Research

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The South Dakota Department of Transportation conducts research to improve transportation technology. Specific goals include evaluation of new materials and methods, development of design and analysis techniques, and study of underlying causes of transportation problems. The research effort addresses topics considered most important to the Department's mission of providing a transportation system for the State of South Dakota.

Responsibilities:

Developing annual research programs
Administering contract research
Conducting in-house research
Advising other SDDOT offices

Links

Federal Highway Administration

AASHTO

United States Department of Transportation

RFPs

Research Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation for the South Dakota Department of Transportation provides general information concerning the conduct of research for SDDOT. It also contains specific instructions for preparation and submission of research proposals and describes how proposals are evaluated. Instructions are provided for report preparation. Finally, the document includes a sample agreement used for contract research.

Research Proposal Preparation, Submission, and Evaluation dated April 27, 2026

Additional information may be requested by writing or calling:

South Dakota Department of Transportation
Office of Research, Room 157
700 East Broadway Avenue
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2586
Phone: 605-773-3292

Projects

For information on active, completed, or planned research projects in the Office of Research's research programs, search by project number, researcher, status, or topic from 1997 to the present.

Contact Research Office below.

Project Reports

	Materials & Pavements
-	SD1967-12, Highway Design and Construction Through Expansive Soils in South Dakota
-	SD1987-02, Quality Control and Evaluation of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete
-	SD1990-01, Alkali Reactivity of Concrete Aggregates
-	SD1990-13, PCC/AC Shoulder Joint Seal Evaluation
-	SD1990-16, Friction Restoration of Pavements with Polished Aggregates
-	SD1991-03, Asphalt Surface Treatment Performance
-	SD1991-05, Essential Testing and Inspection Levels
-	SD1991-09, Dowel Bar Placement and Displacement
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type I (PM) Cement
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type I (PM) Cement - Supplementary Report 1 - Investigation of Locally Available Natural Pozzolans
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type I (PM) Cement - Supplemenatry Report 2 - A Comparative Study of the Physical Properties of Six Natural Pozzolan Blended Type-IP Cements
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type IP Cement Supplementary Report 3 Effects of Natural Pozzolans and Fly Ash on Alkali Silica Reactivity
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type I (PM) Cement - Supplementary Report 4 - Physical and Elastic Properties of Natural Pozzolan Blended (Type-IP) Cement Concretes
-	SD1991-11, Development of a Type I (PM) Cement - Supplementary Report 5 - Feasibility of Mining of Selected Pozzolans
-	SD1992-01, Evaluation of Undersealing of Undoweled Plain Jointed PCC Pavements in South Dakota
-	SD1992-04, Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Fine Aggregates in South Dakota
-	SD1992-06, The Effects of Increased Truck Tire Loads on Pavement
-	SD1992-08, Rapid Determination of Soil Consolidation Parameters
-	SD1992-11, Heaves at Transverse Cracks in Asphalt Concrete Pavement
-	SD1992-12, Investigation and Measurement of the Ride Quality of Flexible Pavements
-	SD1993-07, South Dakota Pavement Condition Survey Guide for City Streets
-	SD1994-03, Investigation of Anomalous Asphalt Concrete on US212
-	SD1995-04, Evaluation of South Dakota Department of Transportation’s Shoulder Surfacing On New Construction
