U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
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| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
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Publication Number: N/A
Date: April 1997 |
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Guide for Developing a State Transportation Research ManualSECTION 8.0 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERResearch is described as the careful, systematic study to establish facts in a specific field, but the crux of the effort for the state is the application of research results. Technology transfer goes beyond the use of the results of the research projects conducted by the unit. T2 is defined as the search for information on a subject, the assimilation of the information, an evaluation of its utility to the subject, and the incorporation of the relevant aspects into an implementation effort or into the design of a research project to further the knowledge on the subject. Research staff have acquired an expertise in a range of transportation fields. That expertise is continuously in demand by the operating units of the Agency. Further, the transportation field is dynamic, a fact that compels the research staff to keep the state transportation community informed of the latest developments. COMMENTARY: T2 is one of the most time-consuming activities of the research unit. It is discussed in three section of this guide. Section 4.4 defines, in general terms, the funded activities that are included in the T2 line item of the research work program. Section 6.1.2.B specifically describes the T2 activities conducted by the research staff during the course of their work. This section gives detail for support and outreach activities included in T2 efforts. Everyone benefits from the transportation system and from system-related research. In Section 1.2, Purpose, the immediate beneficiaries of research were stated to be the Agency, its employees, and other transportation agencies and users. Technology transfer activities of research are directed to the immediate customer with the larger community in mind. Research Partners, defined in Section 2.4.2.A, also are the beneficiaries of research. Gaining the support of the beneficiaries of research was outlined in Section 2.4, Developing Customer Support. Partnerships formed with Agency operating units, universities, companies, transit authorities, consultants, contractors, local governments, regional agencies, FHWA, and the public require constant renewing. Transfer of technology cannot be accomplished without these partners. 8.1.2.C Technology Transfer Activities The main goal of conducting applied research is to improve or enhance transportation practice. In order for research results to be used, a transfer of knowledge from researcher or other transportation professional experienced in the use of a technology must be made to the new/potential user. Technology transfer activities are broadly defined. The type and level of activity depend on the technology itself. In addition, the processes, methods, and products involved in the agency's technology transfer activities are so diverse that several mechanisms are used to promote the most effective transfer process. Technology transfer occurs within and outside the agency. Most frequently, the agency culls applicable innovations from research results performed with agency research funds. The process encompasses the dissemination of applicable research results and knowledge regarding new processes, methods, and products within the agency and the transportation community as a whole. Technology transfer activities also involve technology scanning—selecting applicable innovations from research results or other new processes, methods, and products available outside the agency. These innovations come from within the transportation community or a related technical field, such as defense technology. Many external sources for innovations are available. The broad reach of the agency assists in attracting the best and most appropriate technologies for application to its practice. The agency's technology transfer activities include use of innovations and sharing the most beneficial with others. The agency conducts or participates in a variety of activities under the technology transfer umbrella. Routine dissemination of research reports and other actions inform transportation peers of the agency's successful research results. Other technology transfer activities are performed as required. Demonstrations and workshops, information brochures, and other special media, as well as technical assistance and implementation-friendly packaging are some of the activities most often used. COMMENTARY: This section gives an overview of the technology transfer activities most likely to be used within an agency. Most agencies perform technology transfer activities through dissemination of the results of their research efforts. Not all agencies scan or actively solicit technologies from external sources such as defense technologies or international applications. If scanning is not done within the agency, the research unit may eliminate the second paragraph of this introductory section as well as Section 8.4 on technology scanning. One of the most prominent external sources of technology for transfer into the agency is FHWA. All agencies benefit from FHWA's technology transfer efforts. The research unit's manual should incorporate those efforts into the discussion. See also Section 4.4.8 Work Program Item Descriptions—Technology Transfer. A knowledge of the customers, partners, and activities involved with the T2 activities are important to the research unit. T2 is an activity that is conducted on a daily basis. All methods of collecting and disseminating information on transportation improvements are pursued to foster implementation and to avail research unit partners of staff expertise and keep the transportation community apprised of the latest advances in the field. 8.2 Benefits of Technology Transfer Technology transfer benefits to the Agency are numerous, but the most significant advantage is that the Agency's transportation problems are solved in a more cost-effective and timely manner. Technology transfer promotes innovation within the agency and eases the adoption of innovations within the transportation community at large. Technology transfer provides substantive technical information by providing technologies shown by others to be appropriate for the agency. In such cases, scarce funds are not wasted on duplicative research and development. Instead, they are spent efficiently on field-tested processes, methods, or products. Technology transfer resulting from FHWA, state, and collaborative relationships with the AASHTO member departments is reviewed for relevance to the Agency. Sound practices and innovative technologies are shared with county- and municipal-level agencies within the state. The transfer of effective processes, methods, and products increases the technical quality and ability of the whole state to better provide transportation services to its citizens. Technology transfer also brings state-of-the-art innovations necessary to sustain quality service for the public into the Agency. Only through contact with other transportation professionals, researchers, manufacturers, and organizations does the agency learn about appropriate innovations to better meet its mission and objectives. COMMENTARY: This section may be augmented with specific examples of benefits from past technology transfer efforts. Most important, technology transfer should be an integral part of an agency's mission of providing safe, reliable, cost-effective service to its customers, the public. Technology transfer has a dual nature. It is sharing what the agency knows to be effective and learning from others' experiences. Benefits of technology transfer are difficult to quantify, yet in most cases, the process of passing along valuable information regarding solutions to transportation problems saves time, money, and staff resources. Many information resources are available to foster technology transfer within the agency. The most commonly used resources are publications and other media from FHWA, TRB, and AASHTO, and colleagues within these organizations. Manufacturers, vendors, and the research community also offer a great deal of information regarding innovative processes, methods, and products. Because international transportation information is easily obtainable, technology transfer is global in scope. COMMENTARY: If there are specific resources used for technology transfer efforts, they may be listed here and then explained in greater detail below in a separate section under this general topic. 