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:

Testing Survey Methods for Detecting Bats Roosting in Bridges

Bats are a critical component of our natural world, and many species are at risk. Protecting roosting habitat is one way we can help conserve a variety of species. Although many bats use natural roosts, a growing number are adapting to anthropogenic structures due to habitat encroachment. In this study, we tested methods for detecting bats using br...

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Audible Alert and TMA Lighting

Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMAs) are designed to mitigate crash severity. Currently, TMA drivers rely on visual checks via driving mirrors to manually trigger warnings thus placing the duty on drivers. To address this limitation, the Automated TMA Warning System (AutoTMA) replaces or augments manual driver interventions with an AI-enabled, sensor-f...

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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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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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