Transportation Research
Research is a catalyst for innovation. IDOT has been a leader in transportation research for more than a century, bringing the traveling public out of the mud and onto hard-surface roads in the 1910s, pioneering the scientific study of road design at the Bates Experimental Road Project near Springfield in the early 1920s, and serving as a host state to the interstate highway era with what was then called the American Association of State Highway Officials and their road test loop near Ottawa in the late 1950s. Today, research impacts all aspects of work at IDOT, providing innovative, evidence-based improvements, ideas and solutions that help provide a cost-effective, efficient and safe transportation system that is consistent in quality and reliability for all of Illinois.
To that end, IDOT is involved in all areas of transportation research, including research for construction, environment, operations and maintenance, pavements and materials, planning, public and multi-modal transportation, safety, and bridge structures. Research needs are managed using state and federal funds and in-house oversight expertise in collaboration with our transportation stakeholders and academic partners. One such long-standing partnership, dating to July 1941, involves IDOT and the state's flagship university, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. This cooperative relationship proved to be of such value to Illinois that, in 2005, an expanded research program was developed through the creation of the Illinois Center for Transportation. This innovative partnership helps IDOT initiate more timely and effective transportation research, and enables IDOT managers and engineers to interact with world-class researchers on solutions to complex, often longstanding transportation problems. The goal of such research, ultimately, is to implement transformative solutions for the state of Illinois.
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Guidelines and Information
Manuals
Research, Development and Technology Transfer Manual of Procedures
Research Agreement FY18-20
FY 18- 20 Intergovernmental Agreement between IDOT and the Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois
Technical Review Panel (TRP) Information
What is a TRP?
TRP Chair Instructions
TRP Creation Checklist
Kick Off Meeting Outline and Worksheet
Kick Off Meeting Agenda
Regular TRP Meeting Agenda
Featured Research
How do you define success? For some of our research projects, it means that the outcomes have attracted the attention of other state and national transportation agencies who realize the positive benefits that we’ve achieved. For others, the results may have led to marked safety improvements or financial savings. Here are some of our success stories:
- For 2017, IDOT is featured in the AASHTO Safety: Innovations from State DOTs brochure for the department's right turn skew project in Peoria (District 4). The new design led to a 59% reduction in crashes at these intersections, with an annualized 15-year cost benefit of more than 14 to 1. Statewide implementation of specification changes is underway.
- AASHTO has also released brochures featuring Research Makes the Difference 2017 - Award Winning Innovations from State DOTs and AASHTO Maintenance Research: Innovations from State DOTs across the country.
- IDOT/ICT Research Named AASHTO Sweet 16 Project
- Congratulations to IDOT's National Cooperative Highway Research Panel (NCHRP) Panel Members!
- The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT), International Society for Concrete Pavements (ISCP), and ACPA-Illinois Chapter held a one-day workshop titled “Concrete Pavement Innovation & Technology Transfer Workshop” on June 25, 2015 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the IDOT District 1 office in Schaumburg.
Video of the Concrete Pavement Innovation and Technology Transfer Workshop is now available online. - FHWA has released the “The FHWA 2015 R&T Story” document and video to highlight the value of research and how FHWA’s highway research and technology initiatives are making a difference in addressing FHWA’s six key highway challenges.
- Development of a Traffic Incident Management Operational and Training Guide - Phase II selected as AASHTO Sweet 16 High Value Research Project
- Research Makes The Difference 2014: Innovation Advances Transportation
- IDOT takes recycling from the rubbish pile to the roadway. For more information on how IDOT utilized recycled and reclaimed materials in Illinois, please visit the Illinois Center for Transportation’s Publication Page and search for report number R27-160: ILLINOIS HIGHWAY MATERIALS SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS OF 2013.
