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TRB Back-to-Basics Initiative

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

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TRB’s Mission

Provide leadership in transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial, and evidence-based information exchange, research, and advice regarding all modes of transportation.

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The Back-to-Basics (BTB) Initiative

Began in 2011
Developed and Sponsored by

Technical Activities Council
Conduct of Research Committee
Technology Transfer Committee

Implementation Strategies/Working Groups

Enhance the Research Needs Statements (RNS) Database
Provide Ongoing Guidance and Training via CRCs

RIIM

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Back-to-Basics: Fostering and Nurturing TRB Committees’ Contributions to Transportation Research

2011: Committee Research Coordinator (CRC) Role Developed; Invite Committees to Appoint CRCs
January 2012: First CRC Workshop Held
April 2012: CRC Council Role Developed

The BTB Initiative

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TRB Committee Research Goals

The Chair is responsible to provide their Committee with the Knowledge and Tools to Develop and Maintain Robust Research Portfolios. The CRC assists in this process.:

Communication, coordination, and collaboration within and among TRB committees;
Identification of research needs;
Development of peer-reviewed research needs statements (RNS) through cross-committee collaborative efforts;

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BTB Goals

Provide Committees with the Knowledge and Tools to Develop and Maintain Robust Research Portfolios through:

Entry of these statements into the RNS database;
Sponsorship of RNS;
Enhancing the probability that RNS will be funded by submittal of RNS to funding programs by Committee members or co-sponsors;

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BTB Goals

Provide Committees with the Knowledge and Tools to Develop and Maintain Robust Research Portfolios through:

Enhancing the sharing of information from ongoing research by monitoring of research status; and
Using of a variety of strategies to communicate and interact with stakeholders regarding the availability and implementation of recently completed research, and to foster discussions on the implications to practice and future research needs.

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BTB Goals

Through Committee Research Coordinators (CRC) and the CRC Council, this initiative helps committees identify, formulate, prioritize, and promote research needs and the conduct of research, turning research needs into results.

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CRC Role

CRC ≠

CRC = Point Person for the Chair

It truly takes a whole committee

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home

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CRC Role

Serve as Committees’ Representative to the Community of CRCs
Share Guidance Information with Committees
Participate in Training Opportunities
Network with and Foster Excellence Among Fellow CRCs
Share Experiences and Good Practices
Provide Recommendations to the CRC Council
May Participate as Part of the CRC Council

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CRC Council Role & Membership

The purpose of the CRC Leadership Council is to provide guidance and training to the CRCs, and to act as the liaison between TRB and the CRCs.

Representative from each TRB Group
At-Large Members

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/council

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Committees’ Approach to Research

Single CRC
Co-CRCs
Assistant CRC
Research Administrative Task Force (formerly Subcommittee)
Assign Individual Responsibilities to Committee Members and Friends

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1itJ20AECb-DWPzo3PBUhpmAoxxuMcl-k/view

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Committees CRCs

https://www.mytrb.org/OnlineDirectory/TRBList

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Section and Group CRCs

Section and Group Chairs are encouraged to appoint CRCs for their Section and Group and to form joint subcommittees to facilitate communication, coordination, and collaborations within Sections and Groups.

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Research Cycle

Incorporate into Triennial Strategic

Plan (TSP) & Action Plans

Develop Problem Statements & Submit for Funding

Get on Project Panel, Help Develop Scope of Work, & Review Deliverables

Continuous monitoring of RNS and active & completed research; set up an Alert/RSS feed

Post research activities on

committee website

ID Most Pressing Needs, Develop RNS & enter RNS into RNS Database

Research Gaps & Ideas

Research Needs/ RNS

Funding

Conduct of Research

Share Results

Facilitate Implementation

Communicate Value

Communicate

Coordinate

Collaborate

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Research Cycle

Communicate, Coordinate, and Collaborate throughout the Entire Research Cycle, such as with Other TRB Committees and Organizations, such as AASHTO

Communicate

Coordinate

Collaborate

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Research Cycle

Continuous Monitoring of Research Needs (RNS database), Research in Progress (RIP database), and Completed Research (TRID)

RIP TRID
Set Up RSS Feeds for RNS and TRID
Request TRB Snap Searches on the Topic(s) within Committee’s Scope – TRBLibrary@nas.edu

http://www.trb.org/InformationServices/Snap.aspx

One key component of the Research Cycle includes monitoring the RNS and TRID databases for related research needs and active and completed research. RIP is copied into TRID, so you only have to search TRID to obtain information on both active and completed research. RIP records are identified as projects and include a begin and end date. You can set up RSS Feeds for these databases, which can be set up in your email software to push new information to you. You can also request snap searches on topics within your committee’s scope via the TRB Library link here. The second link leads to a list of all snap searches.

