Strategic Plan FY06 - FY09
Strategic Plan Contents
II. Program Activities
C. Education
E. Diversity
Appendix A. Baseline Measures for UTCM
II. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
B. Research Performance
Research Performance Goal:
An ongoing program of basic and applied research, the products of which are judged by peers or other experts in the field to advance the body of knowledge in transportation.
B.1. Baseline Measures
See Appendix A for Research Performance Baseline Measures
B.2. Research Performance Program Outcome
By the conclusion of the current grant period, UTCM research activities will have produced deliverables which have withstood the more formal test of peer review and acceptance. UTCM-sponsored work will appear in all major transportation venues, such as Transportation Research Board conferences and refereed journals, and be held in high regard in the UTC community, USDOT, and the transportation community at large. Finally, our research faculty members will be in leadership positions in the leading transportation professional organizations, both nationally and internationally.
B.3. Planned Activities
During the grant period, UTCM will pursue the following four objectives:
- Utilize the review and critique of industry-based Project Monitors in the development and reporting of research results. Each researcher establishes a working relationship with the Project Monitor to determine the type and level of interaction needed to develop the project,
- Produce results that are published/presented in the best technical venues (journals, proceedings, conferences, organizational meetings, websites, etc.),
- produce results that are adopted for use and practice in transportation agencies/entities and by our peers in other research universities, and
- Qualify UTCM researchers to serve in leadership positions in national and international professional organizations.
A peer review and monitor process will be established for all phases of research activities including the evaluation of research ideas, project selection, conduct of the research work plan, and the reporting of research results. This process applies the following specifics to every research project:
- The research idea evaluation and project selection phase will be conducted by the UTCM Advisory Groups and Executive Committee and assisted by UTCM’s USDOT Liaison. Inthis way, UTCM will develop an annual research agenda that supports the theme of UTCM and supports the research agenda of USDOT.
- The Principal Investigator will identify a Project Monitor, who will be a transportation professional from the public or private sector whose expertise and/or experience includes a familiarity of the technical aspects of the topic being researched. The Project Monitor will provide advice and assistance throughout the research work plan activities. At the beginning of the project, UTCM will provide the Project Monitor a copy of the Research Project Proposal. At the conclusion of the project, UTCM will provide a draft report to the Project Monitor and solicit review and comments to be provided to the Principal Investigator prior to report publication.
- Principal Investigators must engage in technology transfer as a part of the completed research cycle. The Principal Investigators are encouraged to utilize existing professional venues for publication and presentation of their results in addition to the publication of the research report (see previous bullet). These venues typically have well-developed peer review selection and editorial processes. Innovative methods of technology transfer will be encouraged and supported by UTCM.
B.4. Performance Indicators
One of the anticipated synergies of the UTCM and SWUTC is the benefit of SWUTC’s experience in collecting and documenting the information needed for performance indicators. This relationship will be utilized to the fullest in meeting the report requirements for UTCM’s grant.
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