Potential External Research Projects

Research is thrilled to announce that we have nine excited AOT Project Champions who have prepared problem statements for potential external research projects. These statements were sent to the 12 organizations on our Qualified Researcher List. The AOT Champions have started working with their chosen research teams to develop research proposals. In March, decision makers will determine which projects will get funding. The nine projects, including their associated Champions and AOT Sections, are as follows:

• Using DCP in Preliminary Design (Stephen Madden, Geotechnical)
• New UAS Technology Public Sector Impacts (Evan Robinson, Rail and Aviation)
• Small Culvert Performance Monitoring (Michelle Redmond, District 6)
• Travel Time Data from Work Zones (Ben Tietze, Highway Safety and Design)
• Pavement Performance Models (Reid Kiniry, Asset Management)
• RAS as an FDR Mechanical Stabilizer (Callie Ewald/Ian Anderson, Geotechnical/Materials)
• Phosphorus Removal from Stone-Lined Ditches (Jenn Callahan, Stormwater Compliance)
• Laboratory Aging Procedures for Asphalt Mixes (Aaron Schwartz, Materials)
• Rural GHG Reductions Toolbox (Jacqui DeMent, Policy and Planning)

STIC Incentive Award Applications Due in March

Featured Projects This Quarter—TRB Edition

For this edition of the newsletter, we’re focusing on the takeaways and highlights of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting that 10 Vermont AOT staff attended this January in Washington, DC. For further information, please see AOT’s following 2023 TRB Annual Meeting webpages, check out the AOT attendees' presentation about the meeting, or ask any of them about their experience. They're eager to share!



• TRB 2023 Annual Meeting
• 2023 Technical Topics
• 2023 TRB Experience

Several AOT staff presented in TRB sessions and meetings, sharing perspectives, practices, and ideas from Vermont’s transportation practitioners, and received feedback from transportation community peers on how we can improve our processes.

See TRB Experience Page for More Info

DOTs are looking at ways to better manage knowledge transfer so their employees can readily access information and maximize in-office collaboration.

See Technical Topics Page for More Info

Faster and more efficient than traditional road rehabilitation, asphalt zipper “mini reclaimer” technology can be used for small patches or for reconstructing up to two miles of low-volume road a day.

See Technical Topics Page for More Info

Given the increase in Vermont’s flooding events, AOT could benefit from a resiliency resource like Caltrans’ public-facing climate change planning tool, which shows projected rainfall, high and low temperatures, and fire hazards.

See Technical Topics Page for More Info

All the AOT staff who attended the TRB Annual Meeting in the nation’s capital found the trip rewarding—especially those experiencing both for the first time—and enjoyed the conference’s impressive offerings and city touring.

See TRB Experience Page for More Info