-	SD1995-20, Thickness Design for Jointed Fiber Reinforced Concrete Highway and Street Pavements
-	SD1995-21, Mitigation of Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity Using Lithium (SHRP Concrete and Structures ASR Showcase Test and Evaluation Project 34)
-	SD1996-06, Improvement of the Materials Certification Process
-	SD1996-08, Guidelines for Using Economic Factors and Maintenance Costs in Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
-	SD1996-13, Evaluation of Non-Metallic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Whitetopping
-	SD1996-15, Evaluation of Non-Metallic Fiber Reinforced Concrete in New Full Depth PCC Pavements
-	SD1996-17, Demonstration of Pozzolan Modified Cement to Mitigate ASR
-	SD1997-03, Optimization of Recycled Asphalt Concrete and Base Materials for Bases of New Asphalt Concrete Pavements
-	SD1997-06, Process Evaluation of Spray Injection Method for Asphalt Surface Repair
-	SD1997-09, Field Performance of Concrete Admixtures
-	SD1998-03, Investigation of Low Compressive Strengths of Concrete in Paving, Precast and Structural
-	SD1998-05, Pavement Management Segment Consolidation
-	SD1998-07, Optimization of AC Shoulder Design and Construction for PCC Pavements
-	SD1999-03, Implementation of the Material Certification Process
-	SD1999-09, High Volume/High Speed Asphalt Roadway Preventive Maintenance Surface Treatments
-	SD1999-10, Asphalt Concrete Anti-Stripping Techniques
-	SD1999-15, Effects of Off-Road Tires on Flexible & Granular Pavements
-	SD2000-02, Soil Density Target Values
-	SD2001-03, Effects of Maintenance Treatments on Asphalt Concrete Pavement Management
-	SD2001-05, Mechanical and Corrosion Properties of a High-Strength, High Chromium Reinforcing Steel for Concrete
-	SD2001-12, Correlation of Roughness Ratings with Highway User Opinion
-	SD2001-13, Effects of Hot Plant Fuel Characteristics and Combustion on Asphalt Concrete Quality
-	SD2002-10, Local Road Surfacing Criteria
-	SD2004-07, Impact, Cause, and Remedies for Excessive Cracking in CRC Pavement
-	SD2005-01, Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Implementation Plan
-	SD2005-05, Feasibility of Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for Pavements, Utilities, and Bridges
-	SD2005-07, Evaluation of Recycled Portland Cement Concrete Pavements for Base Course and Gravel Cushion Material
-	SD2008-05, Optimization of Pavement Marking Performance
-	SD2008-06, Joint Plain Concrete Pavement Design and Construction Review
-	SD2008-10, Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design: Materials Testing of Resilient and Dynamic Modulus
-	SD2009-05, Mitigation of Corrosion in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
-	SD2009-08, Gravel Surfacing Guidelines for South Dakota
-	SD2009-10, Preliminary Laboratory Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Asphalt Concrete Pavement
-	SD2011-07, Improved Prediction of Performance of Asphalt Mixes Using a Creep Constitutive Model
-	SD2011-08, Improved Performance of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Mixes
-	SD2011-09, Tolerances for Placement of Tie Bars in Portland Cement Concrete Pavement
-	SD2014-12, Compaction Testing of Granular Material
-	SD2014-13, Mitigation of Expansive Soils in South Dakota
-	SD2014-21, Resilient and Dynamic Modulus Testing For M-E Pavement Design
-	SD2016-03, Performance of Asphalt Concrete Crack Sealants in South Dakota
-	SD2016-04, Development of Specifications for Portland-Limestone Cement
-	SD2018-07, Evaluation of Asphalt Binder Rejuvenators for Use in Recycled Asphalt
-	SD2019-01, Pavement Preservation Guide Update for SDDOT and Local Agencies
-	SD2022-03, Investigation of Poor Compressive Strength and Performance of A45 Structural Concrete Mixes
-	SD2023-02, South Dakota Granular Moisture-Density Curve Development and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Implementation

