Office of Corporate Research and Technology 2005 Accomplishments

The Office of Corporate Research and Technology (HRTC) 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). Since its creation in summer 2004, HRTC has taken the lead in facilitating various agencywide activities by working closely with the FHWA R&T Leadership Team. HRTC champions the initiatives of the R&T Leadership Team in collaboration with the field and program offices, State and local highway agencies, and other key internal and external stakeholders. These initiatives include collaborative review and implementation of authorized research activities under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

Key accomplishments in fiscal year 2005 included:

The Advanced Research Think Tank Series

Between July and October 2005, HRTC held a series of think tank forums that brought together a cross section of stakeholders and partners to make recommendations for a corporate, strategic advanced research agenda for FHWA. HRTC organized the three think tanks to explore future advanced research possibilities within a set of domains relevant to FHWA's mission. Nearly 100 participants representing Federal, State, and local governments; research organizations; private industry; and academic institutions attended and contributed to the development of FHWA's future advanced research agenda. A number of options for managing and administering the selected focus areas will be presented for consideration by the R&T Leadership Team.

Advancement of Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations

An updated list of 24 Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations (T&I) were identified as "push" technologies that warrant special attention. A corporate framework for defining deployment phases was established to assist FHWA in tracking and declaring a technology or innovation as "deployed." In 2005, specific deployment goals were established for each Priority T&I and will be used to measure the phase and impact of deployment. 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. HRTC and the FHWA Resource Center distribute printed, one-page briefs, which also can be downloaded from the HRTC Web site. The updated list of Priority T&Is made their debut at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in Nashville, TN.

Scientific Peer Review

Addressing the CMP commitment to enhance the peer review process for R&T, HRTC has led the effort to address the need for a credible, professional, and objective assessment that further improves stakeholders' confidence in FHWA's R&T program and the outcomes produced by the program. In December 2004, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a bulletin establishing that important scientific information must be peer reviewed by qualified specialists before it can be disseminated. This requirement moves beyond stakeholder involvement and applies to two categories of scientific information: "highly influential scientific assessments" and "influential scientific information." HRTC has worked closely with the Office of the Secretary (OST) to develop guidelines for conducting peer reviews. An information session for members of the Research and Development (R&D) Leadership Council was held in October 2005. In addition, a peer review benchmark study of different Federal agencies was initiated to identify efficiencies in managing and conducting scientific peer reviews.

R&T Multiyear Roadmaps

The FHWA R&T Program encompasses all program areas at all levels of FHWA. This decentralized structure makes it necessary to pull the pieces together with strategic, multiyear roadmaps developed to address functional areas that cross "program" boundaries. As program offices assess the impact of current SAFETEA-LU legislation, existing functional area roadmaps are being revised and redrawn with facilitation and assistance from HRTC.

	Office of Corporate Research and Technology 2005 Accomplishments The Office of Corporate Research and Technology (HRTC) 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). Since its creation in summer 2004, HRTC has taken the lead in facilitating various agencywide activities by working closely with the FHWA R&T Leadership Team. HRTC champions the initiatives of the R&T Leadership Team in collaboration with the field and program offices, State and local highway agencies, and other key internal and external stakeholders. These initiatives include collaborative review and implementation of authorized research activities under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Key accomplishments in fiscal year 2005 included: The Advanced Research Think Tank Series Between July and October 2005, HRTC held a series of think tank forums that brought together a cross section of stakeholders and partners to make recommendations for a corporate, strategic advanced research agenda for FHWA. HRTC organized the three think tanks to explore future advanced research possibilities within a set of domains relevant to FHWA's mission. Nearly 100 participants representing Federal, State, and local governments; research organizations; private industry; and academic institutions attended and contributed to the development of FHWA's future advanced research agenda. A number of options for managing and administering the selected focus areas will be presented for consideration by the R&T Leadership Team. Advancement of Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations An updated list of 24 Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations (T&I) were identified as "push" technologies that warrant special attention. A corporate framework for defining deployment phases was established to assist FHWA in tracking and declaring a technology or innovation as "deployed." In 2005, specific deployment goals were established for each Priority T&I and will be used to measure the phase and impact of deployment. 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. HRTC and the FHWA Resource Center distribute printed, one-page briefs, which also can be downloaded from the HRTC Web site. The updated list of Priority T&Is made their debut at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in Nashville, TN. Scientific Peer Review Addressing the CMP commitment to enhance the peer review process for R&T, HRTC has led the effort to address the need for a credible, professional, and objective assessment that further improves stakeholders' confidence in FHWA's R&T program and the outcomes produced by the program. In December 2004, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a bulletin establishing that important scientific information must be peer reviewed by qualified specialists before it can be disseminated. This requirement moves beyond stakeholder involvement and applies to two categories of scientific information: "highly influential scientific assessments" and "influential scientific information." HRTC has worked closely with the Office of the Secretary (OST) to develop guidelines for conducting peer reviews. An information session for members of the Research and Development (R&D) Leadership Council was held in October 2005. In addition, a peer review benchmark study of different Federal agencies was initiated to identify efficiencies in managing and conducting scientific peer reviews. R&T Multiyear Roadmaps The FHWA R&T Program encompasses all program areas at all levels of FHWA. This decentralized structure makes it necessary to pull the pieces together with strategic, multiyear roadmaps developed to address functional areas that cross "program" boundaries. As program offices assess the impact of current SAFETEA-LU legislation, existing functional area roadmaps are being revised and redrawn with facilitation and assistance from HRTC.
	This page last modified on 08/21/07