ADOT Research Aeas

Research conducted for ADOT is divided into three categories: Planning, Infrastructure, and Operations.

ADOT Research Cycle

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1. Idea Submission

Research Ideas are submitted through various channels during a designated submission period.

Guidance and templates are provided, and researchers are encouraged to coordinate with subject matter experts (SMEs)/Champions from the Funding Organization when developing ideas, but an identified champion is not required at the time of idea submission.

Submit your Ideas here: Idea Submission Form

2. Program Advisory Committee (PAC)

Submitted ideas are sorted into and then reviewed by applicable Program Advisory Committees (PAC) - Planning, Infrastructure, or Operations - which are made up of voting staff members of ADOT and non-voting staff members from the Federal Highway Administration and faculty members of the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University. PAC members will discuss and select the top three-rated ideas for each category to issue a Call for Proposals for. 

3. Call For Proposals (CFP)

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairs/project champions will be identified for each idea and help AZTI refine it into a problem statement that is applicable to ADOT's needs and priorities. TAC Chairs will also help identify other TAC committee members. 

Once these are finalized, AZTI will issue a Call for Proposals. Faculty members from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, or Northern Arizona University can use the AZTI Research Portal to submit proposals.

After the Call for Proposals has closed, the TAC members will receive the submissions for their associated problem statement, and they will score each proposal, coming up with a top-ranked proposal to recommend to the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) for funding.

4. Research Advisory Committee (RAC)

The RAC is made up of ADOT leadership. They will review each proposal suggested by the TACs and approve or decline the recommendation to award the project. 

5. Negotiation

Once a problem statement has been approved by the RAC for funding, the TAC Chair will enter into negotiations with the Principal Investigator (PI) to determine final details for the project, including scope, project length, and other project-specific details. 

6. Notice to Proceed (NTP)

Once both the TAC Chair and PI agree regarding the details of the project, AZTI will schedule an orientation meeting with the TAC Chair and PI. After this meeting, the Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issued.

7. Conducting Research

Once a Notice to Proceed is issued, the research project begins. The PI conducts the research with oversight and support from the TAC Chair, ADOT Research Liaison (ARL), and AZTI. Deliverables include Quarterly Performance Reports, Technical Memos, and a Final Report, all of which will be uploaded and approved through the AZTI Research Portal. TAC Meetings will be held, with coordination from AZTI, for the PI and TAC Chair to communicate closely. 

8. Project Closeout

Once the work has been completed, the Final Report is approved by the TAC Chair, and all invoicing is submitted, AZTI will close out the project. This includes approval of the Final Report by the Federal Highway Administration and publication through AZGeo and closing out finances with ADOT and the University.