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This page provides RSS feeds of the most most current research and news in selected transportation "Hot Topics." Select from the "Topics" tab on the left to get started.

Innovation Research

  • Playbook for Developing a Culture of Innovation at AirportsThis link opens in a new window When airports create an environment where their people can improve current processes and adapt to rapid changes in the industry—particularly when they focus on solving problems for customers—great advances can be made. Organizations that support a culture of innovation also reap the benefits of improved morale and increased motivation among their staff. ACRP WebResource 16: Playbook for Developing a Culture of Innovation at Airports, from TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program, provides best practices, actionable plays, and various resources that will enable airports to drive cultural change that supports innovation. Apr 30, 2025
  • The Drivers of Port Productivity for Selected Indian Ocean Ports Using the Malmquist Productivity IndexThis link opens in a new window Efficient ports are pivotal to the health of the nation’s economy. For instance, when the port of Seychelles and Port Louis are put into consideration, it is noted that their respective ports are a major source of revenue. In Seychelles, the economy depends largely on the revenue it derives from imports and exports as well as tourism. In Mauritius, the port of Port Louis, handles the entire shipment that comes in to the country via sea. This paper examines the efficiency levels of these ports using the Malmquist based Data Envelopment Analysis. The review of literature lays further credence to the importance of this paper as there has been a paucity of articles on the efficiency level of the port of Port Louis and Port Victoria. Hence, this paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the efficiency analysis of ports using Data Envelopment Analysis based Malmquist Productivity Index. The period of examination is from 2008-2018. The results indicated that over the period of 2008 to 2018 the port of Port Louis achieved an annual average productivity gain of 0.91 whilst the Port of Victoria achieved 0.95. The drivers of productivity being tilted more towards technology change. Apr 30, 2025
  • Leveraging social media for new energy vehicle policy diffusion in China: A central-local government interaction analysisThis link opens in a new window Social media is increasingly associated with new energy vehicle (NEV) policy diffusion in China. One way to explore how social media and policy diffusion are linked is to review the government posts on different topics of the policy over time. To investigate the diffusion dynamics of NEV policies, this study proposes a central-local government interaction analysis, leveraging the government posts on social media. Dynamic topic model is deployed to unveil the evolving nature and intergovernmental disparities of policy topics. Subsequently, a net directional connectedness model is employed to construct information overflow networks of different policy topics among governments. A comprehensive examination of 5386 text posts is conducted using the proposed method. It is identified that the central government prioritizes guidance policies, emphasizing industry support and global cooperation, while local governments concentrate on specific implementation measures, following a trajectory of infrastructure development, research and development, and tax exemptions. In the policy diffusion network, central government serves as the primary driver of promotional signals, followed by Shanghai, Guangdong and Beijing, while Chongqing acts as a key recipient. Simultaneously, successful local implementation can feed back experiential knowledge to central policy, constituting a dual-directional diffusion mechanism of NEV policies between the central and local governments. These findings offer valuable insights into the understanding and diffusion of NEV policy in the digital era, revealing the complex interactions across diverse regions and administrative levels. Apr 30, 2025
  • Lab2Slab2Practice: A Framework for a Faster Implementation of Innovative Concrete Materials and TechnologyThis link opens in a new window Transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance consume energy and finite resources, and have substantial environmental impacts, primarily from the manufacturing of cement, concrete, asphalt, and steel. New feedstock materials and technologies for producing these materials can result in lower life cycle costs, use of local materials, creation of local employment, and reduced environmental impacts. These goals point to the urgent need for adopting innovative alternatives. However, implementation requires confidence on the part of materials producers, contractors, and infrastructure owners that the new materials and technologies can achieve these goals. Implementation demands rigorous testing, risk management, and stakeholder confidence in the engineering performance, environmental benefits, and economic viability of new materials and technologies. This report introduces a structured evaluation framework, “Lab2Slab2Practice,” aimed at accelerating the adoption of these new materials and technologies. Key strategies include leveraging social- behavioral-change models, such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, to mitigate risks and facilitate adoption. A comprehensive review of prior successful government programs and initiatives, including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO’s) Superpave and Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design tools, underscores the importance of interagency collaboration and support, rapid experimentation, theoretical simulations, and engagement by owners (primarily departments of transportation), contractors, and other stakeholders. Regional centers are proposed as clearinghouses to systematically evaluate materials across Technology Readiness Levels, emphasizing engineering performance, scalability, and constructability. Public-private coalitions are proposed to fund these centers, ensuring transparent dissemination of findings and stakeholder training. With sufficient resources and alignment of federal, state and industry support, the framework targets reducing material adoption timelines from over a decade to 5 years or less, moving materials from ideas to use in standard practices, and improving cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits. Apr 28, 2025
