The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is partnering with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) for the Transportation Innovation Program whitch seeks to develop innovative solutions for transportation project needs.
NDDOT and UGPTI are now seeking submissions for the first of four rounds of the program, now in its second year. Submissions can come from contractors, colleges and universities, consultants, tribes, suppliers, local jurisdictions, associations and NDDOT staff.
“As the dynamics of North Dakota’s economy and industry evolve, it is more important than ever to continue to find new and better ways to do business,” says Wayde Swenson, NDDOT Director of Operations. “The Transportation Innovation Program is a valuable way to introduce new thinking into the Department and provide for innovation in all aspects of the Department’s responsibilities.”
Here are several submittals from last year’s program that NDDOT selected to implement.
- Using a Texas Underseal on HBP Overlay projects
- Studying the use of Fiberglass Rebar & Dowels Bars in Bridges and Pavements
- Using Fiber Reinforced HBP
- Installing Culvert Movement Monitoring/Instrumentation
- Using URETEK Deep Polymer Injection on frost heaves
- Monitoring traffic flows with Distributed Acoustic Sensing
- Using Geogrid Reinforcement under aggregate base for flexible pavement
- Using a MIT Scan T2 for collecting concrete pavement thicknesses
- Using Hydrated Lime as an anti-stripping agent in new full-depth HBP pavements
- Developing a digital driver’s license application process
- Using TheSmartConeTM technology for security, work-zone safety and surveillance
- applications
- Using Jointbond to address longitudinal HBP joint deterioration
- Using WatershedGeo HydroTurf for drainage way armoring
The deadline for the first round of submissions for 2016 is May 16. More information on the program is available at https://www.dot.nd.gov/business/innovate/, and details on how to submit ideas are available here.