	Structures, Foundations, & Drainage
-	SD1987-05, Design and Analysis of Reinforcing Distressed Bridge Abutments
-	SD1989, Prestressed Girder Project
-	SD1989-01, Testing and Evaluating Prestressed Concrete Bridge Decks with Fiberglass Composite Cables
-	SD1989-03, Geotechnical Analysis of Howes Dams
-	SD1989-06, Analytical Parametric Study of a Tied-Back System for Reinforcing Distressed Bridge Abutments Volume I
-	SD1989-06, Analytical Parametric Study of a Tied-Back System for Reinforcing Distressed Bridge Abutments Volume II: User's Manual for Program BART
-	SD1989-06, Analytical Parametric Study of a Tied-Back System for Reinforcing Distressed Bridge Abutments Volume III
-	SD1990-03, Void Development Under Bridge Approaches
-	SD1990-04, Bridge Life Study
-	SD1990-07, Field Performance of Abutment Tiebacks
-	SD1990-15, Effectiveness of Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seals on Bridges
-	SD1991-15, Predicting Skin Friction for Pile Design
-	SD1993-12, Determination of Single Barrel Box Culvert Inlet Loss Coefficients
-	SD1994-09, Highway Rock Slope Reclamation and Stabilization of Black Hills Region South Dakota Part I, Report
-	SD1994-09, Highway Rock Slope Reclamation and Stabilization Black Hills Region South Dakota Part II, Guidelines
-	SD1995-22, Demonstration of Polyolefin Fiber Reinforced Concrete in a Bridge Deck Replacement
-	SD1996-02, Use of Fabric Reinforced Soil Wall for Integral Abutment Bridge End Treatment
-	SD1996-19, Delamination Surveys and Removal Procedures for Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seals (RACS) Bridge Deck Overlays
-	SD1997-11, Evaluation of Tow Low-Slump Dense Non-metallic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Deck Overlays at Exit 32 on I-90 in South Dakota
-	SD1998-04, Estimation of Ice Thickness and Strength for Determination of Lateral Ice Loads on Bridge Structures in South Dakota
-	SD1998-06, Evaluation of High Performance Concrete in Four Bridge Decks as Well as Prestressed Girders for Two Bridges
-	SD1998-08, Truck Weights and the Bridge Formula
-	SD1998-18, The Determination of Permeability, Density, and Bond Strength of Non-Metallic Fiber Reinforced Concrete in Bridge Deck Overlay Applications
-	SD2000-04, Stainless Steel Clad Rebar in Bridge Decks
-	SD2001-04, Alternative Sealants for Bridge Decks
-	SD2002-04, Effects of Inlet Geometry on Hydraulic Performance of Box Culverts
-	SD2002-16, Evaluation of Metallized Stainless Steel Clad Reinforcement
-	SD2004-02, Corrosion Monitoring of Hot Springs VSL Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall
-	SD2004-05, SDDOT Water Quality Enhancement Program for Construction
-	SD2005-11, Evaluation of Crack-Free Bridge Decks
-	SD2005-12, Applicability of Paleoflood Surveys to the Black Hills of Western South Dakota
-	SD2005-13, Structural Applications of Self-Consolidating Concrete
-	SD2006-07, Impacts of Barriers on Topeka Shiner Populations
-	SD2006-08, Evaluation of SRICOS Method on Cohesive Soils in South Dakota
-	SD2007-04, Structural Performance of Prestressed Self-Consolidating Concrete Bridge Girders Made with Limestone Aggregates
-	SD2008-01, Application of Paleoflood Survey Techniques in the Black Hills of South Dakota
-	SD2008-08, Review and Refinement of the SDDOT’s LRFD Deep Foundation Design Method
-	SD2009-04, Analysis of Compound Channel Flow with Two-Dimensional Models
-	SD2010-02, Evaluation of Cost Effectiveness, Performance, and Selection Criteria for Concrete Structures
-	SD2010-04, Application of Paleoflood Surveys for the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota
-	SD2010-06, Evaluation of Ice Loads on Bridge Sub-Structures in South Dakota
-	SD2012-02, Evaluation and Mitigation of Vehicle Impact Hazards for Overpasses
-	SD2012-03, Implementation Guidance for Accelerated Bridge Construction in South Dakota
-	SD2013-01, Precast Bridge Girder Details for Improved Performance
-	SD2013-03, Rainfall-Runoff Modeling for Improved Peak Flow Estimates in the Black Hills Area of South Dakota
-	SD2013-06, Structure Alternatives for Local Roads
-	SD2013-07, Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Structure Components
-	SD2014-11, Review and Refinement of SDDOT’s LRFD Shallow Foundation Design Method
-	SD2014-14, Development of Alternative Bridge Superstructures for South Dakota Local Roads
-	SD2014-16, Flood Hydrograph Generation for Predicting Bridge Scour in Cohesive Soils
-	SD2014-19, Reuse of Aqueous Waste Streams in Transportation Related Applications
-	SD2014-20, Rehabilitation of Longitudinal Joints in Double-Tee Girder Bridges
-	SD2016-01, Methodology for Load Rating Double-Tee Bridges
-	SD2018-04, Low Shrinkage Mix Designs to Reduce Early Cracking of Concrete Bridge Decks
-	SD2023-07, Refinement of Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert Installation Guidelines

