The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting was held in Washington, D.C. from January 7th to January 11th, 2024.
The TRB is a division of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the National Research Council of the United States) which serves as an independent adviser to the President of the United States, the Congress and federal agencies on scientific and technical questions of national importance. The TRB Annual Meeting is a major event that brings together thousands of transportation professionals from around the world. The meeting features a wide range of sessions and workshops covering all transportation modes, with more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 sessions.
Earlier this month, numerous CIR faculty and students attended the annual meeting, taking advantage of the opportunity to network, share research, and participate in various workshops, lectern sessions, committee meetings, and poster sessions. These activities provided insights into the current state of transportation research and the future of the industry.
Aaron Leavitt, M.S., EIT, Associate Transportation Researcher in the Materials and Pavements Division of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), conducts research in multiple CIR labs. He was eager to share his research at TRB, stating, “TRB this year was a great experience. TTI/TAMU was well represented with many workshops, presentations, and posters.” Aaron presented his research, conducted with TTI Senior Research Engineer Dr. Amy Epps Martin and TTI Research Engineer Dr. Edith Arambula Mercado, at one of the poster sessions.
“My paper developed a model to predict the IDEAL-CT parameter 
from the post-peak load-displacement curve. This ratio, which correlates well with measured field cracking data, is predictable with aging, making it an excellent candidate for evaluating pavement cracking performance with aging,” Aaron explained.
Ayazhan Bazarbekova, TEES Civil Engineering Graduate Research Assistant, shared her experience at the TRB via a LinkedIn post: “I presented two of our recent projects on soil stabilization, learned from the lectern sessions, participated in the committee meeting, explored the exhibition, and most importantly, connected with friends, mentors, and inspiring minds.” Ayazhan also announced that she was awarded a travel grant by the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation (NCIT), one of the National University Transportation Centers (UTC) recently funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Ayazhan conducted her research under the guidance of Drs. Yong-Rak Kim and Dallas Little of TAMU and Dr. John Rushing of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). She further stated, “The TRB annual meeting is a great platform to connect with leading minds in academia and industry and explore recent advancements in transportation research. It’s an honor to be involved in this activity, and I am grateful to the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University, TEES, the CIR, and ERDC for their positive feedback and support in making this opportunity possible.”
Dr. Jianxin Huang, TEES Civil Engineering Postdoctoral Researcher, attended the TRB conference for the first time. There, he had the privilege of presenting his research on polymer soil stabilization, a project supported by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Reflecting on his experience at TRB, Dr. Huang shared his enthusiasm via a LinkedIn post: “It was amazing to reconnect with my mentors, friends and colleagues. Meeting with old and new friends and exchanging ideas with other researchers and professionals made my first TRB experience beyond expectation.”
Dr. Anand Puppala, Director of CIR, and Dr. Nripojyoti Biswas, Senior Research Engineer at TAMU, organized a comprehensive workshop and panel discussion on “Stabilization of Geomaterials with Different Polymer Additives.” The discussion provided invaluable insights into advanced geomaterial technologies.
CIR leadership would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all of you who attended the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting this year. Your participation and contributions to this prestigious event have not only enriched the discussions and workshops but also elevated the reputation of our esteemed institutions. The knowledge you shared, the insights you provided, and the connections you made during the meeting are invaluable. Your active involvement in various sessions, workshops, and poster presentations has undoubtedly left a significant impact on the attendees and the broader transportation community.
To the students who presented their research, your hard work and innovative ideas are a testament to your commitment to your studies and your passion for transportation research. Your presentations were insightful and thought-provoking, contributing to the depth and breadth of knowledge shared at the meeting.
To the faculty members who guided these students and shared their own research, your expertise and dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers are truly inspiring. Your leadership and commitment to excellence are what make TAMU, TEES and TTI stand out in transportation research.
We wish you all many more years of groundbreaking research and impactful contributions to the global transportation and infrastructure industries!
For more information about the Transportation Research Board, click here.