8.3.1 Library or Reference Center Some of the most active technology transfer activities are conducted by the Agency library. Library resources are available to all Agency employees and to researchers and others contracted by the Agency. The library offers walk-in lending services and electronic search capabilities for many national databases. Most important, the library's primary effort is to transfer technical information to Agency employees, including the following:
As described in Section 4.4.8.A.2, TRIS is a primary technology transfer source for the agency. The database contains over 400,000 records describing transportation technologies and innovative processes and methods. The database is accessible by direct request to the TRB personnel responsible for TRIS, through direct modem, and through the AASHTO VAN computer network. TRIS is a source for information retrieval and information dissemination. The research unit searches the database for the agency. In addition, the research unit also submits data regarding agency research efforts to TRIS. The tasks for which TRIS is most frequently used are as follows:
There are many other resources that the research unit uses for technology transfer, including face-to-face or some other personal contact with professional colleagues, technical literature, as well as other technical materials and sources. Several technology transfer activities in which the research unit may participate include the following:
All organizations listed above also provide literature, research results, or other materials to assist in the technology transfer process. COMMENTARY: Specific avenues for technology transfer may be listed in this section, but the primary purpose is to show the broad reach of the research unit for its technology transfer efforts. The research unit makes every effort to promote effective use of the results of its research efforts by the Agency and others. In addition, the unit is committed to encouraging the consideration of promising technologies used by others and applicable to agency operations. The research unit understands that users of innovations (research results or other applicable new technologies) are research program customers. The research unit uses various marketing strategies regularly to foster technology transfer as follows:
When appropriate, the research unit sponsors and promotes demonstrations, showcases exhibits, and other field or operational presentations of technologies that could benefit the Agency. In general, demonstration technologies originate with FHWA, AASHTO, and industry. Once the research unit determines that an organization is willing to perform a field demonstration of new technology, it solicits interest from within the agency. The research unit may coordinate the demonstration or assist the applicable agency technical unit. The new technology is introduced to as many agency personnel as possible. Government officials, academia, researchers, consultants, and contractors often are invited to attend, when appropriate. COMMENTARY: If the research unit has scheduled regular technology demonstrations, the details may be included in this section. Research unit staff provide consulting services on an as-needed basis to other operational units within the agency. Requests for such services are made through the research unit manager. The services provided are of relatively short duration and generally involve problems requiring an immediate solution. The research unit places a high priority on these requests and is committed to providing quality responses as soon as possible. A brief letter report of findings and or recommendations is provided to the operating group. COMMENTARY: In research organizations where highly trained technical staff perform research, technical assistance to other operational units is often expected; the research units that provide emergency consulting to other units within the Agency have greater credibility. If the research unit provides technical assistance, this section should mention the technical expertise that is available. If outside technical assistance is timely, procedures, duration, funding, and other delimiting factors should be noted. Some states have a line item in the SPR work program to fund technical assistance efforts. Other states require the operating agency to fund the effort. 8.7 Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) This FHWA program was established to encourage cost-effective improvements to roads and bridges owned and maintained by local governments. Federal aid is available for 50 percent of the program funding. The State and the University of [fill in university name] match the funds. Through technology transfer, training courses, users' manuals, on-site demonstrations, and a strong network of technical expertise available to the local governments, the program has successfully furthered implementation of highway innovations at the local level. COMMENTARY: FHWA began LTAP in 1981 (then called the Rural Technical Assistance Program) and now funds technology transfer centers in each state, Puerto Rico, and four centers for Native American tribal governments. Local governments (including urban areas of up to 1 million in population) are eligible for LTAP services. Details of the agency's LTAP activities should follow the introductory paragraph above and include the following:
The Agency must know about the most recent technological developments in transportation. Research unit staff are committed to scanning information in the various transportation and related technical fields to determine the applicability of innovations. Active efforts are made to be informed about domestic and international transportation technical advancements. Literature is scanned for promising technologies. The research unit requests materials about various technologies and disseminates them to applicable Agency staff. If there is sufficient interest in the technology, the research unit will organize a presentation or an informal forum with individuals knowledgeable about the technology or will use some other method to inform Agency staff about the technology. The research unit will contact professional colleagues having experience with the technology to further determine practicality for the agency and to determine if field (or in-place) observation of the technology can be made by Agency staff. As a result of technology scanning, the research unit staff also will take the appropriate actions to test, further research or develop, or encourage application of new technologies selected by the Agency's Research Advisory Committee. COMMENTARY: The most vital function of technology scanning is to provide agency staff with an additional opportunity to keep up-to-date on promising technologies. The research unit specifies their technology scanning activities including individuals responsible for the activity (librarian, individual researchers or a technology transfer specialist), method of distribution of the "scanner's" findings, general resources scanned, mechanism used to incorporate the findings of others, and procedures for appropriate review by agency staff.
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