Since September, Iowa DOT has launched seven new research projects to help advance transportation in the state. These initiatives include:
Sustainable Dust Suppressants for Gravel Roads - As vehicles and other heavy equipment travel along Iowa's gravel roads, the loose aggregates on the surface are often crushed and released into the air as fine particulates. Not only is less material left on the roads, but the airborne dust can lower drivers’ visibility and pose a serious health threat to road users and those living and working in the vicinity. This research, which will conclude in June 2025, aims to find a lower-cost and more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical stabilizers. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Connected Vehicle Technology for Road Weather Management - Existing road weather information systems collect data from various sources to help transportation agencies decide how, when, and where snowplows and other road maintenance resources are needed. Gaps in data coverage persist, however, and as the lead state of the Aurora pooled fund program Iowa DOT is working with other states to identify communication methods that effectively reach road users in real time. The research is expected to conclude in April 2024. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Crowdsourced road friction data - Keeping winter roads clear is resource intensive. In addition to costs for deicing materials, maintenance crews and equipment, state departments of transportation (DOTs) must have capabilities to deploy crews to the locations that need them the most. Road weather information systems, which measure actual road conditions, are expensive and provide limited spatial coverage. This research project, set to end in July 2024, will explore alternative sources for this valuable data. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Alerting Drivers to Adverse Road Conditions - Smartphones and onboard vehicle computers provide access to changing traffic patterns, road closures, and weather updates to help drivers make informed planning decisions. Iowa DOT envisions a high-tech system that could respond to a driver’s spoken request for this information, ensuring their focus remains on the road ahead. The research is expected to conclude in April 2025. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Winter Weather Road Condition Indices - State agencies protect travelers by providing up-to-date information on weather and road conditions. But climates vary significantly across the country, and there is currently no standardized guideline or index that connects these different state weather information systems. This gap raises concerns about driver safety and the response to weather events that affect multiple states. In this research, Iowa DOT will work with other state to investigate a uniform framework for indexing and communicating weather conditions to travelers. The project is expected to conclude in April 2025. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Assessing Roadway Safety Hardware - Safety hardware devices designed for use in roadways – such as barriers, breakaway signs, and crash cushions – undergo rigorous tests before they’re deployed on a roadway. Once on the road, collision and maintenance helps Iowa DOT assess the performance of these devices in real-world conditions. But data coming from a variety of sources, such as police and road maintenance crews, is often in different formats, making analysis challenging. This project, which is slated for completion in June 2024, will explore different data collection methods with the goal of developing a uniform process. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Improving Asset Management with Building Information Modeling - Transportation agencies generate volumes of data for designing, building, and maintaining transportation infrastructure. Iowa DOT leads the Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Infrastructure pooled fund, a multiyear effort that will develop recommended standards and processes for data exchange and digital workflows, geographic information systems applications, and asset inventories. The multiyear effort will develop recommended standards and processes for data exchange and digital workflows, geographic information systems applications, and asset inventories. The research is expected to conclude in December 2027. Subscribe and receive project updates here.
Want to get involved? Learn how Iowa DOT staff, industry stakeholders and members of the public can all help advance research in Iowa.
And find out more about other Iowa DOT research efforts on the News & Publications page.
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