The objective of the U.S. Domestic Scan Program is to facilitate information sharing and technology exchange among the states and other transportation agencies to (1) accelerate the rate of advances in practice and (2) identify actionable items of common interest. Each year, two to three new scan topics are programmed and initiated. Scan duration, from topic selection to completion of the scan-team’s report, is typically 2 to 3 years.

A scan entails four key steps. First, knowledgeable people identify novel practices in their field of interest. Second, these people assess the likelihood that these new ideas might beneficially be applied in other settings. Third, new practices that offer the most promise are investigated further to identify pertinent development and application issues and assess appropriate technology transfer opportunities and methods. Finally, the results are documented for use by those who participated and for others to apply.

The program was originally initiated in 2007 as NCHRP Project 20-68A, covering scan topics in the 07-00 to 11-00 series. A second phase of the program, NCHRP Project 20-68A(02), was initiated in 2012; scan topics in the 12-00 to 18-00 series have been conducted under this second phase. A 3rd phase, initiated in 2019 as NCHRP 20-68D, is the vehicle for scans in the 19-00 series onward. However, all information on scan topics and progress is maintained on this web page.

New scan topics may be proposed at any time by state DOT and FHWA staff. Topic proposals are typically reviewed by the NCHRP Project 20-68 panel and selected annually at the panel's meeting in October.

Other Resources

Program Prospectus describing the Domestic Scan program as a whole.
Accelerating the Rate of Innovation among State DOTs - Tracing Domestic Scan Impacts
How domestic scans affect DOT effectiveness - Technical Memorandum
https://domesticscan.org/ - Website for scan team members to manage ongoing scans

Completed and Ongoing Scans

Scans on the following topics have been completed or are currently ongoing. The priority and timing of each scan depends generally on availability of supplemental funding and advice of the management team, as well as the panel's priorities and conditions specific to each topic. Products of completed scans are available from this web page.