- Research Makes the Difference 2010: State DOTs Achieve More with Less - Illinois Automated Warn and Ticket System Slows Down Drivers
- National Cooperative Highway Research Program: Impacts on Practice - Advancing the Science of Highway Safety
- Research Pays Off: Safer Nighttime Construction Zones Through Better Lighting, Illinois Develops and Applies Practical Guidelines
- Research Pays Off: Uninterruptible Power Supplies Keep Traffic Signals On, Illinois Works to Avoid Delays and Dangers from Outages
- Research Pays Off: Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement with Steel Slag Aggregate Successful Use in Illinois Pavements
Research Reports & Publications
By conducting extensive research, implementing what we learn, and sharing the outcomes with our stakeholders, IDOT prudently utilizes available state and federal research dollars to find solutions to transportation challenges that yield a high return on taxpayer investments. The research program benefits IDOT along with countless other local, state and national agencies facing similar challenges, but with fewer resources to devote to research. The improvements provided by such research ultimately benefit all travelers by ensuring a safer, smoother, more expedient journey, using taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible. Please take a moment to view our research reports and publications online! Documents include:
Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT)
Under a cooperative agreement with IDOT and the University of Illinois, the ICT has conducted IDOT’s contract research since 2005.
Illinois Transportation Research Center (ITRC) Reports
A Public-Private-University cooperative transportation research effort underwritten by the IDOT Office of Planning and Programming, ITRC conducted research in all modes of transportation between 1991 and 2004. Along with IDOT, the following universities were sponsors of the ITRC:
Bradley University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Springfield, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Western Illinois University
Click on any of the column headings to sort the list.
Physical Research Reports (PRR)
PRR represent the results of research conducted by IDOT subject-matter experts on a wide variety of transportation issues since 1964. For more information about how to create or submit a PRR, please contact the Bureau of Reseach.
Click on any of the column headings to sort the list.
| PRR No. | Title |
|---|---|
AASHO Road Test Equations Applied to the Design of Bituminous Pavements in Illinois | |
AASHO Road Test Equations Applied to the Design of Portland Cement Concrete Pavements in Illinois | |
Slip-Form Paving with Mesh and Dowels in Illinois | |
Evaluation of Welded Wire Fabric in Bituminous Concrete Resurfacing | |
Some Tests of Studded Tires in Illinois | |
An Interim Report on The Use of Water-Reducing Admixtures in CRCP on the Southwest Expressway | |
Evaluation of Synopal Aggregate as a Paving Material | |
Evaluation of a Hot-Poured Elastic Type Joint Sealer for Sealing Pavement-Paved Shoulder Interface Joint | |
Drilled-Hole Lime Treatment of Fill on Route Illinois 148 in Williamson County, Illinois | |
Evaluation of the Cutler R-1000 Repaver and the Repaving Process on an MFT Maintenance Resurfacing Project by the City of Wheaton | |
Evaluation of Soil Retention Blanket in the Control of Erosion on Slopes and in Channels | |
Evaluation of SA-1 (Stabilizing Agent-1) in the Reconstruction of a Township Road by Adams County | |
Safety of Metal Studded Tires on Bare Pavement Surfaces | |
Bridge Deck Deterioration Study First Progress Report | |
Interim Report on An Investigation for Determination of 85 Percentile Operating Speed of Motor Vehicles on Illinois Highways | |
Use of Water-Reducing Admixture in CRPCC Pavement in Interstate Route 57 | |
A Twenty-Year Report on the Illinois Continuously Reinforced Pavement | |
A Study of Blowups in Rigid Pavements in Illinois | |
Paved Shoulder Problem - Stevenson Expressway | |
