Research (about research)

This document provides a summary of the entire content of the Second EU-U.S. Transportation Research Symposium held April 10?11, 2014, in Paris, France; all presentations, comments, and
discussions are included. The summary is organized by symposium session or breakout session with a concluding section that synthesizes the suggestions that emerged from the symposium. This format was selected to give the reader a full understanding of the ideas expressed as well as to document the lessons learned and offer recommendations for successful
implementation of research outcomes.

The purpose of the Second EU-U.S. Transportation Research Symposium was to promote cooperation across the Atlantic and share best practices for the implementation of research outcomes in the field of surface transportation at the local, state, national, and international levels.

NCHRP 768: Guide to Accelerating New Technology Adoption through Directed Technology Transfer presents a framework and guidance on how to use technology transfer to guide and accelerate innovation within a state department of ransportation (DOT) or other such agency. The guidance will be helpful for agency personnel with any level of experience in adoption of new technology. The guide includes illustrative examples of innovations in organization and policy as well as design, materials, and operations.

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) is the states? research program?funded by State Planning and Research funds and driven by their needs. Each year the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Research selects 40 to 50 new projects that reflect the changing priorities and challenges of states as they plan, design, construct,
operate, or maintain the nation?s highway infrastructure. The program produces more than 60 products annually that are intended to help states improve the way they do business.

NCHRP surveys its project panelists and principal investigators on a four-year cycle to learn about project outcomes, successes, and challenges. The most recent survey, conducted in 2012 for projects completed between June 2004 and June 2009, revealed that NCHRP products are being used extensively. The results are being incorporated into state practices, support the development of AASHTO standards, and are being used as the basis for state-specific follow-up research.

However, NCHRP is committed to continuous process review and improvement. To identify ways to further facilitate the application of its products, NCHRP initiated this project with the following objectives:
? Identify the people, processes, and practices that have supported successful, effective, and efficient application of research results.
? Analyze the factors that promote?or prevent?NCHRP product implementation.
? Develop criteria to guide future activities that support implementation.
? Recommend process improvements by NCHRP and others to meet the criteria and overcome obstacles.

NCHRP Synthesis 461: This synthesis examines implementation practices used by public-sector nontransportation agencies, nonprofits, and academia to accelerate practical application of research
results. The emphasis is on practices that might be useful for transportation agencies to create more responsive research programs. A series of implementation case examples and
practices are presented.

Information for this study was gathered through a comprehensive literature review of U.S. and selected international sources. Agency websites were searched and interviews were conducted with key individuals at case example agencies.