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POLICY & PARTNERSHIPS

AASHTO’s Research Advisory Committee, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and 

the Korea Transportation Safety Authority Tour Turner-Fairbank

FHWA’s Office of Research, Development and Technology recently hosted a laboratory tour of the 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) for the American Association of State Highway 

and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Research Advisory Committee. Comprised of managers from 

research programs of each of the State departments of transportation (DOTs), the committee 

supports the activities of the Standing Committee on Research, which acts as AASHTO’s driving 

force for high-quality transportation research and innovation to improve the Nation’s mobility of 

people and goods. The Research Advisory Committee is committed to promoting quality and 

excellence in research and in the application of research findings to improve State transportation 

systems. The tour included representatives from 10 State DOTs.

TFHRC also hosted representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) 

Office of the Administrator, Office of Field Operations, and Office of Research for a tour of the 

facilities. FMCSA met with subject matter experts in safety, operations, and infrastructure to 

discuss broad issues related to truck platooning and truck automation. FMCSA toured the Safety 

Training and Analysis Center, the Aggregate and Petrographic Labs (including the Accelerated Load 

Facility), the Human Factors Laboratory, and the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory.

Also, three representatives from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KTSA)—a central 

government agency in South Korea in charge of transportation safety policy and program 

development—toured Turner-Fairbank’s Human Factors laboratory. The purpose of the visit was to 

share knowledge and research experiences and encourage future collaboration. The 

representatives learned about the various labs and research tools employed by researchers in the 

Human Factors laboratory. These include the new Virtual Reality Lab, Sign lab, the MiniSim, Field

Research Vehicles, and Highway Driving Simulator. KTSA is also working to improve safety through 

the use of driving simulation aimed at evaluating highway design and studying driver behavior. 

For more information about the Research Advisory Committee tour contact, Jack Jernigan, 202-

493-3363, jack.jernigan@dot.gov. For more information about the FMCSA tour, contact James Pol, 

202-493-3371, james.pol@dot.gov. For more information about the KTSA tour, contact Michelle 

Arnold, 202-493-3990, michelle.arnold@dot.gov. 

A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

March/April 2017

FHWA R&T Now
 FHWA R&T Now

EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH

FHWA Publishes EAR Program Results for 2016

FHWA recently published the catalog, “EAR 

Program Research Results—Updated Through 

2016” (FHWA-HRT-17-021), which documents 

research results through 2016. 

Results of Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) 

Program-funded projects may include new 

fundamental insights and how they can be 

applied in highway transportation; new research 

methods, models, or data that can accelerate 

applied research; or new system concepts or 

prototypes, including laboratory testing and 

possibly limited field testing. 

FHWA is committed to transitioning the results 

of EAR Program-funded projects and takes an 

active role in demonstrating results to audiences 

critical to continuing the research and 

development cycle. The catalog is available 

online at 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/17

021/index.cfm, or in print by calling FHWA’s 

Product Distribution Center at 814-239-1160. 

For more information, contact David Kuehn, 

202-493-3414, david.kuehn@dot.gov. 

Updated EAR Program Brochure Available 

FHWA recently published the brochure, 

“Exploratory Advanced Research Program” 

(FHWA-HRT-17-022), which offers an overview 

of its EAR Program and how it focuses on longer 

term, higher risk research with a high payoff 

potential by matching opportunities from 

discoveries in science and technology with the 

needs of specific industries.

The uncertainties in the research approach and 

outcomes challenge organizations and 

researchers to be innovative problem solvers, 

which can lead to new research techniques, 

instruments, and processes that can be of value 

to future advanced or applied research projects. 

The brochure, now in its sixth edition, explains 

how the program handles international 

collaborations, discusses focus areas that are 

critical to the transportation industry, provides 

insight into overall program results, and explains 

how to get involved. It is available online at 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/17

022/index.cfm, or in print by calling FHWA’s 

Product Distribution Center at 814-239-1160. 

