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Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management 2007 Accomplishments
The Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management (HRTM) supports the Federal Highway Administration's (FWHA) commitment to implement the Corporate Master Plan (CMP) for Research and Deployment of Technology & Innovation (FHWA-RD-03-077) to strengthen FHWA's role as a leader in national highway research and technology (R&T). HRTM has taken the lead in facilitating various agency wide activities to implement the CMP strategic management framework of seven guiding principles and the supporting Agency commitments. The Research and Technology (R&T) Leadership Team, a subset of FHWA leadership, champions the appropriate Federal role in exploratory and applied research and engages stakeholders from research agenda setting through the impact assessment of innovation delivery. The Federal R&T program contributes to a nationally coordinated research agenda that includes collaborations with related Federal agencies, State and local highway agencies, and universities. National and international research organizations assist in the coordination process, which includes endeavors to meet strategic objectives and implement research authorized in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Key accomplishments in fiscal year 2007 included:
Exploratory Advanced Research Broad Agency Announcement
Between July and October 2005, HRTM held a series of think tank forums that brought together a cross section of stakeholders and partners from Federal, State, and local governments; research organizations; private industry; and academic institutions. With input from the think tank forums, FHWA issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for exploratory advanced research in January 2007. The response to that BAA was the receipt of 384 preproposals, and the selection of 11 full proposals, which met the criteria established for FHWA's exploratory advanced research program. Seventy stakeholders helped review the preproposals.
Advancement of Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations
In 2005, 24 Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations (T&I) were established as national deployment goals. To assist FHWA in tracking and declaring a technology or innovation as "deployed" and to define the deployment phases, HRTM established a corporate framework. The R&T Leadership Team championed the deployment of each T&I and in October 2007 assessed the phases of deployment. Through the assessment, four items were determined to be deployed and were removed from the list. Additionally, four new innovations were identified as market ready. To facilitate the deployment of Priority T&Is, technology transfer and marketing were accomplished in partnership with T&I champions, technical experts, and communication specialists across the Agency. HRTM and the FHWA Resource Center distribute printed, one-page briefs, which also can be downloaded from the HRTM Web site. The 2007 updated list of Priority T&Is is available online.
Organizational Support for Delivery of Research and Technology
Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters approved the creation of a new office at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC). The new office, effective October 1, 2007, is called the Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management (HRTM). The office has three teams focusing on program development and partnerships, communications and outreach, which includes the FHWA Research Library, and cross-cutting exploratory advanced research.
Launch of FHWA R&T Now
In November 2007, FHWA launched a listserv mechanism called FHWA R&T Now for communicating research, technologies, and developments with State stakeholders, university transportation centers, and transportation research professionals. To sign up for updates, send an e-mail to FHWA_Now@fhwa.dot.gov or click here.
Launch of Exploratory Advanced Research Web Site
The Federal Highway Administration launched a new Exploratory Advanced Research Program Web site. The Web site is at www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch and it provides information about the Exploratory Advanced Research program, intended to promote longer term and higher risk breakthrough research with the potential for transformational improvements to the transportation system.
Federal Highway Administration Research Library
To sustain FHWA's mission and its innovative programs, FHWA required professional library collection and reference services; therefore, the Technical Reference Center maintained by a paraprofessional grew from a small collection to a full-service and fully staffed library. The Federal Highway Administration Research Libraryprovides collections, electronic resources, and services that support FHWA research needs, and collects and maintains FHWA research reports. Library services include literature search and review, bibliography preparation, collection development recommendations, electronic resources, general reference and referral, interlibrary loans, literature searches, reference checks, and access to journals and periodicals. The library houses more than 40,000 volumes including the following research subject areas: pavement engineering, computers/electronics, geotechnical engineering, highway design, human factors, hydraulic engineering, nondestructive testing, structural engineering, traffic engineering, safety, and materials engineering.
Turner-Fairbank Research Center Tours
In 2007, HRTM coordinated and conducted more than 50 tours of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center facility and laboratories for visiting dignitaries, States, transportation professionals, universities, and schools.
This page last modified on 04/23/08 |
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