A Uniform System for County Road Identification and Rural House Numbering | |
Experimental Use of Urethane Foam Insulation to Control Bridge Deck Icing | |
Design Coefficients for Lime-Soil Mixtures | |
Selection and Design of a Skid Tester | |
Experimental Paved Shoulders on Frost Susceptible Soils | |
Interim Report - Lime Stabilization of Bridge Cones | |
Evaluation of a Flexible Pavement in Illinois | |
Portland Cement Concrete Shoulders | |
Lean Mix Concrete Base Widening | |
A Comparative Field Investigation of Wind Loads on Louvered and Solid Highway Signs | |
Thickness Design Procedure for Bituminous Resurfacing of Portland Cement Concrete Pavements | |
Interim Report - TFE Expansion Bearings for Bridges | |
Vehicle-in-Motion Weighing Experiment at Restored AASHO Road Test Facility | |
Route US 66 Condition Survey | |
Interim Report A Field Experiment with Mineral Fillers | |
Performance Evaluation of Bituminous Shoulders for Resurfaced Pavement | |
Traffic Evaluation for Illinois Pavement Design | |
Performance of Lake County Inverted Flexible Pavement | |
Induced Trench Method of Culvert Installation | |
Experimental Paved Shoulders on Frost Susceptible Soils | |
Field Evaluation of a Viatec Axle Weight Analyzer | |
Interim Report Modification and Calibration of the Illinois Skid Test System Second Interim Report on Lime Stabilization of Bridge Cones | |
Condition of Longitudinal Steel in Illinois Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements | |
Skid-Resistant Characteristics of Experimental Bituminous Surfaces in Illinois | |
An Analysis of 1972 Roadometer Tests on New Pavement Surfaces in Illinois | |
Summary Analysis - "Before" Study Data Collection for the I-80 Motorist Aid Communication System | |
Final Report Lime Stabilization of Bridge Cones | |
Traffic Evaluation for Secondary and Local Pavement Design | |
A Study of the AASHO Road Test - Phase 2 - Evaluation and Application of the AASHO Road Test Results | |
The Rehabilitated AASHO Road Test, Part 1 - Materials and Construction | |
Linseed Oil Retreatments to Control Surface Deterioration of Concrete Bridge Decks | |
Effect of Internal Vibration of Portland Cement Concrete During Paving | |
Interim Report Highway Insulating Material Evaluation | |
Construction Experience with CRC Pavements in Illinois | |
Skid-Resistant Characteristics of Existing Pavements in Illinois | |
Evaluation of different Types of Sand Drains | |
Development of Data-Acquisition System for Stress History Studies of Highway Bridges | |
A Strategy for Reducing Wet Pavement Accidents in Illinois | |
Calibration of Illinois Roadometers | |
I-80 Motorist Aid Communication System | |
Modification of the BPR-Type Roadometer | |
Highway Insulating Material Evaluation | |
Factors Influencing the Riding Quality of New Pavement Surfaces in Illinois | |
Investigation of Bridge Approach Spans to Poplar Street Bridge | |
An Investigation of the Smoothness Characteristics of Highway Pavement Surfaces | |
Implementation Package - Illinois Modification of the BPR-Type Roadometer | |
Zinc Anodes to Control Bridge Deck Deterioration | |
An investigation of Granulated Calcined Clay in Landscaping | |
TFE Expansion Bearings for Highway Bridges | |
Terminal Treatments for Illinois Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements | |
Friction Characteristics of Illinois Pavements | |
PCC Pavement Texturing in Illinois | |
Behavior of Contraction Joints in the Rehabilitated AASHO Test Road | |
Performance of Pavement Test Sections in the Rehabilitated AASHO Test Road | |
A Study of the AASHO Road Test, Phase 1 - Performance of Rehabilitated AASHO Test Road | |
Behavior of Plain PCC Pavement with Skewed Joints Randomly Spaced | |
Storm Sewer Plastic Pipe Evaluation | |
Continuously Reinforced Concrete Overlays on Existing Portland Cement Concrete Pavement | |
Construction and Instrumentation of Induced Trench Experiment Under High Fill | |
Behavior of Experimental CRC Pavements in Illinois | |
Effect of Subbase Type and Subsurface Drainage on Behavior of CRC Pavements | |
Final Summary Report of CRC Pavement in Illinois | |