For more information, contact David Kuehn, 

202-493-3414, david.kuehn@dot.gov. 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

FHWA Releases New Version of Deep 

Foundation Load Test Database

FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure Research and 

Development has released an updated version 

of its Deep Foundation Load Test Database 

(DFLTD). The new version, DFLTD v.2, contains 

over 1,600 research quality load test results on 

various types of piles and drilled shafts. Records 

can be queried in numerous ways to include 

foundation type and size, subsurface soil 

information, location, and more. Functionalities 

in the software will help facilitate best practice 

and greater reliability in the design and 

construction of different deep foundation 

elements. DFLTD v.2 replaces the previous 

version (DFLTD v.1) to meet current operating 

system requirements and also adds new 

information on over 150 load tests on Large 

Diameter Open-End Piles (LDOEPs). DFLTD v.2 

was developed as part of an ongoing research 

study to evaluate the bearing resistance of 

LDOEPs and calibrate resistance factors for both 

As part of a video analytics project, researchers 

developed an identity masking system to replace a 

driver’s face in a video with an avatar’s face for 

identity protection. Photo: © SRI International.
 FHWA R&T Now

static and dynamic analysis methods. To 

download DFLTD v.2 and the user manual, visit 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infras

tructure/structures/bridge/dfltd/. 

For more information, contact Jennifer Nicks, 

202-493-3075, jennifer.nicks@dot.gov. 

FHWA Sponsors Webinar on Pavement Friction 

Management Program

FHWA recently sponsored a webinar in which 

staff from the Virginia Tech Transportation 

Institute (VTTI), under contract to conduct the 

“FHWA Pavement Friction Management Study,” 

presented the Pavement Friction Management 

Program (PFMP) to pavement and safety 

professionals at the Washington Department of 

Transportation. The goal of the project is to 

reduce the number of highway fatalities and 

serious injuries through the implementation of 

proactive PFMPs by owner agencies. Through 

this research project, FHWA assisted four States 

to develop a PFMP by grouping their highway 

network (about 750 miles per State) into friction 

demand categories, testing these roads with 

Continuous Friction Measurement Equipment 

(CFME) and continuous macrotexture 

measurement equipment, and comparing with 

test results from the States’ locked wheel skid 

trailers. Roadway geometric and pavement 

surface type, environmental, crash, and traffic 

data for the selected highway networks were 

obtained to relate crashes to road surface 

friction and macrotexture. 

For more information, contact Jim Sherwood, 

202-493-3150, jim.sherwood@dot.gov. 

LTTP Program Releases New Version of 

InfoPave

FHWA’s Long-Term Pavement Performance 

(LTPP) program released an updated version of 

LTPP InfoPaveTM. The new version includes 

several features to improve access to LTPP data, 

as well as an enhancement of other features 

based on user feedback.

Some of the most exciting features include a 

“Virtual Section,” which is used to visualize LTPP 

test sections in three dimensions. Another 

feature that can immediately be used by the 

States is a Forward Calculated Stiffness tool, 

which generates a ball-park estimate of the 

stiffness of the surface asphalt or concrete 

layer(s) and the subgrade soils based on userinput falling weight deflectometer data. 

Pavement performance data, as well as the 

accompanying reports from the FHWA Rigid 

Pavement Performance and Rehabilitation study 

are now part of the Non-LTPP module. Another 

important addition is a set of National Pavement 

Performance Measures. This new web-based 

tool displays the calculated national pavement 

performance measures based on LTPP data 

using the interpretation methods from the 

Highway Performance Monitoring System and 

FHWA’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making. 

A full list of updates is available at 

https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/Page/Type/Relea

seNotes. For more information, contact 

Deborah Walker, 202-493-3068, 

deborah.walker@dot.gov. 

OPERATIONS

Event in California Demonstrates Benefits of 

Truck Platooning

On March 8, 2017, a truck platooning 

demonstration was held in San Pedro, California. 

Implemented by the PATH Program of the 

University of California Berkeley and the Volvo 

Group under the sponsorship of FHWA’s EAR 

Program and Caltrans, the demonstration 

featured a three truck platoon using onboard 

sensors and vehicle-to-vehicle communications 

to control spacing between trucks. About 10 

people from the U.S. Department of 

Transportation (including 3 from TFHRC) 

attended the event. Participants were able to 

ride in a heavy truck that drove on a freeway as 

part of a platoon, with the followers’ speed 

under cooperative adaptive cruise control 

(CACC). 
 FHWA R&T Now

The demonstration, which took place on the I110 freeway near the Los Angeles and Long 

Beach Port complex, displayed the use of 

dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) 

vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This 

technology coordinated the speeds of the trucks 

so they could accurately follow each other at 

constant time gaps. Participants rode in the 

second and third trucks of the platoon and 

observed the safe separation of the CACC string 

when a passenger car cut in between the trucks 

and then the resumption of short-gap CACC 

operations after the intruding car departed.

