Report

Transportation Research Implementation: Application of Research Outcomes

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.

Guide to Accelerating New Technology Adoption through Directed Technology Transfer

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.

Evaluating Implementation of NCHRP Products: Building on Successful Practices

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.

Accelerating the Implementation of Transportation Research Results

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.

Research Management Database Business Analysis

This is a product of TPF-5(181) Transportation Research Program Management Database. The report presents the results of an analysis of business needs for state department of transportation (DOT) research project and program management databases. This research was conducted to provide a common base of foundational information for agencies wishing to develop or improve an existing RPMD and to explore options for future collective RPMD development activities that could benefit multiple agencies. Based on the requirements, the research identifies several future initiatives for consideration to improve research data management and sharing practices. Project partners include: California Department of Transportation, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Indiana Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Nebraska Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Transportation, and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Tracking Implementation Results in State Transportation Agencies

This report gathers the results of an e-mail survey and follow-up interviews on research results implementation tracking at state transportation agencies. The majority of the 26 participants identified his or her agency as either focused entirely on funding research studies that lead to implementation, or as agencies that fund a variety of research project types and focus on implementation for select projects only. Half of the participants reported using an implementation tracking system, and of those participants, most reported his or her tracking system to be underused or outdated. Other notable findings included that most participants reported that only about 20 percent of the studies funded through his or her agency’s research division is policy-specific research; most participants reported that the best research results champions are from the management level and possess both technical and communication expertise; and motivation and time were the two largest roadblocks to successful research results implementation championship. Results are presented and discussed within the context of transportation research results implementation literature, and recommendations are provided for each core category of interview responses. Two implementation planning initiatives were undertaken at the Illinois Department of Transportation following the completion of the study and are detailed in this report.

Management Guide to Intellectual Property for State Departments of Transportation

NCHRP Report 799: Management Guide to Intellectual Property for State Departments of Transportation provides information to assist state transportation agency staff to recognize the potential value of the agency?s intellectual assets and the agency?s responsibilities in respecting the intellectual property (IP) rights of others. The report presents guidance on how agencies can manage the copyrights, patents, and other IP that may be used or produced as a byproduct of the agency?s usual business activities. This guidance is intended to provide agency program staff with an introductory explanation of the nature of intellectual property, the legal framework for defining and protecting intellectual property, and basic principles for its management. The report includes examples and references for cases, tools, and other materials to enhance readers? understanding of the activities likely to be associated with
effectively managing an agency?s intellectual property.