Research Themes
The IRI research group conducts research on three primary themes:
Public agencies face a growing challenge: maintaining an aging transportation network under tight budgets while meeting rising public expectations for safety, performance, and accountability. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are under increasing pressure to demonstrate how decisions are made and how the system is performing.
The IRI research group develops data-driven tools and methods that improve decision-making and accountability across the lifecycle of transportation infrastructure, from procurement and design to operations.
America's transportation network faces a dual threat: decades of aging infrastructure and a rise in extreme weather events that are growing more intense and frequent. When disasters strike, transportation infrastructure becomes a lifeline, enabling evacuation, emergency response, and community recovery.
The IRI research group works to strengthen the resilience of our transportation system by improving the ability to respond and adapt to a changing climate. Current research explores how extreme events shape travel behavior and examines their lasting effects on pavement condition.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and accounts for roughly one quarter of global GHG emissions.
The IRI research group contributes to transforming transportation from a contributor to the global climate crisis to an agent of change for decarbonization. In particular, our research seeks to reduce the environmental impact related to highway design, construction, and operation.