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.