Scan Number	Title	Description	Final Report
Scan 07-01	Best Practices in Project Delivery Management	Considered particularly organizational factors (e.g., degree of centralization or decentralization in agency management) that influence agencies’ abilities to reliably deliver projects on time and within budget.	Final Scan Team Report (12 Mb PDF file)
Scan 07-02	Best Practices in Accelerated Construction Techniques	Focused on actual construction operations and management practices rather than contractual or other incentives to develop and apply such practices.	Final Scan Team Report (19 Mb PDF file)
Scan 07-03	Best Practices in Winter Maintenance	Included operating methods, equipment and materials that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of snow and ice control operations, considering local government as well as state DOT experience.	Final Scan Team Report (20 Mb PDF file)
Scan 07-04	Best Practices in Regional, Multi-Agency Traffic Signal Operations Management	Addressed particularly the interactions of agencies at local, regional, and state levels to ensure effective traffic operations and system maintenance.	Final Scan Team Report (2 Mb PDF file)
Scan 07-05	Best Practices in Bridge Management Decision-Making	Addressed how decisions are being made about routine maintenance and major rehabilitations and reconstructions to minimize traffic disruptions and control agency life-cycle costs.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 08-01	Best Practices in Managing STIPs, TIPs, and Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTPs) in Response to Fiscal Constraints	Considered how state and metropolitan agencies address institutional and technical issues in identifying and applying fiscal constraints to modify their highways system plans.	Final Scan Team Report (1.4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 08-02	Best Practices in Maximizing Traffic Flow on Existing Highway Facilities	Considered such techniques as applications of ITS technology, uses of shoulders and lane reversals, and pricing, that may be used to alleviate congestion.	Final Scan Team Report (2.4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 08-03	Best Practices in Addressing NPDES and Other Water Quality Issues in Highway System Management	Considered the perspectives of both environmental protection and transportation agencies in identifying effective practices for ensuring compliance with regulations and achievement of broader objectives.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 08-04	Best Practices in Work Zone Assessment, Data Collection and Performance Measurements	Addressed traffic monitoring and management practices in and around work zones to ensure safety and minimize congestion.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 09-01	Best Practices in QC/QA of Design Plans	Examined policies and procedures used to ensure high quality highway and bridge designs.	Final Scan Team Report (6 Mb PDF file)
Scan 09-03	Best Practices in Solutions for Lane Departure Avoidance and Traffic Calming	Reviewed innovative traffic-calming and speed-reducing measures deployed on non-freeway highways at or approaching locations and situations where lower speeds are critical to safety.	Final Scan Team Report (5 Mb PDF file)
Scan 09-04	Best Practices In Successful Strategies for Motorcycle Safety	Examined infrastructure- and behavior-related countermeasures and program strategies that reduce motorcycle fatalities.	Final Scan Team Report (4.4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 09-05	Best Practices for Roadway Tunnel Design, Construction and Maintenance	Identified specialized technology and standards (such as NFPA 502 standards and others) used in monitoring or inspecting structural elements and operating equipment to ensure optimal performance and minimize downtime during maintenance or rehabilitation.	Final Scan Team Report (3.3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 10-01	Best Practices for Risk-Based Forecasts of Land Volatility for Corridor Management and Sustainable Communities	Identified information and analysis tools agency officials can use to identify corridors subject to risk of development and land-use volatility, assisting officials to take timely action to achieve livable communities and preserve transportation corridors.	Final Scan Team Report (3.7 Mb PDF file)
Scan 10-02	Best Practices for Addressing Access and Parking Needs of Non-Resident Users of Rail and Intermodal Transportation Stations in Transit-Oriented Developments	Identified practices to accommodate growth in demand for access to rail and transit services while preserving the principles and benefits of transit-oriented developments.	Final Scan Team Report (2.3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 10-03	Best Practices in Performance Measuring for Highway Maintenance and Preservation	Identified effective performance measures and measurement and reporting systems supporting strategic decision making by officials responsible for highway maintenance and preservation.	Final Scan Team Report (2.6 Mb PDF file)
Scan 10-04	Best Practices Supporting Traffic Incident Management (TIM) through Integrated Communication Between Traffic Management Centers and Law Enforcement and Effective Performance-Measurement Data	Examined TIM practices in regions that have integrated communication between traffic management centers and law enforcement and implemented effective performance-measurement data collection, with particular regard for adoption of CAD and related technology; and the perspectives of transportation, law enforcement, and other incident-response agencies on these practices.	Final Scan Team Report (2.9 Mb PDF file)