  • CORDIS Results Pack on Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility: A Thematic Collection of Innovative EU-Funded Research Results: Building European Capacity for Smart, Sustainable Transport SystemsThis link opens in a new window New mobility solutions enabled by connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) will increase the safety, traffic efficiency and accessibility of Europe’s road transport system. This CORDIS Results Pack highlights 15 EU-funded projects addressing the technological, regulatory and social challenges of automated transport systems, paving the way for more sustainable and equitable transport in the future. Apr 25, 2025
  • Innovation Technologies for Sustainable Construction of Underground Structure in BuildingThis link opens in a new window In this paper, excavation methods that have been widely used to expand underground structures in urban areas of Korea were introduced, and ways to expand existing underground spaces during remodeling of buildings using these methods were studied. In addition, analysis results through simulation, such as structural analysis and design for each construction method, were provided for actual sites. As a result, it was found that the Top-down method is better than the Bottom-up method for the remodeling of the building with underground structure. In particular, the effect of shortening the construction period was found to be greater when the demolition parallel construction method was applied. Apr 23, 2025
  • Smart Parking Systems: A Comprehensive Review Of Digitalization Of Parking ServicesThis link opens in a new window Smart parking systems (SPS) address issues that plague traditional parking methods by offering data on real-time parking availability, optimizing the use of space, and facilitating convenient payment solutions. Despite the timeliness and importance of the systems, however, the literature fails to adequately identify areas within SPS that can be vastly improved by innovation. This study addresses the research gap by identifying the key limitations of 124 comprehensively reviewed academic papers and offering innovative solutions. For sensor technology, the challenge of environmental effects and camera line-of-sight issues is tackled with a proposed integrated sensor framework, combining radar precision with camera coverage, all enhanced by AI for greater detection accuracy. Communication networks, currently hindered by scalability and node failure, could be improved with a mesh network architecture for better reliability. To address data management concerns, specifically data integrity and security, the integration of blockchain technology is suggested to protect against data breaches and boost user confidence. Lastly, to simplify complex SPS user interfaces, AI-driven adaptive interfaces are recommended to personalize the user experience and improve system engagement. The findings of this study will be instrumental for city planners, SPS developers, and parking authorities who are tasked with implementing efficient and reliable smart parking solutions. Apr 23, 2025
  • Industry-oriented roadmap for lithium plating detection from short to long termThis link opens in a new window Lithium plating directly affects the fast-charging ability and safety of electric vehicles. However, existing lithium plating detection methods cannot meet the industry's needs for timeliness, quantification, and robustness, which seriously restricts the development of electric vehicles and emission reduction. This commentary provides suggestions for the future development of lithium plating detection methods in different periods of time to support the revolution of the next-generation electric vehicle batteries. Apr 23, 2025
  • A review of trends and patterns in transportation journals from 2000 to 2024This link opens in a new window This study addresses the need to understand trends, thematic shifts, and emerging areas in transportation research, given the increasing number of journals in the field. The paper reviews the evolution of 41 journals from 2000 to 2024, utilizing a large sample size, the latest study period, and the inclusion of new journals. Journals were selected through keyword searches on Elsevier’s website and the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis provides insights into publication patterns and the interdisciplinary nature of current transportation research. Over the past 25 years, the annual number of published papers has increased twentyfold, with rising co-authorship and transnational collaboration. Journals have shown a growing focus on interdisciplinary research, shifting from traditional transport topics to multimodal transport and emerging technologies. This review aims to be a valuable resource for academics and practitioners in the field of transportation research. Apr 23, 2025
  • From path creation to path transformation: the geography of new energy vehicle production in ChinaThis link opens in a new window Although the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is providing new impetus for China’s regional development, a deeper understanding of its conditions and processes remains imperative. This study extends path creation theory from evolutionary economic geography to explore the enabling environment for both path creation and subsequent path development. Challenging the conventional thinking that view the emergence industry as a new path, this study posits that the NEV sector’s development is shaped by the dynamic interplay of multiple paths, including the headquarter, three-power, and vehicle assembly path. The inter-path interactions drive the industry transform through different development phases. Accordingly, this study proposes a framework comprising three-phase path transformation (selection, competition, and integration) and five-component enabling environment (strategic resources, industrial base, innovation environment, market competition, and institutional support). Empirical results, based on the Lotka-Volterra model and fixed effects models, show that: (1) enabling environment for path transformation varies across paths and phases; (2) while industrial base initiate path selection, its influence diminishes in later transformation phases; (3) vehicle assembly path exhibits dual technology-push and market-pull characteristics, while three-power path is policy-driven and subject to strategic resources. This finding suggests challenges for endogenous path development, as subsidies are phased out from 2023 onwards. Apr 23, 2025
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