By using CACC, heavy trucks are enabled to 

travel safely and smoothly at significantly 

shorter gaps than they can under conventional 

manual driving today. Drivers control the 

steering and are able to deal with any hazards in 

the driving environment. The technology makes 

it possible to save energy, reduce emissions, and 

significantly increase the capacity of a dedicated 

truck lane facility. Considerable benefits are also 

possible for the movement of goods over longhaul, cross-country routes, as well as to and 

from major ports. 

Close coordination of the CACC system results in 

reduced aerodynamic drag, enabling energy 

savings and greenhouse gas reductions; 

enhanced stability of vehicle following, damping 

out traffic disturbances; shorter than normal 

gaps discouraging (but not eliminating) cut-ins 

by drivers of other vehicles; and faster 

responses to hard braking by preceding trucks, 

improving safety.

For more information, contact Osman Altan, 

202-493-3391, osman.altan@dot.gov. 

Report Focuses on Data Access, Sharing, and 

Integration

The effective analysis of transportation 

operations strategies for planning and 

investment decisions requires an accurate and 

complete understanding of transportation 

system performance obtained by integrating 

multiple sources of transportation data from 

multiple stakeholders. FHWA recently published 

the report, “State of the Practice on Data 

Access, Sharing, and Integration” (FHWA-HRT15-072), which examines the state of the 

practice in data sharing and integration, 

specifically current data sharing and integration 

practices among State and local agencies, 

example data environments, technical 

integration formats, and business rules for 

integration and sharing. The report is available 

to download at 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/opera

tions/15072/15072.pdf. 

For more information, contact Govindarajan 

Vadakpat, 202-493-3283, g.vadakpat@dot.gov. 

SAFETY

Report Covers Research on Rumble Strips

FHWA recently published “State of the Practice 

for Shoulder and Center Line Rumble Strip 

Implementation on Non-Freeway Facilities” 

(FHWA-HRT-17-026), a report that discusses 

research aimed at providing agencies with a 

framework for making decisions on how to 

implement rumble strips. The report includes a 

literature review detailing research related to 

rumble strip design, noise and vibration testing 

methods and findings, impacts on bicyclists and 

motorcyclists, pavement condition impacts, 

pavement marking visibility, operational 

effectiveness, and safety effectiveness. It also 

provides a review of current department 

policies and standard drawings for rumble strip 

Conceptual diagram of the sensor, communication, 

and control aspects of CACC for truck platooning. 

Source: California PATH Program.
 FHWA R&T Now

implementation strategies, systematic 

installation criteria, currently used rumble strip 

dimensions, high-crash corridor installation 

practices, special considerations, and rumble 

strip modifications. This document is available at 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safet

y/17026/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact Abdul Zineddin, 

202-493-3288, abdul.zineddin@dot.gov. 

RECENT PERIODICALS 

Public Roads—March/April 2017

This issue includes: Providing a Shoulder to Drive 

On; The Times They Are Definitely Changing; 

Doubling Down on Safety Innovations; States 

Learning From Each Other; Onward and 

Upward; and Working Smarter, Together.

It is available online via

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/17

marapr/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact Lisa Shuler, 

lisa.a.shuler@dot.gov. 

Innovator: Accelerating Innovation for the

American Driving Experience—March/April

2017

This issue includes: Weather-Savvy Roads; 

Modernizing Traffic Signal Management; 

Tapping Innovation Councils to Lead Change; 

Programmatic Agreement Streamlines Virginia 

Project Reviews; Project Tests Technology to 

Measure Pavement Marking Safety; States 

Innovate!; and Events.

The issue is available online via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/innovator/issue5

9/3dIssue/. 

For more information, contact Nichole Causey,

nichole.causey@dot.gov. 

LINKS

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/ 

Resource Center: 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/ 

National Highway Institute: 

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx 

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