Scan 11-01	Leading Practices Large-Scale Outsourcing and in Privatization of Maintenance Functions	Focused on agencies’ experience with outsourcing of significant elements of their maintenance activities, considering contractual arrangements, actual maintenance operations and management practices employed, and consequences for resource utilization and system performance.	Final Scan Team Report (2.9 Mb PDF file)
Scan 11-02	Best Practices Regarding Performance of ABC Connections in Bridges Subjected To Multi-Hazard and Extreme Events	Identified domestically-used ABC connection details—Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) practices, used to reduce the time and sometimes costs—that perform well under extreme event loading such as those experienced by bridges subjected to waves and tidal or storm-surges, seismic events, and other large lateral forces. The scan was planned to augment results of the 2004 FHWA/AASHTO/NCHRP International Scan on Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems.	Final Scan Team Report (3.2 Mb PDF file)
Scan 12-01	Advances in State DOT Superload Permit Processes and Practices	Investigated how states' permitting and bridge offices are responding to ever-increasing Superloads and, in particular, applying AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) provisions for permits.	Final Scan Team Report (5.1 Mb PDF file)
Scan 12-02	Advances in Strategies for Implementing Integrated Corridor Management (ICM)	Examined ICM implementation experience in DOTs, MPOs and other transportation organizations in states such as Florida, New York, Utah, Texas, and Washington, to understand how agencies are working to maximize traffic flow on existing facilities by using all available pavement and applying new technologies and better management techniques to reduce both recurring and non-recurring congestion. The scan will consider, for example, staffing policies and practices, interagency budgeting and cost distribution, investment project planning and funding procedures, incident response procedures, service outsourcing, and performance monitoring and reporting, as well as applications of technologies for monitoring traffic operations and supporting rapid and reliable incident detection and response.	Final Scan Team Report (5.7 Mb PDF file)
Scan 12-03	Advances in Safety Program Practices in “Zero-Fatalities” States	Examined practices in jurisdictions that have adopted “zero fatalities” highway safety goals to learn how the goal influences agency management philosophy and public attitudes and the practical consequences of the goal for Strategic Highway Safety Plans development, implementation, and performance monitoring.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 12-04	Advances in Transportation Agency Knowledge Management	Examined how agencies have begun to formalize their information sharing, coaching, and other knowledge management practices to ensure that their staffs continue to maintain proficiency in providing a high level of service within their jurisdiction. The scan examined such cases to learn what practices are particularly effective, what characteristics of the agency and workforce influence the effectiveness of various knowledge management practices, and useful strategies for selecting and implementing effective practice.	Final Scan Team Report (3.7 Mb PDF file)
Scan 13-01	Leading Management Practices For Developing A Cross-Trained Workforce	Investigated how agencies are using workforce cross-training as a strategy for enhancing agency efficiency and agility in adapting to changing missions, priorities and budgets; and the conditions under which cross-training strategies are applicable and appropriate.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 13-02	Advances in Civil Integrated Management (CIM)	Explored how CIM technologies are being used in transportation projects; the partnering efforts among DOTs, consultants, contractors, and materials suppliers that may accompany CIM utilization; and project characteristics (for example, program size, degree of management centralization, use of outsourcing) that may influence CIM effectiveness.	Final Scan Team Report (3.1 Mb PDF file)
Scan 13-03	Leading Practices in Use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) Composites in Transportation Infrastructure	Reviewed leading-edge applications in transportation structures and other areas of practice adaptable to transportation, considering agencies' experiences with project development and facility performance.	Final Scan Team Report (5 Mb PDF file)
Scan 14-01	Leading Management Practices in Determining Funding Levels for Maintenance and Preservation	Investigated funding allocation practices within transportation agencies that have successfully ensured reliably adequate funding to support delivery of efficient and effective maintenance programs. A peer exchange subsequently was held to encourage dissemination and application of the scan team’s findings, with funding support from NCHRP Project 20-44, “Moving Research into Practice.” A summary of survey data shared during the peer exchange is available for download by clicking here (300 Kb PDF file); the full report of the peer exchange is available by clicking here (1 Mb PDF file).	Final Scan Team Report (3.6 Mb PDF file)