Evaluation of Incident Detection Algorithms | |
Results of Bridge Deck Condition Surveys and Corrosion Rate Determination | |
Investigation of Trunnion Failures Involving Movable Vertical Lift Bridges | |
An Evaluation of Engineering Fabric in Pavement Rehabilitation | |
Evaluation of Longitudinal Steel in Illinois CRC Pavements | |
A Summary of the Illinois Skid-Accident Reduction Program - 1964-1980 | |
Implementation Package - Emulsified Asphalt-Aggregate Mixtures - Mix Design and Design Coefficients | |
Field Evaluation of Microwave Patching System Re-evaluation of Different Types of Sand Drains | |
Bridge Deck Condition Survey | |
A Study of PCC Pavement Texturing characteristics in Illinois | |
Evaluation of Two Isolated Responsive Ramp Control Tactics | |
Lime-Modified Soil to Increase Subgrade Stability | |
Crack Control of Pozzolanic Bases | |
A Summary of the Illinois Skid-Accident Reduction Program March 1980-March 1984 | |
Bridge Deck Condition Survey Phase V Long Term Performance Evaluation | |
Performance Evaluation of Concrete Overlays | |
Performance Evaluation of Jointed Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Without Resurfacing | |
Crack Control of Pozzolanic Bases | |
Evaluation of Crack and Seat Method of Resurfacing Concrete Pavements | |
Evaluation of Pozzolanic Mixture Containing Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) (IL 83-11) | |
Accurate and Rapid Determination of Fatigue Damage in Bridge Superstructures | |
Analysis, Inspection, and Repair Methods for Pin Connections in Illinois Bridges | |
Effects of Corrosion and Fatigue on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Structural and Reinforcing Steel | |
Methods to Reduce Built-In Residual Stresses in Steel Bridge Diaphragms (Phase 1) | |
Performance Evaluation of Single Pass Thin Lift Bituminous Overlays | |
Alternative to Full-Depth Patching On Resurfacing Projects | |
Evaluating Pavement Design Features - Five Year Performance Evaluation of FA 401 and FA 409 | |
Recycling Old PCC Pavement - Performance Evaluation of FAI 57 Inlays | |
Design and Construction of Open-Graded Base Courses | |
Fatigue Analysis of Overhead Sign and Signal Structures | |
Bituminous Overlay Policy - A Performance Evaluation | |
Evaluation of Reclaimed Rubber in Bituminous Pavements | |
Fatigue of Tube-to-Plate Fillet Welds and Methods for Their Improvement | |
A Summary of the Illinois Skid-Accident Reduction Program 1989-1994 | |
An Evaluation of IDOT's Current Underdrain Systems | |
Evaluation of Stone Matrix Asphalt | |
Planning, Design and Construction of an Unbonded Concrete Overlay | |
Thin Bonded Concrete Overlay and Bonding Agents - Construction and Initial Performance | |
Design, Construction, and Analysis of CRCP Patching Techniques in Illinois | |
Alternative Materials for the Modification and Stabilization of Unstable Subgrade Soils - Laboratory Testing Report | |
Finite Element Models for the 3-Web Sheave Design for the Shippingsport Bridge | |
Finite Element Models for the Single-Web Sheave Design for the Shippingsport Vertical Lift Bridge | |
Finite Element Models for the 3-Web Sheave Design for the Shippingsport Vertical Lift Bridge | |
Investigation of Rack & Pinion Alignment on the Cass Street Bridge in Joliet, IL | |
Evaluation of Mechanized Consolidation of Bridge Deck Concrete in Illinois | |
Evaluation of Thin Lift Polymer Bridge Deck Overlays on I-57 Bridges at Clifton, IL | |
Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays in Illinois - Mix Design Experimentation and Investigation of Construction Methods | |
Performance of Thin Bonded Concrete Overlays in Illinois | |
Friction Qualities of Various PCC Pavement Textures | |
Performance of Rubberized Asphalt Pavements in Illinois | |
Rubbilizing w/Bituminous Concrete Overlay - 10 Years' Experience | |
Alternative Materials for Subgrade Modification | |
Construction of Bridge Decks with Precast, Prestressed Concrete Planks | |
Performance of an Unbonded Concrete Overlay on I-74 | |
Evaluation of Sprayed-on Metalizing for Precast/Prestressed Concrete I-Beams | |
