Research Section

Mission

We deliver knowledge solutions and innovations so that MoDOT can make informed decisions. Research staff administer contract research to outside organizations to solve organizational challenges.

Research projects are focused on how MoDOT can change processes, products or materials in order to do our jobs in the most efficient and economical manner.

The Research Section falls under the Construction and Materials Division within MoDOT and is located in the Central Laboratory building.

What We Do

We develop an annual research program, focusing on strategic areas such as Safety, Bridges, Pavements, Materials, Geotechnical Issues, Erosion Control, Maintenance, Multimodal Transportation, Best Practices and Customer Satisfaction.

The Research Section is also responsible for other activities:

Evaluation of Stripping Tests for Asphalt Mixtures to Replace AASHTO T283 Method in Missouri

Currently, many paving agencies in the U.S. including the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) use the AASHTO T­­283 method (Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) test) to determine the moisture damage susceptibility of asphalt mixtures. However, the TSR test has been shown to have a poor correlation with field results based on a review of literatu...

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Asset Characterization Using Automated Methods

Increasing and intensifying flood events pose serious challenges to highway agencies in maintaining water crossing assets and assessing potential flood hazards. This project aimed to develop an automated flood risk assessment program for small water crossing assets, focusing on culverts with less than a 20-foot span not listed in the 2023 National ...

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TMA Truck Safety

This study evaluates the effectiveness of in-vehicle safety countermeasures in reducing injury risk for TMA (Truck-Mounted Attenuator) truck occupants during collisions. With increasing incidents involving TMAs in work zones, understanding the protective impact of advanced safety features has become crucial. A review of historical TMA crash reports...

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Consultant Support for Intelligent Compaction and Paver-Mounted Thermal Profiling Projects in 2024-2025

The 2024 MoDOT IC-PMTP Annual Report highlights achievements and challenges in implementing Intelligent Compaction (IC) and Paver-Mounted Thermal Profiling (PMTP) technologies. Key updates included aligning data validation tools with updated PMTP specifications and addressing challenges such as contractor’s paving boundary data manipulation and dat...

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A Roadmap for Missouri: Assessing Needs an Implementation Framework for Incorporating Environmental Product Declarations

This report details the Missouri Department of Transportation’s activities within the Federal Highway Administration’s Climate Challenge program. The purpose of the program was three-fold, 1) to increase knowledge of environmental product declarations (EPDs) within the Missouri asphalt and concrete industry, 2) to assess the current state of Missou...

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Implementation of Balanced Mixture Design in Missouri Test Sections with Modifiers

The overarching goal of this study was to advance the deployment of innovative pavement technologies prevalent in the state of Missouri. In this study, the focus was on evaluating recycled polymers for use in asphalt mixtures and Balanced Mixture Design (BMD) implementation. Nine test sections were constructed on I-155 near Hayti, MO. Six sections ...

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