Scan 14-02	Successful Intermodal Corridor Management Practices for Sustainable System Performance	Examined practices in DOTs, MPOs and other jurisdictions where corridor management has been taken beyond the concept of integrating technical operational capabilities to optimizing the potential contributions for a variety of modes within corridors.	Final Scan Team Report (4.5 Mb PDF file)
Scan 14-03	Successful Approaches for the Development of an Organization-wide Safety Culture in Transportation Agencies	Examined organizations that have designed and implemented strategic safety-culture transformation programs to consider experience applicable to enhance highway safety.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 15-01	Developing and Maintaining Construction Inspection Competence	Investigated how transportation agencies are using training and other methods to develop and maintain their construction inspectors’ competence as construction materials and methods and the labor force evolve.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 15-02	Bridge Scour Risk Management	Examined successful applications of vulnerability assessment, countermeasures, and monitoring systems to reduce bridge-scour risk.	Final Scan Team Report (8 Mb PDF file)
Scan 15-03	Preservation Practices for Steel Bridge Coatings	Investigated leading practices for corrosion mitigation through coating management and recoating and associated management of environmentally hazardous materials.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 16-01	Leading Practices in the Use of the Highway Safety Manual for Planning, Design and Operations	Assessed the processes, job aids and tools, workforce training, and manner in which agencies have institutionalized the Highway Safety Manual as part of performance based and asset management processes in planning, design and operations.	Final Scan Team Report (6 Mb PDF file)
Scan 16-02	Leading Landscape Design Practices for Cost-Effective Roadside Water Management	Reviewed recent experience with green infrastructure practices for roadside water management to identify planning and design criteria, management practices, and exemplary applications that may be broadly useful in transportation agencies nationwide.	Final Scan Team Report (22 Mb PDF file)
Scan 17-01	Successful Approaches for the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems by Surface Transportation Agencies	Investigated how agencies and their contractors are using UAS to facilitate inspection, inventory, survey, and other facility operations and dealing with regulatory and other impediments to UAS deployment.	Final Scan Team Report (37 Mb PDF file).
Scan 17-02	Successful Approaches to Accommodate Additional Modes and Services in Existing Right Of Way	Explored how agencies are accommodating transit, high occupancy vehicles, bikes, freight or enhanced pedestrian access within existing highway rights of way.	Final Scan Team Report (22 Mb PDF file)
Scan 17-03	Experiences in the Performance of Bridge Bearings And Expansion Joints Used For Highway Bridges	Investigated leading practices for monitoring, inspection, testing, and remediation of bearings and expansion joints and implications of damage and repair experience for design.	Final Scan Team Report (11 Mb PDF file)
Scan 18-01	Hydro-demolition for Partial-Depth Removal of Bridge Decks	Examined bridges undergoing hydro-demolition as well as bridges that have undergone past hydro-demolition deck replacements to study both the hydro-demolition process and long term performance of bridges that have been subject to a partial deck replacement.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 18-02	Leading Practices in Modifying Agency Organization and Management to Accommodate Changing Transportation System Technologies	Investigated how DOTs are changing their organizations, institutional arrangements, and management practices to improve transportation system performance through adoption of new technologies.	Final Scan Team Report (4 Mb PDF file)
Scan 19-01	Leading Practices for Detailing Bridge Ends and Approach Pavements to Limit Distress and Deterioration	Explored practices and tools for selection of appropriate details for use at the ends of bridges to achieve a jointless structure while minimizing the structural distress, maintenance and repair costs and improving the performance and durability of jointless bridges.	Final Scan Team Report (11 Mb PDF file)
Scan 19-02	Leading Practices in Strategic Workforce Management	Examined innovative strategic workforce management strategies DOTs are implementing, particularly those activities that can be quickly adopted and implemented to recruit, develop, and retain the workforces agencies need today and for the future.	Final Scan Team Report (6 Mb PDF file)
Scan 20-01	Successful Approaches to Utilizing Bridge Management Systems (BMS) for Strategic Decision Making in Asset Management Plans	Explored how agencies effectively integrated BMS data into their transportation asset-management plans (TAMP) to preserve and improve the condition of the assets and the performance of their system.	Final Scan Team Report (13 Mb PDF file)
Scan 20-02	Successful Approaches for Facilitating Truck Parking Accommodation Along Major Freight Corridors	Examined the roles and actions of transportation agencies, partners, and the public in applying successful strategies, developing emerging practices, and useful lessons to help address truck parking issues along major freight corridors within their jurisdictions.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 21-01	Lessons of Agency Resilience During Periods of Disruption	Identifies the most innovative and beneficial elements of practices adopted by state transportation agencies to maintain their productivity and system performance during disruptions to “normal” operations caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic or other major events, particularly as those practices have enhanced agency resilience and are likely to strengthen agencies’ adaptability if confronted by future disruptions.	Final Scan Team Report (19 Mb PDF file)
