Sandra Q. Larson, Iowa Department of Transportation

Iowa’s Research & Technology Implementation Program

1. Include implementers and technical experts in the early concepting of the research project.

2. Include the implementers and technical experts throughout the research project as members of the Technical Advisory Committee.

3. Throughout the project develop champions for the research solutions at multiple levels within the agency, and beyond (FHWA and industry).

Top 10 Ways to Ensure Research Results are Implemented

4. If money will be needed to implement the research results, determine the funding source early in the research and plan for the actual implementation.

5. Include critics of the research ideas early in the research project.

6. Make sure whoever has the responsibility for action items, actually knows that they have that responsibility.

Top 10 Ways to Ensure Research Results are Implemented Con’d

7. Get upper management support for the research solutions.

8. Develop technology transfer ideas early and follow through with them.

9. Keep the greater transportation audience informed about the project’s progress & results, and include throughout the project (esp FHWA and industry).

10. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Top 10 Ways to Ensure Research Results are Implemented Con’d

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Bridge Decks Intelligent Compaction of HMA and

soils/granular subbases PCC Pavement Surface Characteristics

Pooled Fund Rumble Strips and Stripes Triple Plow Blades Teen Driver Safety

Examples of Successful Research Implementation

Bridge Office and Research Bureau representation at initial meeting with Rutgers University reps

Bridge Office and Research Bureau (along with Chief Engineer) determined that a project to test several different NDE technologies should be used to evaluate 9 bridge decks, 6 of which had bridge deck construction projects immediately following the evaluation, FHWA concurrence

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of Bridge Decks

Bridge Office and Research Bureau worked together throughout the contracting and research project with Rutgers

Champions for the project were in the Bridge Office, Research Bureau, and also included the Chief Engineer

Rutgers gave a project results presentation to DOT and FHWA staff, and also a shorter presentation to upper DOT management

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of Bridge Decks con’d

The final report for the project is being reviewed Several implementation and next step

discussions were held between the Bridge Office, Engineering Bureau, Research Bureau and Chief Engineer

A second phase research project will soon begin to evaluate several key bridge decks; Bridge Office is lead, Wiss, Janney, Elstner (WJE) selected to do research and eventually we will establish an in-house testing and evaluation program with WJE guidance; FHWA concurrence

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of Bridge Decks con’d

Impact echo (IE) & Ultrasonic

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) – Ground Antenna

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) – Air Antenna

Half-cell corrosion potential

Non Destructive Evaluation

Several Partnership for Geotechnical Advancement (PGA) meetings & research projects over several years between university researchers, DOT technical representatives and management, and FHWA resulted in the recent IC initiatives

2 workshops and a webinar in 2008, 2009 and 2010 on Intelligent Compaction (IA DOT hosted)

Three IA demo construction projects in 2009 were completed, IC technologies used on site but not for acceptance (subbase, subgrade, HMA overlay)

Intelligent Compaction (IC) of HMA and soils/granular subbases

Three IA pilot HMA IC projects in 2010 utilizing developmental specifications

One possible IA clay soil IC grading project in fall 2010

Looking for a project for IC subbase New pooled fund starting August 6, 2010

◦ “Technology Transfer for Intelligent Compaction Consortium (TTICC)”

◦ Solicitation #1262; IA, KY, PA, OH, UT, VA, WI◦ Conference Call/Webinar Aug 6 to launch pooled fund◦ IC Workshop October 2010, including a field visit

Intelligent Compaction (IC) of HMA and soils/granular subbases con’d

The cover article in ENR Magazine was published in July 2009, focusing on this specific IC research project

http://www.eerc.iastate.edu/publications.cfm for more info on the workshops/webinars/ IC efforts

Intelligent Compaction (IC) of HMA and soils/granular subbases con’d

Intelligent Compaction (IC) of HMA and soils/granular subbases con’d

Intelligent Compaction (IC) of HMA and soils/granular subbases con’d

Top 10 Ways to Ensure Research Results are Implemented Are we making a difference through our efforts? Successful implementation Measurements

◦ New practices adopted◦ Spec developed or changed◦ Demo/pilot construction projects◦ Quality improved◦ New law passed◦ Safety improved◦ Condition information improved

Summary of Iowa’s Research & Technology Implementation Program

For more info on any of these projects/pooled funds/implementation efforts contact: ◦ Sandra Larson at sandra.larson@dot.iowa.gov or ◦ look online at:

http://www.iowadot.gov/research/index.htm