Research Implementation and Information Dissemination

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Research Implementation and Information
Dissemination
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Discussion Items

• Background information
• TxDOTs research implementation programs
• Committee structure
• How implementation works at TxDOT
• How effective we are
• Determining the value of research

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• 79,000 hwy CL miles

• 32,000 bridges on state system

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Other Numbers

• 3.2 billion annual construction budget
• 14,000 employees

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TP-BR Vis 1-5
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Research and Technology Implementation
Office (RTI)

• Office Director 5 research engineers
• 5 contract managers
• 4 support personnel
• 20.2 million annual research budget
• 80 new projects per year
• Contract with Texas state universities

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TxDOTs 25 Districts
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Research Management Committees (RMC)

• Pavements
• Transportation Planning
• Hydraulics/ROW/Design/Environmental
• Traffic Operations
• Structures

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Research Management Committees

• Five DEs on each committee
• FHWA representative
• RTI research engineer
• Other members - TxDOT section, branch managers

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Responsibilities of RMC Members

• Serve as Program Coordinators (PC)
• Review, select refine project (problem)
  statements submitted by the TAPs.
• Review select university proposals submitted in
  response to RFPs.
• Appoint Project Directors for each project.
• Champion implementation.

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PCs serve on both Committees
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How Implementation Works at TxDOT
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Project Statement

• In refining project statement, PCs
• Consider the Office of Primary Responsibility for
  implementing the research results.
• Define products as research outputs.
• Specify product format.

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• Each research project has at least one product as
  a deliverable. Examples
• Software
• Guidebook or manual
• Equipment
• Test procedures

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After the research is complete

• PCs champion implementation.
• Implementation is advanced for at least 2
  years.

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Promoting Implementation

• Information Dissemination
• Project Summary Reports
• Highlighting Top Innovations
• Implementation Projects

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Information Dissemination
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Project Summary Reports
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PSR Contents include . . . .

• What the researchers did.
• What they found.
• What they recommend.
• List of products.
• Implementation status of products.

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Top Innovations
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Implementation Projects

• Further advances implementation.
• Separate funding available - 5 Million/yr.
• Can fund incremental cost for first time use of a
  product on a construction project.

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Implementation Projects also include

• Training courses.
• Initial purchases of equipment.
• Programming required to incorporate new
  technology into department software.

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Implementation Stats(Since 1998, over 50 of
the products have been implemented)
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Determining the Value of Research
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Determining the Value of Research

• Compiled at request of the TX Transportation
  Commission.
• For use in discussions with State Legislature.
• Produced a booklet summarizing results.

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What we did

• 21 high payoff products selected from 3 yrs of
  research, 1999-2001.
• Benefits estimated over a 10-yr period.
• Benefits quantified in terms of
• Lives saved
• Accidents reduced
• Operational Cost Savings

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Benefit Analysis Calculations(For 10-year Period)


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• Estimates were reviewed by technical experts in
  division district offices.

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Total Projected Benefits for 10-Yr Analysis
Period

• 24,960 accidents prevented.
• 245 lives saved.
• 322 million in cost savings to TxDOT.

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Ground Penetrating Radar

• Total 10-year savings -- 57 million
• Based on documented savings on past TxDOT
  contracts.
• Five years to maximize potential savings

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Seal Coat Constructability Review

• Total 10-year savings -- 17.5 M
• Based on
• Percentage of annual budget (175 M/yr)
• Assumed 1 savings each year

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Precast Concrete Bent Caps

• Total 10-year savings
• 9 million
• Based on reduced construction time
• Cranes operators
• Contractor project office staff
• TxDOT onsite Project Mgmt staff
• Developed cost savings per precast bent cap

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Bottom Line

• Research program cost 1999-2001 54
  million
• Direct Cost Savings (21 products only) 322
  million
• Net return on investment ratio
  51

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Questions?