Snap Searches provide a succinct summary of current activities in TRB on a given topic including:

A list of recent reports from TRB and the National Academies
Current and upcoming projects related to the topic
Names of Committees working on relevant issues
Upcoming events such as conferences and webinars

Updated at least annually; you'll find a date stamp on the first page of every document.

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Research Cycle

http://www.trb.org/InformationServices/Snap.aspx

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Research Cycle

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Research Cycle

Continuous Monitoring of Research Needs (RNS database), Research in Progress (RIP database), and Completed Research/Research Results (TRID)

Participate on Research Panels

Committee Member or Friend
Ensure Research Meets Committee’s Needs

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-vIMtrVi41ThYTjoCcxIpSX-1AYdd7IV/view

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Research Cycle

Identifying Research Gaps and Research Needs and Incorporate into TSPs and Action Plans

Based on Monitoring of Research and Research Results
Develop a Research Plan or Roadmap
Document in Committee’s Triennial Strategic Plan (TSP) and Action Plans (include Responsible Parties and Deadlines)
Regularly Update and Report on Progress

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19OAI_SxL2kzPoj0IMT3BC4k0gTqEpus6/view

Research Gaps & Ideas

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Research Cycle

Document Research Needs in Research Needs Statements (RNS) and Enter them into the RNS Database; Develop Research Problem Statements (RPS)

Develop Full RNS and RPS for Committee’s Most Critical Research Needs
Combine the Processes to Save Time and Prevent Rework
Identify Partners
Ensure Research is not Active or Completed

Research Needs/ RNS

Other key components of the Research Cycle include documenting Research Needs in Research Needs Statements (RNS), entering them into the RNS Database, and developing Research Problem Statements (RPS). RNS document research needs and are entered into the RNS database. RPS (AKA: Research Statements, Research Topic Statements, Problem Statements, etc.) are developed for and submitted to funding programs.

Develop full RNS and RPS for committee’s most critical research needs that your committee plans to submit to funding programs in the near future, as documented in the TSP and action plans.

Combine the development of both RNS and RPS for committee’s most critical research needs. This saves time. Identify and work with others interested in each of your research needs. Based on your monitoring of research and results, make sure research on your topic is not currently ongoing or completed.

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Research Cycle

Document Research Needs in Research Needs Statements (RNS) and Enter them into the RNS Database; Develop Research Problem Statements (RPS)

Develop RNS/RPS with Funding Program Requirements - https://rppm.org/research-funding-guidebook/

https://rppm.org/research-funding-guidebook/appendix-a-how-to-write-an-effective-research-statement/

Align your process with that of the Funding Program

Research Needs/ RNS

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Research Cycle

Document Research Needs in Research Needs Statements (RNS) and Enter them into the RNS Database; Develop Research Problem Statements (RPS)

Enter RNS into RNS Database - https://rns.trb.org/
Submit RPS to Funding Program

Research Needs/ RNS

Only RNS Editors can enter RNS into the RNS database. RNS Editor status is only given to 2 people as determined by the committee chair, usually, the chair and CRC for each committee. This is one function that other committee members or friends cannot complete. TRB staff review every RNS before they can be viewed by others. It will take a little time for this to occur. If you feel it is taking too long, please let us know. When research is in progress, complete, or no longer a priority, archive the RNS. Don’t delete them.

Data entry instructions and other useful resources can be found in the left-hand menu of the RNS home page, linked in this slide.

So, why enter your research needs into the RNS database? Others review this database when identifying research that they will conduct. This increases findability by champions and sponsors of research. State DOTs review the database when they are determining the research thewy will conduct. Universities review this database when looking for student projects, such as a senior capstone project or a graduate student project. You can even add in the Relevance field that the project is suitable for a capstone or graduate project. The more detail you enter, the more findable it is. In storing all of your research needs in the RNS database (but also on your committee’s website, which I’ll talk about later), you and others have a more complete view of your direction, your scope. It can also be used as a tool for self-reflection, along with your TSP and tactical action plans; understanding your Council’s historical research efforts. It can be used to identify gaps in research and to provide vision for the future. It increases findability by potential sponsoring committees. Other TRB committee’s can find research needs you’ve identifying that might relate to their committee and vice versa, you can use if to identify the research needs of other committees that might relate to your council. This increases communication, coordination, and collaboration and gives more power to your RNS.