Scan 21-02	Leading Approaches to Implementing Context-Based Classification of Roadways in Planning and Design	Examined the experiences of state transportation agencies that have led in applying the concept of context-based classification of roadways, introduced in the 7th edition of the AASHTO A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book), to extract lessons learned that may be valuable to others who have not yet implemented context-based classification.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 21-03	Successful Approaches to Setting Project Development Budgets	Explored the procedures and experience of state transportation agencies viewed by their peers as having particularly successful procedures for setting project development budgets, to extract lessons that may be adapted to other agencies and applied to direct further improvements of budget estimation practices nationwide.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 22-01	Recent Leading Innovations in the Design, Construction and Materials Used for Concrete Bridge Decks	Identified lessons learned from construction of bridge deck projects that utilize innovative materials and strategies, which will help States to consider future approaches to design of new bridge decks to provide better durability and service life of those decks .	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 22-02	Experiences in the Use of Digital Construction Management in the Highway Industry	Identified successful construction management processes utilized by states deploying innovative DCM practices and documents how the DCM was adopted, its governing architecture, value added by it’s use, and how others may accelerate the adoption of the proven innovation.	Final Scan Team Report (2 Mb PDF file)
Scan 22-03	Leading Practices in Equitable Decision Making to Supports Societal Goals within Transportation Agencies	Explored the methods that transportation organizations took to implement innovative strategies throughout their organization to improve safety and equity in transportation decision making, the specific organizational factors that lead to successful organizational mission implementation aimed at advancing societal goals, the methods that the organization successfully used with stakeholders to implement new strategies, and the information on what socioeconomic and sociodemographic metrics are being used by agencies in transportation funding decisions and project prioritization.	Final Scan Team Report (3 Mb PDF file)
Scan 23-01	Experiences in the Use of Mini and Modular Roundabouts by Highway Agencies	Explores the experiences and lessons learned gained in leading states that may be valuable to others who may be considering using mini or modular roundabouts. The scan team will meet with innovative agencies that have utilized mini- and/or modular roundabouts and discuss their experiences in design, construction, operation, and maintenance of them to.	Ongoing
Scan 23-02	Recent Experiences in Advancing and Deploying of Automated Vehicle Technologies	Enables state DOTs and IOOs to gain critical and much needed knowledge to better understand the methods, barriers and opportunities associated with automated technology testing and pilots that are needed now. The scan team will be tasked to review the experience of DOTs or other agencies by examining a representative sample of ADS tests, pilots, and deployments that have been notably successful to explore the institutional and management changes credited for the success and to extract lessons that can inform other agencies’ development.	Ongoing
Scan 23-03	Advances in Evaluation of Weld Quality	Examines the state of the art of in-process weld inspection and the resulting quality assurance used for ship building and heavy equipment manufacturing. The scan team will investigate the processes and controls used to produce quality welds in other that highway industries. The scan team will examine the equipment involved in weld inspection and quality assurance, the specifications used for equipment requirements and quality control procedures and calibration of the equipment to the appropriate quality standards.	Ongoing
Scan 23-04	Developing and Maintaining a Culture of Innovation within DOTs	Examines organizations that have successfully designed and implemented programs and/or initiatives that support a culture of innovation. The results of this scan would be used by AASHTO, FHWA and state DOTs as well as others in the transportation community who are interested in accelerating innovation within their organizations and building a culture that embraces it.	Ongoing
Scan 23-05	Successful Approaches to Validating and Communicating the Long-term Effects of Aging Government Fleet Assets	Examines organizations that have successfully developed and implemented practices and procedures to estimate the cost of delayed replacement of DOT Fleet Assets beyond the optimal replacement period and to gather data that might be used to develop decision making tools and models that can effectively communicate the long-term effects of aging the Fleet Assets to decision makers.	Ongoing

Contact

Sid Mohan
Email: smohan@nas.edu
Phone: 202-334-1249

P: | F: |