Research and Innovation Division
“Research: the distance between an idea and its realization.”
–David Sarnoff, pioneer of American radio and television
UDOT’s Research and Innovation division mobilizes research studies and employee ingenuity to help drive continuous Department evolution.
Our Research team partners with UDOT experts, Utah universities, and consultants to identify transportation research that meets UDOT’s most important needs. They prioritize these needs in an annual workshop hosted by the division. They manage research projects, promote implementation, share research results, coordinate with national research organizations, field-evaluate products, and provide information services.
Our Innovation team gathers and supports employee ideas, and tracks them through a development process with the goal of implementing the best ideas across UDOT. They head an Innovation Council whose Stewards lead grassroots innovation efforts in their own regions and areas. They also compile the most successful ideas in our annual Innovation and Efficiencies Report which is shared with Utah legislators and the public.
Together with our partners, UDOT’s Research and Innovation division helps keep Utah moving.
Research & Innovation Team
Research and Innovation Network Org Chart and Info Sheets
UDOT Research & Innovation Division
PO Box 148410
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-8410
Cameron Kergaye, PhD, PMP, PE
Director of Research and Innovation
801.633.0359
ckergaye@utah.gov
Rod McDaniels, MPA
Innovation and Implementation Manager
801.633.6219
rmcdaniels@utah.gov
David Stevens, PE
Research Project Manager
801.589.8340
davidstevens@utah.gov
Kevin Nichol, PE
Research Project Manager
801.870.4033
knichol@utah.gov
Vincent Liu, PE
Research Project Engineer
801.910.2006
vliu@utah.gov
Winston Inoway
Innovation and Implementation Coordinator
801.455.3911
winoway@utah.gov
Joni DeMille
UDOT Librarian
801.965.4626
jdemille@utah.gov
Research & Innovation News / Hot Topics
October 2021: LITTER IN UTAH
Check out the new executive report prepared by UDOT’s Research & Innovation team that includes an overview of UDOT’s current state of practice for statewide litter mitigation, a national snapshot of mitigation investment, recommendations, and much more.
Highway Litter Mitigation
Research & Innovation Dashboards
In development; coming soon.
Research Program
Everything we do at UDOT is informed by RESEARCH. Learn how in our video:
(Video length 3:48)
UDOT's Research Prioritization Process (Annual Research Workshop)
UDOT’s Research & Innovation Division holds an annual research prioritization workshop each spring (also known as “UTRAC”) to help determine how the Department allocates a portion of state planning and research funds allotted to each state via 23 U.S.C. 505(a).
Workshop participants include professionals from UDOT, FHWA, local governments, MPOs, transit agencies, universities, and the private sector. These technical stakeholders help to shape a leaner, smarter, and safer transportation network in alignment with UDOT’s Strategic Direction. The annual prioritization process matches up today’s toughest transportation challenges with the best problem solvers available to develop implementation-ready solutions.
Whether you have an intractable transportation-related challenge, or are part of a talented problem-solving team, UTRAC is here to help fuel tomorrow’s innovative transportation solutions today!
The 2021 workshop was held virtually on April 20, 2021. For more information, see the links below or contact UTRAC@utah.gov.
Video: 2021 RESEARCH WORKSHOP KICKOFF and TRAILBLAZER AWARD WINNER
- 2021 Selected Research Projects Pending FHWA Approval
- 2021 Research Workshop Agenda
- 2021 Submitted Problem Statements
- 2021 Breakout Session Contacts
- 2021 Research Workshop Process
- 2021 Research Workshop FAQs
- 2021 UDOT Research Needs (2/21)
- 2021 Workshop Roles and Responsibilities
- 2020 Research Workshop Proceedings
Active Research
Final Research Reports / Final Presentation Recordings
Our most recent and frequently requested reports are posted under the gray subject headings below. Older reports can be accessed from this list:
Archived Research & Innovation Reports
For reports prior to 2011, please contact a Research Project Manager or UDOT’s Librarian.
