Ignition Magazine: News from TRB's IDEA Programs – Spring/Summer 2010

The latest issue of Ignition, a periodic news magazine from TRB's Studies and Special Programs Division, examines a new tool that detects and recognizes street signs as a potential way to dramatically reduce the time and effort related to developing sign inventories.  The issue also explores a continuous on-board wheel monitoring system for railroad applications; a nondestructive and noncontact method of measuring rail neutral temperature and longitudinal stress; and a new system for aisle-side containment in the wheelchair station on a bus.

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs provide start-up funding for promising but unproven innovations in surface transportation systems. The programs’ goal is to foster ingenious solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional programs. Managed by the Transportation Research Board, IDEA programs are supported by the member state departments of transportation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.