01566714

Monograph

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/172600.aspx

This report presents a summary of some of the successful projects from the NCHRP IDEA program, a special project (SP 20-30) of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, from its inception in 1993 until present (2015). IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) is a unique concept for transportation research that originated in the first Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) and has continued at the Transportation Research Board as the NCHRP IDEA program after the completion of the SHRP in 1993. Unlike most transportation research solicitations where competitive proposals are requested on a specific objective with specific tasks, the NCHRP IDEA program seeks out proposals from entrepreneurs, inventors, forward thinkers, and problem solvers –anyone who has a possible solution to any vexing highway transportation problem. The NCHRP IDEA program provides seed money to explore the technical feasibility of innovative, untried concepts for highway transportation applications. There is a high risk associated with untried and unproven approaches; not every IDEA concept is expected to materialize. Despite the modest investment of resources and the high risk involved, a number of NCHRP IDEA projects not only have proved the technical feasibility of their innovative concepts but also have led to the development of implementable products. A total of 162 NCHRP IDEA projects have been completed. Of these projects, 27 have led to products that are now in the marketplace. This translates into a success rate of about 1 in 6 projects. Another 40+ completed or active projects have resulted or are expected to result in products with a high implementation potential in the near term, if provided resources for further development. Some of these products are expected to be on the market within the next two to three years. The products and projects highlighted in this report include innovations in corrosion protection/detection; bridge construction/rehabilitation; bridge monitoring/testing; pavement and base/subbase; materials for construction/rehabilitation; material testing and characterization; highway safety; and traffic operations and safety.

English

109p

2015-3

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; Tables

Bridge construction; Building materials; Corrosion protection; Feasibility analysis; Highway operations; Highway safety; Innovation; Materials tests; Monitoring; Pavements; Rehabilitation; Traffic safety

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)

Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; I30: Materials; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I60: Maintenance

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jun 17 2015 8:50AM