The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Broad Agency announcement (BAA) soliciting proposals that address Exploratory Advanced Research topics. FHWA is moving forward with the following three topic areas that had a strong scientific and technical basis through the issuance of a broad agency announcement: Topic 1, Innovative Alternative Binders for Highway Structures and Pavements; Topic 2A, Low-Powered Wired Sensors for Asset Management or Health Monitoring of Structures and Pavements; and Topic 2B, Low-Powered Wired Sensors for Environmental Stewardship, Impact Avoidance, or Mitigation Monitoring. The Broad Agency Announcement (number DTFH61-12-R-00056) is open until October 4, 2012. For more information, visit FedBizOps.

The National Science Foundation is seeking suggestions for topic ideas to be considered for the FY 2014 Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Program Solicitation. The solicitation of topic ideas serves a critical role in focusing the engineering community on important emerging areas. Each year, the EFRI Program evaluates, recommends, and funds interdisciplinary initiatives at the emerging frontiers of engineering research and innovation. Suggestions for EFRI topic Ideas are currently solicited and vetted every 2 years. Selected topics become the foci of EFRI-supported research. Solicitations are announced annually for research proposals that fall under the specified topic areas. The deadline for submissions is September 14, 2012. [more]

Two National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral associates working at FHWA were recently featured in the NRC Research Associateship Programs newsletter, The Postdoc. Dr. Jose Munoz used nanotechnology to improve concrete aggregate performance. Dr. Emmanuel Bolarinwa enhanced crash simulation efforts by developing an improved finite element model for vehicle tires. Their work greatly benefits FHWA’s research program. [more]

Researchers from EAR Program supported projects participated in a National Science Foundation invitation-only workshop on “Developing Dependable and Secure Automotive Cyber-Physical Systems from Components.” The workshop held in Troy, Michigan on March 17-18 will provide information on how research of cyber-physical systems can improve safety, mobility, and fuel efficiency. Cyber-physical systems integrate in-vehicle, infrastructure-based, and combined vehicle-infrastructure hardware and software component systems. For more information about the workshop, please see http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/exit.cfm?link=http://varma.ece.cmu.edu/Auto-CPS-2011/Index.html

In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hosted a workshop to identify interests and capabilities for nanoscale research that can be applied to highway industry subject matters. The workshop brought together FHWA technical experts with those from University Transportation Centers, Federal laboratories, and other organizations, which are conducting relevant nanoscale research. The information and thoughts shared at the workshop will shape the scope of FHWA's further investment in nanoscale research through an open solicitation, interagency agreement, or other appropriate mechanisms. The workshop supports the development of strategic roadmaps and outlines funding needs for nanoscale work that could lead to enhanced capabilities and longer term partnerships along specific lines of nanoscale investigations relevant to highway research. The FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program coordinated the workshop. [more]

Highway transportation research is collecting and analyzing an increasing amount of video data. While the research community is fortunate to be able to collect more and better data, the amount of data has the potential to overwhelm the capacity to assess the data using current methods. [More]