Research, Development and Technology Transfer Program (RDTT)
The demands placed upon transportation facilities in recent years have
presented an increasingly difficult challenge to the State: rising load limits, higher
tire pressures, increased truck lengths and deteriorating infrastructure; serious
disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes; and shortage of funds due to
dwindling gallon-based gas taxes and lack of public support for increasing gas
taxes. These developments have all taken an overwhelming toll on the State
transportation system. Compounding this challenge has been the added burden
of transportation needs competing for limited resources.
To properly operate and maintain the State transportation system during the
current trend of budget cuts, downsizing and reorganization, is all the more
reason to focus scarce, limited resources on researching new materials,
techniques, technology and specifications. The time is critical for the ODOT to
pursue research with renewed emphasis on the technological advances that
would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the planning, design,
construction, operation, and maintenance of these facilities.
It is ODOT’s goal to provide quality research support in areas that respond to the
public need for safe, accountable, flexible, efficient, economical, convenient, and
environmentally compatible transportation service.
The Research, Development and Technology Transfer (RDTT) Program
identifies research needs, arranges for the conduct of, and secures appropriate
funding for, research projects with specific objectives and prescribed timeframes.
Through applied research, development, and demonstration activities, the RDTT
projects focus on providing the ODOT with knowledge, processes, and products
that will contribute to improved transportation facilities.
The RDTT Program consists primarily of selected research projects originated by
Department personnel and others who believe there is a problem or need and
that a research project will provide the necessary information to resolve the
problem. Research projects are selected with the aim of providing a coordinated
and balanced effort among the various technical, socioeconomic and
environmental subject areas and also among the various types of research.
The RDTT Program conducts work through in-house research, contracted
research and collaborative research. Although some research is conducted inhouse
by Department researchers, the majority of the projects are conducted for
the ODOT under contract by universities, other governmental agencies, or
private organizations. Collaborative research offers the Department the ability to
further leverage State funds and includes partners such as the Transportation
Research Board (TRB) and the Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) as well
as other state highway agencies.
ODOT’s RDTT program is accomplished through research projects with welldefined
objectives and with durations from one to five years. Normally, the end
product of a research project is a published final report. Research results are
implemented through new specifications, standard plans, test methods, new or
revised procedures, computer programs, manual changes, or policy and
procedure directives either before or after completion of a research project.
Additional implementation plans may be necessary to encourage full
implementation, that is, to make the results part of the ODOT standard
operational practices.
