The partnership between state DOTs and engineering and design firms is critical to creating innovative and sustainable infrastructure that brings communities together. This session will explore how lump sum contracting results in stronger relationships and better outcomes, particularly for facilitating the use of new and emerging technologies.
 
Recent decades have seen a gradual transition by public agencies in the use of lump sum contractual arrangements for the provision of engineering and design services. The federal government has largely embraced the use of lump sum contracts, and a growing number of state agencies have employed this contracting structure with success. The ACEC Research Institute commissioned a study - in partnership with Virginia Tech - to enhance awareness of the potential opportunities and challenges of lump sum structures for engineering and design services in the transportation sector.
 
Hear directly from a panel of state DOT representatives who are using lump sum in varying degrees. This session will explore the advantages and challenges state DOTs should consider, including Cost Savings, Risk Transfer, Incorporating Technology, Managing Workforce, and a Stronger Focus on Project Success.    
 

This session will explore what states are doing related to applying the Safe System Approach to road design. DelDOT will present information from our 2022 Road Design Manual related to this topic and will reach out to other states in the region to find at least one other presenter.

The ability to access and track data is critical for managing transportation projects. With dwindling funding for transportation projects, the ability to measure return on investment (ROI) for capital projects. State DOTs are using GIS-based software to do everything from cataloging potholes to programming 10-year plans. At RIDOT, staff created an ArcGIS Online Web Application known as the “STIP Bundler” which brings together asset data from bridge, pavement, safety, and other major facilities and is used for everything from asset management to project prioritization. Using the mapping interface, RIDOT staff worked to optimize projects given funding and scheduling constraints. The bundler also allowed RIDOT to assess such issues as ROW access, historic districts, and project harmonization to evaluate risk factors during the earliest stages of project planning. Funding was compiled using a “Capital Programming Interface” (CPI) capable of automatically tracking and reporting asset-level changes made in the Bundler. This has now morphed into a fully digitized E-STIP software suite, known as the Statewide Intake Framework for Transportation (SWIFT), which will be used to manage project solicitations from municipalities, project scoring, evaluation, and scope development. SWIFT builds on the Bundler’s core functionality by automating several laborious manual processes and installing geoprocessing modules to inform project readiness and budgeting. 

NOAA’s Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) dataset combines the best available information from the NEXRAD radar towers and thousands of rain gauges to provide historic and near real time rainfall accumulation estimates for the continental US on an hourly basis down to a 1 square mile grid.  Previously, the data was available only in hourly GIS files.  In collaboration with NOAA, HNTB has created a data pipeline to place the GIS files into a tabular database.  Data for a specific location can now be queried, and an hour-by-hour time history can be extracted.  

Essentially, we can put a “virtual rai gauge” anywhere in the country both historically and in near real time to allow detailed hindcasting of specific events, an assessment of the peak rainfalls observed at thousands of assets (in our case bridges) and the ability to better quantify the occurrence of isolated extreme rainfall events not capture by physical sensors.  This presentation will explore the implications of these data advances and how it fits into the big picture of resilient infrastructure.

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While terms like "Complete Streets" and the "Safe System Approach" are becoming the standard for modern transportation project development, their real meaning lies in their implementation. This presentation delves into how the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) has moved beyond mere adoption to integrate these concepts into the very fabric of the agency. Success hinges on leadership commitment and the ability to translate ideas into actionable strategies—from project inception and design to construction, maintenance, and operation. Attendees will gain insights from the challenges faced and lessons learned during this, offering a roadmap for fostering a culture that prioritizes safety in transportation planning and execution.

In terms of construction, embodied carbon is the emissions that result from the mining, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, transportation, installation and use of the products and materials that are used, as well as end-of-life emissions associated with the disposal of those materials. Demand for greener construction materials will spur manufacturers to reduce the embodied carbon in their products. There are several pathways for reducing the carbon footprint of materials. One pathway is to select and procure lower embodied carbon materials. Panelists will set the stage by providing an overview of NYSDOT’s efforts to meet carbon reduction goals and follow-up with specific efforts related to Portland cement concrete and asphalt mix designs. 

From flooding and fires to ships striking bridges, state DOTs have quickly mobilized in response to crises impacting critical infrastructure. This panel examines how to bulldoze barriers and reopen roads in record time, turning the response into a positive story of government using an all-hands-on deck approach to immediately restore operations for its road users. The swift response of local, state, and federal partners, as well as community stakeholders, begins immediately and continues months and years until resolved. The panel features representatives from states with firsthand experience managing infrastructure emergencies. 

This session will feature photos and other media to help illustrate State DOT responses, lessons learned and best practices from recent major storm events. The interactive content will highlight linkages between internal operations management and public facing notifications real time updates. Anticipate a panel with 2-3 state DOTs with moderator.

Artificial intelligence offers transformative opportunities for organizations, and this session will explore how to effectively implement AI solutions to overcome challenges and enhance efficiency. By showcasing real-world applications within State DOTs, AI can streamline processes and drive innovation. Successful implementation relies on identifying integration opportunities and applying robust frameworks. 

Join us for an overview of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems innovating uses within our organizations.  Topics will include innovation uses in construction and asset management, documenting disasters and disseminating that information, as well as operating UAS in congested airspace.