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Energy Research at TRB

The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. This page highlights recently released TRB reports, meeting announcements, requests for proposals, and other announcements related to energy. In addition, it includes links to selected energy research-related activities taking place at the federal and state levels, and within the academic and international transportation communities. Finally, this page also highlights and provides links to TRB programs and activities, which are the source of most of TRB’s energy-related research products.

What's New

TRB Energy-Related Programs and Activities

2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers
May 18, 2012
TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...
TRB Webinar: Aviation Fuel Costs and Alternatives
May 16, 2012
TRB will conduct a webinar on June 5, 2012, from 1:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET that will feature research conducted by TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) related to aviation fueling options and cost. There is no fee to register for this webinar, participants must register in advance, and Continuing Education Units are available for Accredited Airport Executives who attend this webinar...
Measurement of Gaseous HAP Emissions from Idling Aircraft as a Function of Engine and Ambient ConditionsMeasurement of Gaseous HAP Emissions from Idling Aircraft as a Function of Engine and Ambient Conditions
May 12, 2012
TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 63: Measurement of Gaseous HAP Emissions from Idling Aircraft as a Function of Engine and Ambient Conditions is designed to help improve the assessment of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions at airports based on specific aircraft operating parameters and changes in ambient conditions.
Fleet Management Commitment to Fuel Efficiency
May 11, 2012
The New Zealand Transport Agency has released a report that identifies potential ways to overcome barriers faced by managers of New Zealand's light and heavy vehicle fleets in attempting to implement fuel efficiency as part of their normal way of doing business.
Transportation Energy for the Future: A Guide for Policy Makers
May 11, 2012
The National Conference of State Legislatures has released a report designed to provide state policymakers and others with an overview of the options available as they work toward long-term transportation energy solutions.
Energy Security in the United StatesEnergy Security in the United States
May 11, 2012
The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has released a report that explores the potential for global disruptions to affect U.S. energy prices; the likelihood of disruptions and the ability of suppliers to adjust to them; the ability of energy consumers to adjust to disruptions; and policy options to improve energy security in transportation.
European Renewable Energy Council Newsletter: April-May 2012
May 10, 2012
The European Renewable Energy Council has released the latest issue of its newsletter that highlights council news as well as renewable energy-related activities taking place within the European Union.
How Would Proposed Fuel Economy Standards Affect the Highway Trust Fund?How Would Proposed Fuel Economy Standards Affect the Highway Trust Fund?
May 7, 2012
The Congressional Budget Office has released a report that examines how a proposed rule to tighten fuel economy standards for cars, pick-up trucks, and other light-duty vehicles would affect cash flows of the Highway Trust Fund.
Ecodriving and Carbon Footprinting: Understanding How Public Education Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Use
April 25, 2012
The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that explores ecodriving. Ecodriving is a collection of changes to driving behavior and vehicle maintenance designed to impact fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in existing vehicles.
Use of Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Vehicles by Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems
April 25, 2012
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University has released a report that explores the results of a survey conducted of small urban and rural transit agencies regarding their use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles.

Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) report series, Synthesis of Highway Practice.
Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
TCRP is an applied, contract research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems facing transit agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) report series, Synthesis of Transit Practice.
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) report series, Synthesis of Airport Practice.
National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP)
NCFRP conducts research and disseminates timely findings that will inform investment and operations decisions affecting the performance of the freight transportation system.
Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program
TRB's Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) report series, Synthesis of Commerical Truck and Bus Safety Practice.
Cooperative Research Programs
TRB's Cooperative Research Programs Division manages several cooperative research programs that frequently produces reports that have relevence to issues outside of the program's core focus areas.
Technical Activities Standing Committees
TRB's Technical Activities Division provides a forum for transportation professionals in all modes and functions to identify research needs and to share information on research and issues of interest. The Division's staff of specialists in each mode and discipline work with a network of volunteers to carry out activities on behalf of TRB sponsors and the transportation community, including the TRB Annual Meeting, conferences and workshops, publications, visits to each state, and responses to inquiries. This network includes members and friends of over 200 standing committees, supplemented by designated TRB representatives in each state, over 150 universities, and 35 transit agencies.
Research in Progress in this Subject Area
TRB's Research in Progress (RiP) Database now contains more than 11,900 current or recently completed transportation research projects. Most of the RiP records are projects funded by federal and state departments of transportation. University transportation research is also included. The RiP Database also serves as a clearinghouse of University Transportation Centers ongoing research.
Research Needs in this Subject Area
An important function of TRB is to stimulate research that addresses concerns, issues, or problems facing the transportation community. In support of this function, TRB Technical Activities standing committees identify, develop, and disseminate research need statements (RNS) for use by practitioners, researchers, and others.
Research Completed in this Subject Area
TRB's TRID is integrated database that combines the records from TRB's Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Database and the OECD's Joint Transport Research Centre’s International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) Database. TRID provides access to over 900,000 records of transportation research worldwide.

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