Research Section

Mission

We deliver knowledge solutions and innovations so that MoDOT can make informed decisions. Research staff administer contract research to outside organizations to solve organizational challenges.

Research projects are focused on how MoDOT can change processes, products or materials in order to do our jobs in the most efficient and economical manner.

The Research Section falls under the Construction and Materials Division within MoDOT and is located in the Central Laboratory building.

What We Do

We develop an annual research program, focusing on strategic areas such as Safety, Bridges, Pavements, Materials, Geotechnical Issues, Erosion Control, Maintenance, Multimodal Transportation, Best Practices and Customer Satisfaction.

The Research Section is also responsible for other activities:

The Effect of Rubber Fills on the Performance of Infrastructure

One of the most environmentally friendly methods to recycle scrap tires is by shredding them into tire derived aggregate (TDA). TDA possesses desirable properties for various civil engineering applications and has been successfully used as fill material in numerous projects. To address the limitations of previous studies, 27 direct shear tests were...

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First and Last Mile Connectivity for Missourians

By closing gaps in transit systems or by complementing transportation services, first-last mile transportation services are integral in enabling access to employment opportunities as well as other key destinations. This research study examined first-last mile service programs across the United States and assessed existing conditions in Missouri to ...

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Evaluating Sedimentation Impacts to Freshwater Mussels

Transportation system construction activities can cause increased suspended and redeposited solids in adjacent water systems, which may adversely impact freshwater mussels. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the impacts of suspended solids on juvenile mussels including to establish the impact thresholds, to assess the effects of sediment ...

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Friction Enhancements to Asphalt Pavement Surfaces

Maintaining the appropriate amount of pavement friction is critical for safe driving. Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has used high friction surface treatment (HFST) since 2013 to restore pavement surface friction where traffic has worn down pavement surface aggregates and to improve wet crash locations. Conventional HFST application ...

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Analysis of Asphalt Mixtures Using Alternative Aggregate in SMA and Superpave

To identify locally available, cost-effective, and durable crushed coarse aggregates for Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) and high-level Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixes, multiple well-distributed aggregates have been evaluated in this study as candidate aggregates, including traprock (control), chat, gravels, steel slag, limestone, and dolomite. Aggregate sc...

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iTrain – Immersive Training of Department of Transportation Work Zone Inspectors using Virtual Reality

This report presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of Virtual Reality (VR) training modules designed to enhance work zone safety training for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) staff. The project aimed to provide immersive, realistic, and interactive training environments that improve knowledge retention, engagement...

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