Utilization of Recycled Materials in Illinois Highway Construction | |
Bonded Concrete Overlay Performance in Illinois | |
Whitetopping Construction and Early Performance in Illinois | |
Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridge Deck Construction in Illinois | |
Demonstrating the Use of Performance-Based Warranties on Highway Construction Projects in Illinois | |
Open Graded Drainage Layer Performance in Illinois | |
Whitetopping Performance in Illinois | |
Atmospheric Dispersion Study of Deicing Salt Applied to Roads | |
An Evaluation of Interlayer Stress Absorbing Composite (ISAC) Reflective Crack Relief System | |
Evaluation of Traffic-Induced Light Pole Vibrations On the I-80 Le Claire Bridge | |
Investigation of Select LRFD Design Factors Through Instrumentation of Bridge Bearings (23.8 MB .exe file) | |
Evaluation of Aluminum Highway Sign Trusses and Standards for Wind and Truck Gust Loadings | |
Aggregate Subgrade Thickness Determination | |
Effectiveness of Concrete Deck Sealers and Laminates for Chloride Protection of New and In Situ Reinforced Bridge Decks in Illinois | |
Tracking Implementation Results in State Transportation Agencies | |
Determining the Machinability of High Performance Steels | |
Utilization of Recycled and Reclaimed Materials in Illinois Highway Construction in 2009 | |
Performance Monitoring of Mechanistically-Designed Pavements 2010 Data Collection | |
Utilization of Recycled and Reclaimed Materials in Illinois Highway Construction in 2010 | |
Utilization of Recycled and Reclaimed Materials in Illinois Highway Construction in 2011 | |
Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in Illinois 2011 | |
Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in Illinois 2012 | |
Utilization of Recycled and Reclaimed Materials in Illinois Highway Construction in 2012 | |
2012-2015 Performance Monitoring of Mechanistically-Designed Pavements | |
Evaluation of High Performance Concrete Bridge Decks and Other Experimental Bridge Decks | |
Illinois Highway Materials Sustainability Efforts of 2017 | |
Evaluation of Longitudinal Joint Sealant in Illinois | |
Experimental Joint Sealants for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements and Overlays |
Pavement Technology Advisories (PTA)
PTAs are short informational documents covering a wide variety of topics pertinent to highway engineering at IDOT and are a valuable resource to anyone interested in highway engineering - planning, designing, building, and/or maintaining roads. PTAs are categorized into three main topic groups: Design, Construction, and Materials; Maintenance, Repair, and Rehabilitation; and Testing and Data Collection.
Design, Construction and Materials Series
- PTA-D1 : Design for Heavily Loaded Vehicles.pdf
- PTA-D2 : Temporary Load Limits on Local Roads.pdf
- PTA-D3 : Concrete Pavement Joints.pdf
- PTA-D4 : Performance Graded Binder Materials for Hot Mix Asphalt.pdf
- PTA-D5 : Polymer-Modified Hot Mix Asphalt.pdf
- PTA-D6 : Geosynthetics.pdf
- PTA-D7 : Subgrade Modification and Stabilization.pdf
- PTA-D8 : Deicing/Anti-Icing Chemicals.pdf
Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation Series
Testing and Data Collection Series
Research Works
Research Works briefs are targeted to the public, who may not be familiar with the technical jargon found in the academic reports produced by the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT). They highlight what the problem was, how research was used to solve the problem, the project’s outcome, and how it is being implemented at IDOT.
Contact Us
Megan Swanson
Technical Research Coordinator
Bureau of Research
Phone: (217) 782-3547
E-mail: DOT.BR.Research@illinois.gov
Submit an Idea
While many of our most pressing research needs are identified by IDOT staff, we value the input of all of our customers and stakeholders. If you have a research idea that you think IDOT may be interested in, please visit the Illinois Center for Transportation’s website for information about submitting research proposals.
