It all begins with an idea: How research moves Kansas forward

By

Audrey Atkinson

Mallory Aye

Marie Manthe

KDOT Bureau of Research

KDOT helps keep Kansas moving and it is all thanks to research. In fact, many state Departments of Transportation boast that research is the oldest continuous federal highway activity they partake in, and Kansas is no exception. However, at its core, research is not about longevity and legacy, it’s about solving problems. KDOT’s Bureau of Research is dedicated to identifying issues in Kansas transportation, throughout all its aspects, and conducting research to devise solutions for these issues. The Bureau of Research has three central missions:

• To support and encourage innovation through research.
• To evaluate problems as they arise and provide timely responses.
• To serve as an information resource for agency management.

KDOT’s Bureau of Research is fortunate to have staff with expertise in a number of subject areas, and in-house research is performed on a regular basis. Additionally, research for the bureau is conducted by students and faculty from two major universities: The University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Their research collaborations are made possible by the Kansas Transportation Research and New Developments (K-TRAN) Program. 

KDOT also collaborates with other state DOTs, universities and organizations on research problems at the national level through National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) projects and participation in Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) studies.

Our scope of research utilizes a diverse range of scientific fields to address the various issues within transportation including chemistry, engineering and applied physics. Most research projects begin as a simple “problem statement,” a solicitation for research into an observed issue. These problem statements are typically submitted by staff members within KDOT, agency contractors and suppliers or representatives from the academic community. A research period can last anywhere from a few months to several years. 

The results of these projects are then recorded and reported to the Bureau Chief and the project monitor before they are published. After completion of the final report, it must be determined whether the research findings can be implemented.

If implementation will occur, projects are evaluated to develop a justifiable estimate of potential project benefits. These benefits are not just monetary— implementation of research findings contribute toward the preservation of roads and bridges, reduces usage of construction and emergency resources and above all, contributes to the safety of all who use our state’s transportation system.

In the Bureau of Research, we work with our KDOT colleagues and other partners to make sure Kansas has the finest transportation system possible. It doesn’t matter if people travel by car, bus, plane or bicycle; or if they transport goods by train or truck— what matters is that they all reach their destinations safely.