This statement occurs at the bottom of every RNS. When the form is sent, it goes to James Bryant at TRB who notifies the committee chair, TRB staff, and the CRC Council chair so that the information can be acted upon. For example, the Utah DOT indicated they were going to fund a project identified in the RNS database. Ihttps://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/councilah DOT was asked to keep the committee in the loop so that they could determine if the research completely met the committee’s need as identified in the RNS.

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Research Cycle

Document Research Needs in Research Needs Statements (RNS) and Enter them into the RNS Database; Develop Research Problem Statements (RPS)

There is No Automatic Connection Between the RNS Database and Funding Programs

For Less Critical Needs…

Entire at least 4 Required Fields into the �RNS Database

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jqCGwJgn7_rtZsXRRYdcxAJOvd9vFXX5/view

Research Needs/ RNS

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Research Cycle

Obtaining Research Funding

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GHVdju2w22ciwuczwNJ6k0c_WP9DsWiN/view

It’s an Iterative Process.
If not Successful at First…

Funding

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Research Cycle

Sharing Research Results

Share both Successes and Failures
Method(s) Depend on What Needs to be Shared
Plan for Upfront, When Scoping the Research
Products for Sharing can be Included in the Research

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WsRj52451L8zoqGOKWeM3oD05awj9hKZ/view

Share Results

Facilitate Implementation

Communicate Value

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Research Cycle

Implementing Research Results

Not Role of TRB Committees; however…
Should be Considered Upfront in Project Scoping and Included in Research

Identify Barriers and how to Eliminate or Reduce
Identify Products Required for Implementation
Include Implementers

Additional Funding May be Available via NCHRP 20-44 - http://www.trb.org/NCHRP/NCHRPImplementationSupportProgram.aspx

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1npADTKgbZ2RT0U6U9F3wxr0BafK7lYZy/view

Share Results

Facilitate Implementation

Communicate Value

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Research Cycle

Determining and Communicating

the Value of Research

While Determining the Value of Research is Not Role of TRB Committees, Communicating the Value is

Critical for Continued Research Funding
Determining value can turn the subjective into the objective, which can often turn uncertainty into support

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ro99ooSiKZTOTM89_OvYhhWUUCPb6XB/view

Share Results

Facilitate Implementation

Communicate Value

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Research Cycle

It’s a Cycle, Repeat

Post your research activities on your committee’s website.

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Additional Resources

CRC Website: One-Stop Shop

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home

Home Page - Announcements
Resources
Email Updates
Webinars
Workshops and Meetings
Metrics
Council
Contacts

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Additional Resources

CRC Resources

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources

Generating Participation and Research Ideas within Your Committee
Coordination and Collaboration Among Committees and Others
Prioritizing Research Ideas
Developing and Prioritizing RNS
Obtaining Finding and Funding Program Feedback
Monitoring Research, Sharing Results, Implementation, and Value of Research

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Additional Resources

CRC Resources

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources

Successful Practices and Tools Documents
Resource Documents
Committee-Developed Example Documents

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Additional Resources

CRC Resources - General

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources/general

Research Cycle Help Guides
Blue Ribbon Committee Success Stories

CRC Resources – Coordination & Collaboration…

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources/coordination-and-collaboration-among-committees-and-others

AASHTO-TRB Committee Connections Spreadsheet

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Additional Resources

CRC Resources – Developing & Prioritizing RNS

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources/developing-and-prioritizing-research-needs-statements-rns

Literature Search Guidance
RNS Development Guidelines and Checklist

CRC Resources – Obtaining Funding…

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/resources/obtaining-funding-and-funding-program-feedback

TRB Cooperative Research Program (CRP) Problem Statement Examples
Writing Effective Research Statements

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Additional Resources

CRC Resources - Webinars

https://sites.google.com/view/trbcrc/home/webinars

AASHTO/TRB Committee Successful Partnerships
Funding Programs
Research Cycle
CRC 101
CRC Q&A

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Contact and Questions

Sue Sillick

ssillick@mt.gov

406.444.7693

Questions?