About
The USDOT Research Hub is a web-based, searchable database of the latest USDOT-sponsored research, development, and technology projects. The database contains active projects (projects that are currently underway) and projects that were completed after September 30, 2008. The database acts as a central repository for projects funded by ten USDOT Operating Administrations, providing access to the Department's research portfolio at the project level.
Featured agencies include:
- Federal Railroad Administration
- Federal Transit Administration
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Office of the Secretary of Transportation
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Maritime Administration
- Federal Highway Administration
- Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Database content originates from a range of different internal sources within these USDOT agencies, supplemented by existing online resources like the Transportation Research Board's Research in Progress (RiP) database. For more information on database content, see the Data section.
The database has been designed to fulfill a variety of objectives; (a) to aid RITA in its research coordination, facilitation, and strategic planning efforts, (b) to leverage opportunities for collaboration between USDOT agencies and between USDOT and external organizations, (c) to provide USDOT staff with a resource to quickly and accurately respond to requests for information from external stakeholders, (d) to provide the transportation community with access to USDOT's research portfolio and thus, (e) comply with the U.S. Government's Open Government initiative.
The database field structure has been developed to provide a basic summary of each individual research, development, and technology project. Information provided includes the project title, a short description of project activities, the program through which it is funded, its status (active or completed), start and end dates, and the total funding amount. Also included are the details of the organizations that sponsor, manage, and conduct the research, and the points of contact within these organizations. The database also provides links to research reports and other products generated by completed projects.
The database has been released as a beta version in order to solicit feedback from the transportation community. If you have any ideas for improving the database, or any other comments on its content or functionality, we would like to hear from you. Any feedback received will be used in the development of future database versions.