Active Transportation and Micromobility
UT-20.17: Utilizing Archived Traffic Signal Performance Measures for Pedestrian Planning and Analysis
UT-19.06: Pedestrian Walking Speeds at Signalized Intersections in Utah
UT-19.03: Driver Compliance at Enhanced Pedestrian Crossings in Utah
UT-19.02: Surveying Non-Motorized Travel Behavior at At-Grade Rail Crossings
UT-18.03: Measuring Systemic Impacts of Bike Infrastructure Projects
Asset Management and Data Analytics
UT-20.20: A Synthesis of Third-Party Data Sets Used for Transportation Planning
UT-20.18: Assessing Close-Range Photogrammetry as an Alternative to LiDAR Technology at UDOT Divisions
UT-20.18: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-19.25: HERE Data Validation
UT-19.22: Using ATSPM Data for Traffic Data Analytics
UT-06.15a: Good Roads Cost Less Executive Summary (2006 Study Update) UT-06.15: Good Roads Cost Less (2006 Study Update)
Maintenance and Stormwater
UT-21.25: Highway Litter Mitigation: Executive Report (September 2021)
UT-21.11: Investigating the Feasibility of Introducing Alternative Fuel Vehicles into Maintenance Fleet
UT-21.09: Analytical Framework for Life Cycle and Performance Assessment of Equipment Programs
UT-21.06: Comparison of Wet Reflective Elements with Tape – A Pavement Marking Study Based on Field Measurements
UT-21.02: ESRI Insights Phase II: The War Room
UT-21.01: Sources of Highway Litter in Utah
UT-21.01: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-19.23: Update of the Class 8 Truck Study
UT-19.12: A Data Fusion Approach for Extracting Highway Maintenance Features
UT-18.05: Back-of-Curb Evaluation Study: State Highway Right-of-Way Responsibility and the Utah Department of Transportation
Materials and Pavements
UT-21.24: Balanced Asphalt Concrete Mix Performance in Utah, Phase V: Field Evaluation for Intermediate and Low-Temperature Cracking
UT-21.23: Salt Lake City Airport Parking Garage Visual Inspection Report
UT-21.23: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-20.13: Balanced Asphalt Concrete Mix Performance in Utah, Phase IV: Cracking Indices for Asphalt Mixtures
UT-20.05: Forensic Evaluation of Geogrid-Reinforced Flexible Pavement Sections on SR-10 Near Emery, Utah
UT-19.17: Performance Evaluation of Typical UDOT Surface Treatments
UT-19.15: Balanced Asphalt Concrete Mix Performance in Utah, Phase III: Evaluation of Field Materials Using BBR and SCB-IFIT Tests
UT-19.11: Using Pavement Texture to Screen and Target Annual Skid Number Assessment
UT-19.09: Investigation of Concrete Electrical Resistivity as a Performance-Based Test
UT-19.08: Rapid Concrete Repair
UT-19.07: ASTM C-157 Standard Audit for Third-Party Shrinkage Testing Laboratories to Improve the Reliability of Results for Concrete Mixes
Planning and Project Prioritization
UT-20.19: Street Network Connectivity, Traffic Congestion, and Traffic Safety
UT-20.09: Impact of Mobility as a Service on Transit Access
UT-20.03: Understanding Connected and Automated Vehicles’ Impacts on Utah Transportation Planning
UT-19.14: Key Enhancements to the WFRC/MAG Conventional Four-Step Travel Demand Model
UT-19.10: Impact of Shared Autonomous Vehicles on Vehicle Miles Traveled in Utah
Traffic Management and Traffic Safety
UT-21.13: Analysis of Benefits of an Expansion to UDOT’s Incident Management Program
UT-21.12: Evaluation of Methods for Left Turn Gap Analysis Using High-Resolution Signal Data
UT-21.08: Safety in Numbers? Developing Improved Safety Predictive Methods for Pedestrian Crashes at Signalized Intersections in Utah Using Push Button-Based Measures of Exposure
UT-21.07: I-80 Hybrid Regulatory Speed Limit Signing Design and VSL System Evaluation
UT-21.07: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-21.05: Data-Based Testing and Decision Process for Traffic Signal Steel Replacement
UT-21.05: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-21.04: Methodology for Evaluating Intersection Safety & Operational Performance with Left-Turn Phasing
UT-21.03: Utilizing Machine Learning to Cross-Check Traffic Data and Understand Urban Mobility
UT-20.16: Transit Signal Progression Algorithm for Supporting Redwood Road Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
UT-20.15: Multi-Stage Algorithm for Detection-Error Identification and Data Screening
UT-20.10: Gauging the Effectiveness of Safe Routes to School Projects
UT-20.10: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-20.08: Evaluating the Quality of Signal Operations Using Signal Performance Measures
UT-20.06: Impacts of Changing the Transit Signal Priority Requesting Threshold on Bus Performance and General Traffic: A Sensitivity Analysis
UT-20.06: FINAL PRESENTATION RECORDING
UT-20.04: Segment and Intersection Crash Analysis Methodologies for Utah Highways
UT-20.01: HOT Lane Detection and Management Scan
UT-19.29: Guidance for Enhanced Pedestrian Treatments within Reduced-Speed School Zones (RSSZs)
UT-19.27: Identification of Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Hotspots in Utah
UT-19.26: Investigation of Utah Highway Speed-Limit Compliance Rates and Evaluation of Speed-Limit Design in Towns Along Highways
UT-19.21: Travel-Time Reliability in Simulation and Planning Models: Utah Case Study (SHRP2 L04 IAP Round 7)
UT-19.20: Non-Optimal Usage and Perception of a Protected Intersection for Bicycling and Walking, Salt Lake City, UT
UT-19.16: Evaluation Criteria for Safe Routes to School Projects
UT-19.13: Assessment of the Effectiveness of Wrong-Way Driving (WWD) Detection System
UT-19.05: An Analysis of Decision Boundaries for Left-Turn Treatments
UT-19.04: Safety Effects of Protected and Protected/Permissive Left-Turn Phases
UT-19.01: Analysis of Performance Measures of Traffic Incident Management in Utah
UT-18.08: Streamlined Access Permitting Process
UT-18.02: Developing a Method to Identify Horizontal Curve Segments with High Crash Occurrences Using the HAF Algorithm
UT-18.01: Risk Assessment of Non-Motorized Access to Rail Transit Stations
TRID is a comprehensive database resource for transportation research and literature searches.
Quickly get up to speed on complex research topics with summaries that include a list of recent reports, current and upcoming projects, names of relevant committees, and upcoming events like conferences and webinars.
Research & Innovation Events and Funding Opportunities