2025 IDOT-ICT Research Showcase highlights innovation and collaboration

Illinois Center for Transportation and Illinois Department of Transportation hosted the IDOT-ICT Research Showcase on Wednesday, October 8, in Springfield, celebrating another year of partnership and progress in transportation research.

The event brought together IDOT staff, university researchers and industry experts to learn about innovative solutions that enhance safety, sustainability and efficiency across Illinois’ transportation network.

This year’s showcase highlighted IDOT-sponsored projects ranging from ultra-high-performance concrete and wildlife-vehicle collisions to transit signal priority, digital alert systems and commercial electric vehicles. Other studies focused on pavement friction, geotechnical asset management and sustainable asphalt testing, demonstrating ICT’s broad impact on infrastructure design and safety.

Through their ongoing partnership, IDOT and ICT continue to turn research into real-world solutions, with over 335 completed projects and over 40 ongoing studies advancing innovation across Illinois’ transportation system.

Below is a complete list of IDOT-ICT projects featured at the Research Showcase:

• R27-232: Utilizing a Particle Packing Approach for an Illinois-specific, Nonproprietary, Low-Shrinkage UHPC
• R27-247: Automated and Contactless Identification of Asphalt Pavement Surface Friction Based on Computer Vision Image-based 3D Reconstruction and Machine Learning Techniques
• R27-249: Evaluating the Benefits of Implementing Mobile Road Weather Information Sensors (Phase II)
• R27-250: Using Advanced Binder Rheological Parameters to Predict Cracking Potential of Hot-Mix Asphalt Mixtures with Modified Binders
• R27-252: Impact of Heavy Commercial Electric Vehicles on Flexible Pavements
• R27-258: Evaluation of Digital Alert Systems Associated to Emergency Response Vehicles and Compliance with Move Over Law
• R27-259: State Department of Transportation Support for Operationalizing Transit Signal Priority
• R27-262: Developing a Framework for Establishing a Risk-Based Geotechnical Asset Management Program in Illinois
• R27-264: Development of a Pavement Friction Management Program
• R27-276: Investigation of Alternative Solvents for Asphalt Extraction and Recovery
• R27-SP65: Review of Low-Clearance Early Warning Device Options for Illinois
• R27-SP70: Understanding Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Illinois
• R27-ALS: Enhanced Capabilities of the Illinois Accelerated Pavement Tester