Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have shown a growing interest in harnessing the benefits of innovative materials in transportation infrastructure. However, without proper evaluation, DOTs remain hesitant to fully incorporate these materials into their infrastructure. The Transportation Materials Resource Center (TMRC) aims to reduce these hesitancies by evaluating potentially innovative construction and maintenance materials using life cycle analysis and materials assessments, sharing the results through information exchanges, and developing standards and certifications for materials that partner agencies would like to incorporate into their transportation infrastructure.
The primary objective of the TMRC is to champion the identification and evaluation of innovative materials for use in transportation infrastructure. To achieve this overarching goal, TMRC has outlined the following study objectives:
Life Cycle Assessment: Develop methodologies and tools to assess the long-term impacts of using innovative materials in transportation. Methods and tools will be developed to include these considerations in Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to transparently communicate the impacts associated with the use of evaluated materials.
Regional Materials Assessment: Define a comprehensive system for assessing regionally significant materials and establish performance expectations for these materials in various applications.
Innovative Solutions: Deploy innovative solutions that position TMRC as a go-to resource for the highway materials and construction community, offering cutting-edge insights on using innovative materials to bolster transportation infrastructure.
Identify Barriers: Identify and address challenges and bottlenecks that hinder the widespread utilization of these materials.
Technological Innovation: Evaluate and recommend innovative technologies from a materials perspective, focusing on their potential to enhance the reliability, efficiency and safety construction materials.
Local Implementation Support: Provide guidance and resources for local agencies to effectively implement innovative materials in transportation projects.
Innovative Outreach: Organize webinars and workshops to disseminate best practices.
Collaborative Information Exchange: Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration between state agencies, industry stakeholders, and researchers to foster a deeper understanding of innovative materials and their suitability for various applications.
Private Sector Engagement: Engage with private sector producers of materials to encourage and support the availability, quality control, and efficient delivery of materials.
Standards Development: Actively contribute to developing specifications and guidelines through collaboration with organizations like AASHTO and ASTM.
Resource Enhancement: Maintain and continually enhance the TMRC website as a dynamic, up-to-date resource that provides the latest information, research findings, and best practices.
Material Certification: Work with industry stakeholders to establish a certification program for evaluated materials, ensuring their quality, availability, and suitability for transportation infrastructure.
The primary objective of TMRC is to propel the optimal utilization of materials within transportation infrastructure through the study objectives. This will be accomplished through a multifaceted approach that combines pioneering research and development efforts, comprehensive outreach initiatives, and cutting-edge technology transfer. By focusing on innovation and knowledge dissemination, TMRC aims to set new standards for strategically incorporating innovative materials in transportation infrastructure.
The TMRC research program will underscore the vital role of innovative materials in building transportation infrastructure. The program will encompass a comprehensive spectrum of research domains, emphasizing the strategic application of these materials. Utilizing scientific principles and applied research, the program will guide the evaluation of these materials, considering their long-term physical performance under real world conditions. This research initiative will prioritize innovative solutions, validating data through an up-to-date database for life cycle assessments (LCAs). This comprehensive resource will empower decision-makers to make informed choices regarding material and construction options.
The outreach and technology transfer efforts will be a cornerstone of TMRC’s mission. The TMRC Administrative team will be committed to disseminating research findings and fostering outreach at significant national events, as determined by the Executive Board. Active participation in developing new specifications, guidelines, and standards related to materials will persist through engagement with industry bodies such as the AASHTO-Subcommittee on Materials (SOM) and the ASTM Committee D18.14 during semi-annual meetings. Partnering organizations will be continually involved in TMRC’s mission through regular Executive Board meetings, quarterly (or more frequent as needed) sessions, and annual in-person meeting(s) at key events.
To ensure that the TMRC's knowledge remains accessible and up to date, the TMRC Administrative team will continuously enhance the TMRC website, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly resource. Furthermore, they will organize webinars and workshops upon request by the Executive Committee to facilitate knowledge transfer and address specific areas of interest. Recognizing the importance of responsive communication, the TMRC Administrative team will promptly address inquiries received through the website, emails, phone calls, or other channels. In addition, submission of quarterly reports detailing all research advancements and outreach/technology transfer activities will provide transparent progress updates. This commitment to robust outreach and technology transfer activities ensures that the knowledge and insights generated by TMRC are effectively shared and applied to benefit transportation infrastructure nationwide.
Iowa DOT is the agency proposing the pooled fund.
Iowa DOT is responsible for soliciting interest from other states.
Iowa DOT acts as the sponsoring agency and will contract with Michigan State University (MSU) to manage the pooled fund.
Michigan State University (MSU) serves as the administrative institution for TMRC. Its responsibilities include organizing and coordinating meetings, preparing and issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and maintaining regular communication with Board members.
MSU is responsible for managing project records, monitoring project progress, coordinating reporting deadlines, and handling financial invoicing to the lead state agency, currently the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT).
MSU is eligible to submit proposals in response to RFPs issued by the Center. However, when MSU is an applicant, it will not participate in administering, managing, or overseeing the competitive review and selection process for that project.
Iowa DOT (Lead)
Iowa Highway Research Board
Michigan DOT
Texas DOT
Missouri DOT
Pennsylvania DOT
Maryland DOT
Minnesota DOT
Nebraska DOT