ICT Executive Committee Approves Seven New Research Ideas

The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) Executive Committee held its fall meeting on October 28, 2009, in Springfield, Illinois, and seven new research ideas were approved.

Some examples of the varied research topics the Executive Committee approved include: an expert systems approach to highway construction scheduling and investigation of contributing factors regarding wrong-way driving on freeways.

At the Executive Committee meeting, ICT Director Imad Al-Qadi gave a summary of research projects to date. The research funding focus is now diverse in many areas, such as, pavements, structures, traffic operations/maintenance, safety, planning, public transportation, and environment. Since its inception, the ICT has steadily increased its numbers of researchers and students participating.

Also, the meeting was noted as the last that Eric Harm will preside over as Deputy Director, Assistant to the Chief Engineer of Highways, because he will retire at the end of the year. The ICT presented Eric with a gift as a token of appreciation for his support.

To date ICT has a total of 116 projects. Out of those projects 51 have been completed and 65 are active. Those participating in ICT include 72 academic researchers, 75 graduate students, 10 universities, 6 private consulting firms, 2 federal/local government agencies, 1 not-for-profit agency, and consultants. Outsourced projects have grown from Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 to 2009 by $4.2 million. ICT has also significantly exceeded its target goals for outsourcing projects to non-UI researchers.

The newly approved research totals almost $1.1 million. At least five of the newly approved research projects, with an estimated cost of $785,000, will be outsourced to other universities or private researchers. ICT will post the RFPs for the projects to be outsourced on its website http://ict.illinois.edu/ in late December. Additionally, ICT will be collecting research ideas that are due January 31. Look for updates to IDOT's suggested topics for proposed research needs in late November. Click here to add yourself to the email list to receive ICT notifications on RFPs and research needs.

Potential researchers may also view a recorded webinar to learn how to get involved in ICT's research programs: http://ict.illinois.edu/webinar/opportunities.asp.

Photo: Eric Harm opens retirement gift from ICT.