Needs Assessment for Advancing Timber Utilization in Mainline and Shortline Railroad Applications

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

06/15/05

END DATE

06/30/07

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Terry Wipf
Principal Investigator
Brent Phares

Bridge Research Engineer, BEC

About the research

The primary objective of this project is to identify, describe, and prioritize a list of research needs that will serve as a basis for developing and funding research related to the use of timber by both mainline and shortline railroads. Thus, this research needs study will guide research that should re-establish wood as a more significant construction material in the railroad industry and significantly influence research related to wood transportation structures over the next six years. The expected outcomes will be a series of proposed research projects that would address the identified research needs areas. It is anticipated that research needs will be classified as short-term (high-priority), medium-term (medium priority), and long-term (low-priority) such that research resources can be most efficiently allocated.

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