Iowa Highway Research Board

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Iowa Highway Research Board

• 56 Years and Going Strong

Sandra Larson, P.E. Research and Technology
Bureau Director Iowa Department of Transportation
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IHRB History

• Iowa Legislature set aside secondary road funding
  for research in 1949
• Iowa DOT was given management responsibility for
  secondary road research funding
• IHRB was created as an advisory board to Iowa DOT
• Iowa DOT added primary road research funding
• City street research funding added in 1989

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IHRB History

• First meeting - May 18, 1950

IHRB Meeting Late 1970s
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IHRB Funding

• City street research funds and county research
  funds allocated by Iowa Code
• Iowa DOT primary road research funds allocated by
  Iowa DOT commission

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IHRB Goals

• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
  highway transportation and engineering in Iowa
• Identify needed research and engineering
  development activity
• Encourage collaborative involvement between
  Industry, Cities, Counties, DOT, Universities,
  Consultants
• Support research implementation

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IHRB Scope

• Financing engineering studies and research
  projects
• Promote efficient use of funds and materials for
  construction and maintenance of Iowa highways

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IHRB Organization

• 15 Members / Alternates
• 7 County Engineers (Six Districts TRB Rep.)
• 2 City Engineers
• 2 University Civil Engineering Department Chairs
  (U of I, ISU)
• 4 Iowa DOT Engineers
• 3 year terms, may be renewed

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IHRB Oversight

• Nine Meetings Per Year
• IHRB is an Advisory Board to DOT
• Research Identification, Prioritization, and
  Project Selection
• Research Project Monitoring (Report Review)
• Each Project has a Technical Advisory Committee

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IHRB Funding

• DOT Primary Road Funding - 750,000.00
• City Annual Funding - 200,000.00
• County FY 2005 Funding - 1,158,278.52
• 2,108,278.52

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Early Testing
Concrete Pipe Testing, June 1914
Road Oiler Testing
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Early Testing
Flume Test
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Early Testing
Concrete Flexural Beam Cutting
Concrete Beam Flexural Testing
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Iowa Innovation
First Slipform Paver, 1949
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Iowas History of Research Partnering

• Over 320 jointly funded projects

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IHRB Projects
Aluminum Bridge 1957
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IHRB Projects
Studded Snow Tires 1969
Skid Testing 1973
Testing Soil Cement 1960
Stream Stabilization Structures 1965
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IHRB Projects
Measuring Profile at the Paver 2005
Mix Design for CIP Recycling using Foamed Asphalt
2003
Stringless PCC Paving 2004
PCC Surface Characteristics 2005
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Project Identification Selection

• Annual Call for Problem Statements
• Anyone can submit topics
• Focus group reports
• Board member submittal
• Project Ranking
• Voting
• Request for Proposals

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Project Identification Selection

• Annually 60-80 projects considered
• 15-18 projects selected annually from priority
  list
• 18-22 total projects funded

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2006 Project Subject Areas

• Structures 6
• HMA Paving 4
• Materials 3
• Hydraulics 2
• Traffic / Safety 2
• Design / Specifications / Standards 2
• Geotechnical 2
• Technology Transfer 2
• Policy 1

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Other Projects

• Immediate Opportunity
• Critical Timing Immediate needs
• Joint Funding Pooled funds
• Innovative Projects High risk / high reward,
  basic research
• Continuation of Previous Projects

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Implementation

• Post Project Implementation Review
• Implementation Plan Developed by Project TAC
• Project Implementation Tracking and Reporting

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The IHRB LTAP Connection

• IHRB provides partial funding for Iowa LTAP
  (Approx. 35 of LTAP budget)
• Dual representation on IHRB and LTAP Advisory
  Board (1 or 2 members on both)
• Aids in transferring technology from IHRB to
  local agencies

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LTAP Related IHRB Projects
Drainage Law Manual 2005
Low Water Stream Crossings 2002
Railroad Flatcar Bridges 2003
Utility Cut Techniques 2005
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Key to Success is Partnership!

• Initially Between DOT, Universities and Counties
• Cities added 40 years later
• Industry participation evolved from the beginning
• All disciplines (Soils, Pavements, Structures,
  etc.)

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Cooperative Funding

• FY 05 FY06
• IHRB Funding 2,643,587 3,423,747
• Outside funding 2,071,920 1,075,454
• FY IHRB Program 4,715,507 4,499,201
• Funding Partners FHWA, USGS, Hungry Canyons
  Alliance, Wapello County, Musco Lighting,
  Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Midwest
  Transportation Consortium, U.S. Department of
  Energy, Grain Processing Corporation

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Contact

• Mark Dunn
• Operations Research Engineer
• Research and Technology Bureau
• Voice 515-239-1447
• Fax [phone]
• Mark.dunn_at_dot.iowa.gov
• http//www.operationsresearch.dot.state.ia.us/