Oregon roads - The safety of Oregon’s highways is compromised by unsafe drivers. Common concerns include those who drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, those who have medical impairments, those who drive in an unsafe manner, and those who do not have the necessary skills or experience to drive safely. Research projects are sought to help identify effective efforts to reduce the number of unsafe drivers.
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| Pavements & Materials |
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ETG Members: David Trejo, Dean Chess, Anthony
Bosen, Larry Ilg, Justin Moderie, Cole Mullis &
Norris Shippen
Identify design, materials, construction,and maintenance practices that optimize performance.
- Identify design, materials, construction, and maintenance practices that optimize performance.
- Develop construction processes that allow construction phase completion to minimize service disruptions.
- Identify materials and construction practices that optimize application while minimizing environmental and safety risks.
- Evaluate effective project delivery and quality assurance methods
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| Planning and Economic Analysis |
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ETG Members: Jerri Bohard, Erik Havig, Jack
Svadlenak, Lucia Ramirez, Becky
Knudson, John Baker, Lana Cully,
Jennifer Dill, Satvinder Sandhu
& Myra Sperley
Performance Measures - research that addresses the development and application of performance measures. Research projects result in better system information for evaluating progress in achieving agency goals and objectives.
Efficiencies - research that identifies efficiency gains related through better technology, innovative business practices, partnerships, or cost effectiveness. Research projects result in cost and/or time savings to the agency.
Integrated Multimodal - research that advances the understanding of mode choice, mode shift, or factors that influence supply and demand of various modes. Research projects result in balancing the needs of the transportation system and optimizing the movement of people and freight. This prioritization category also includes preference to research exploring multimodal measures of effectiveness.
Project Selection – research that identifies best practices, tools, and methods for project prioritization and investment. Research projects result in a better understanding of potential outcomes and a balancing of goals and objectives to facilitate strategic investments. Within this prioritization category, the following topics are of immediate interest to the ETG:
- Benefit/Cost Analysis
- Economic Impact Analysis
- Economic Opportunity Analysis
Strategic Planning- research that advances approaches, methods, or tools for more defensible, transparent, and strategic decision making. Research projects result in transforming data into information to help improve our understanding of the transportation system and the impacts of decisions we make. Within this prioritization category, the following topics are of immediate interest to the ETG:
- Performance Based Planning - use of performance measures and potential performance outcomes to develop long-range policies, assess project prioritization, and monitor the transportation system for needed adjustments.
- Performance Management - selection of meaningful performance measures appropriate for monitoring the transportation system, assessment of data availability and potential applications, as well as data collection methods, processing, analysis, and storage.
- Modeling and Analysis - creation or enhancement of modeling and analysis tools that support decision making.
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| Geotechnical, Hydraulics & Env |
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ETG Members: Paul Wirfs, Michelle Eraut,William Fletcher,
Jim Norman, Jon Guido, Alvin Shoblom,
& Matthew Mabey
The Geotechnical, Hydraulics and Environmental ETG has identified ten strategic priorities distributed across the three major subject areas covered by the ETG. They are as follows:
- Cost effective management and monitoring of storm water
- Performance of high walls
- Right-of-way vegetation establishment and management
- Impacts and solutions to roadway induced habitat separation
- Bank protection and scour
- Rehabilitation, retrofitting, and replacement of pipes and culverts
- Lifecycle cost analysis of pipes and culverts
- Effects of slopes and embankments on the transportation system
- Practical means and methods for subgrade stabilization
- Impacts of re-using construction debris and other recycled materials in highway construction and maintenance, including feasibility, long-term financial costs and benefits, and environmental impacts.
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