MTC Asset Newsletter Summer 2004
From the MTC Director: Focus on Research
by David Plazak, MTC Director, Iowa State University
Although the Midwest Transportation Consortium (MTC) has chosen to expend most of its resources on the development of new human capital for the transportation industry, our partners have also developed a significant research portfolio over the past five years.
Each year, the MTC issues a request for research proposals to universities in the four states we serve (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska). The resulting proposals are reviewed by a virtual committee that includes academics from both inside and outside the region, state department of transportation (DOT) research coordinators, and federal transportation officials. Typically 40 to 50 percent of the proposals submitted are selected for funding. The MTC typically funds half the project, with the other 50 percent of funds usually coming from state or private sources. The Iowa and Missouri DOTs have often been the key partners in supporting such projects through matching funds.
Through summer 2004, the MTC has funded 17 separate research projects at six lead universities in three states:
- Iowa State University (9)
- University of Kansas (1)
- University of Missouri-Columbia (2)
- University of Missouri-Kansas City (1)
- University of Missouri-St. Louis (2)
- University of Northern Iowa (2)
Several universities, including the University of Nebraska and the University of Northern Iowa, have served as subcontractors on these projects. In some way, all four of the states in our region have been touched by an MTC-sponsored research project.
As of this writing, eight projects were completed, two were ready for publication, and the remaining seven were in progress. It is anticipated that the next round of proposals for MTC-funded research will be sought in the fall of 2004.
The topics of MTC-sponsored research, while all closely related to the consortium’s core theme of transportation asset management, vary considerably. Some examples include the following:
- Application of asset management principles, techniques and tools to winter highway maintenance.
- Use of remotely-sensed data collection techniques such as LIDAR and laser scanning for transportation asset management.
- Asset management guidance for local transportation agencies.
- Application of asset management principles and techniques for public transportation systems and inland waterways.
- Bridge management system development for state highway agencies.
- Exploring the asset value of highway alignments and how corridor management can preserve their value.
- Development of new asset management system concepts, e.g. pavement marking management.
Research projects often serve all three portions of the MTC’s mission. They advance the state of knowledge and practice in transportation asset management. They help support and develop graduate students, who then become the future leaders of the transportation industry. An excellent example of this has occurred at the University of Northern Iowa, where their research on winter maintenance asset management has supported three graduate student theses on related topics.
Projects are also used to help transfer new ideas and technologies to state and local transportation agencies. An excellent example of this is the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s project to develop a guidebook for local transportation asset management. The publication of this guidebook was publicized by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). It was immediately one of the “hottest” downloads on the MTC web site and was downloaded by agencies around the United States and the rest of the world.
All completed MTC research project results are available at no cost on-line: www.ctre.iastate.edu/mtc/projects/yr1projects.htm.
Funding MTC research
During the first five years of the MTC’s competitive research program, $1.12 million in federal funds were matched by other funds for a total of more than $2.1 million. Other research projects are assisted through research assistantships provided through the MTC’s Transportation Scholars program.
Breakdown in federal funds awarded by university system, 2000–2004
| Iowa State University | $541,000 |
University of Missouri (Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City) |
$351,000 |
| University of Northern Iowa | $119,000 |
| Other universities in region (Nebraska-Lincoln and Kansas) |
$108,000 |
