Since 2019, NCDOT has successfully hosted four “Research and Innovation Summits” both in-person and virtually on UNC system campuses. These Summits provided an opportunity to share ongoing and final research project findings to NCDOT employees and sister UNC system campus faculty and staff on a variety of topic areas while also showcasing innovative technologies and practices that may lend to more fruitful collaborations in the future. Other activities included topics on research idea formation and submission and training.
ITRE’s recommendation to hold the fifth annual Summit planned for fall 2024 or spring 2025 at NC State’s McKimmon Center. This location provides a unique opportunity to engage in-person with many local NCDOT central office, Division, and Unit staff on a wide array of NCDOT and national research efforts specific to their areas of expertise that may be applied in their respective groups while obtaining PDH’s towards professional licensure. It is anticipated that the Summit will include a wide array of topical areas including research presentations, poster sessions, site/laboratory visits, workshops and/or training, and even live demonstrations of new or innovative technologies. The event will also include opportunities for people to engage remotely in presentations via a hybrid online setup provided in each of the sessions.
We have proposed to host up to 500 people either in-person or via web interface February 11th and 12th, 2025. Even so, if registrations increase significantly for any reason, ITRE will remain flexible based on NCDOTs funding and the facility capacity constraints. All registration, website interfacing, registration, catering and hotels, transit to labs demonstrations, evaluations, reporting, etc. will be provided under this contract to best accommodate a smooth overall Summit experience.