	Operations & Safety
-	SD1987-06, A Study of South Dakota Deicer Number 2
-	SD1988-04, The Effects of Increased Salt Usage on the Chloride Concentration in South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridges and Roads
-	SD1989-04, Snow Plow Cutting Edge Cost Effectiveness
-	SD1989-12, Biological Effect of South Dakota Deicer Number 2 on Environment
-	SD1990-12, Pavement Marking Cost Effectiveness
-	SD1991-06, SnowPlow Safety
-	SD1991-14, Information Systems Plan Transportation Information Study
-	SD1992-10, Work Zone Safety Device Evaluation
-	SD1992-15, Freezing Properties of Deicing Materials
-	SD1993-03, Spring Restrictions: Limits and Timing
-	SD1993-11, Assessment of Intermodal Transportation Information Needs
-	SD1994-08, Mobile Workzone Sign Support
-	SD1994-10, Crash Testing of Standard South Dakota Road Closure Gates
-	SD1994-11, Evaluation of Variable Curvature Snow Plow Blades
-	SD1994-14, Crash Testing of Dual 4" x 6" Cedar Posts for Breakaway Applications
-	SD1995-10, Use of Speed Monitoring and Communications Display for Traffic Control
-	SD1995-14, Snow Plow Cutting Edge Evaluation
-	SD1995-19, Environmental Effects of Solid and Liquid Forms of Sodium Acetate/Formate Deicer Ice Shear
-	SD1996-04, A Location Referencing System to Support Data Integration
-	SD1996-07, Feasibility of Automated Routing and Permitting of Oversize/Overweight Vehicles
-	SD1997-10, South Dakota ITS/CVO Business Plan
-	SD1997-12, Evaluation of Laser Video Speed Measurement Equipment
-	SD1998-10, Simulation and Analysis of a Proposed Replacement for the McCook Port of Entry Inspection Station
-	SD1998-12, Identification of Abnormal Accident Patterns at Intersections
-	SD1998-15, Verification of Radar Vehicle Detection Equipment
-	SD1998-16, Crash Testing of South Dakota's Cable Guardrail to W-Beam Transition
-	SD1999-05, Identification of Methods for Truck Crash Reduction
-	SD1999-11, South Dakota Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Deployment Plan
-	SD2000-10, Safety Program
-	SD2000-11, Automated Road Closure Gate
-	SD2000-14, Unified Reporting of Commercial and Non-Commercial Traffic Accidents
-	SD2001-06, Applications of Automated Speed Enforcement
-	SD2001-08, Automated Road Closure Gate Needs Assessment and I-90, Exit 67 Electric Actuator Project
-	SD2001-15, Improved Road Condition Reporting
-	SD2001-17, State of South Dakota CVISN Program Support Project
-	SD2002-01, The Deleterious Chemical Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete, Study
-	SD2002-01, The Deleterious Chemical Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete, Implementation Guide
-	SD2002-01, The Deleterious Chemical Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete
-	SD2002-03, South Dakota Rural ITS Architecture
-	SD2002-12, Potential Impact of Biodiesel on SDDOT
-	SD2003-01, Improved Traffic Signal Maintenance and Management
-	SD2003-03, SD Motor Carrier Services Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2003-15, Factors Contributing to South Dakota Crash and Fatality Rates
-	SD2003-16, Applications of ITS in Work Zones
-	SD2004-01, Enhancement of South Dakota’s Amber Alert System
-	SD2004-06, Updating South Dakota Crash Frequencies and Crash Reduction Factors
-	SD2005-03, Use of Wireless Technology for Field Applications
-	SD2005-04, Traffic Operations Center Concepts for South Dakota
-	SD2005-14, Improving Motor Vehicle Crash Reporting on Nine South Dakota Indian Reservations
-	SD2006-01, Assessment of Highway Deicing Impacts to Roadside Pines in the Black Hills
-	SD2006-10, Analysis of Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Benefits & Costs
-	SD2007-05, Evaluation of Thermal Imaging Equipment
-	SD2007-06, Local Rural Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Case Studies
-	SD2008-02, Development of a Baseline Statewide Traffic Incident Management Plan
-	SD2009-03, Evaluation of Driver Education in South Dakota
-	SD2009-07, Methods to Identify Needed Highway Safety Improvements in South Dakota
-	SD2010-01, Costs and Benefits of Public Transit in South Dakota
-	SD2011-02, Review of State DOT Practices for Analyzing the Effectiveness of Completed Highway Safety Improvement Projects
-	SD2013-04, Calibration of HSM Predictive Methods on State and Local Rural Highways
-	SD2014-03, Reducing WVC in South Dakota
-	SD2014-06, SDDOT Transportation Systems Management & Operations Program Plan
-	SD2016-05, Financial Benefits of Proposed Access Management Treatments
-	SD2016-07, SDDOT Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Operation Plan
-	SD2019-02, Guidelines for Wildlife Vehicle Collision Mitigation
-	SD2022-02, Identification of Cost-Effective Winter Maintenance Chemicals
-	SD2022-06, Reduce Fatal & Serious Injury Crashes
-	SD2022-08, Feasibility of a Traffic Operations Center for South Dakota
-	SD2023-03, Develop Methods to Reduce Crashes and Increase Driver Compliance in Work Zones
-	SD2023-06, South Dakota Blowing Snow Mitigation Strategies, Prioritization, and Implementation

	Planning & Administration
-	SD1989-17, Description and Evaluation of South Dakota Road Profiler
-	SD1990-08, Historical Database Feasibility Study
-	SD1990-11, Local Road Needs Study - Design and Maintenance Guidelines and 20 Year Funding Needs
-	SD1990-14, Railroad Crossing Study (Volume I)
-	SD1990-14, Railroad Crossing Study Volume II: Appendices
-	SD1991-18, South Dakota Transportation Funding Needs Assessment
-	SD1992-05, Location of Highway Attributes by Global Positioning Study
-	SD1993-07, South Dakota City Street Needs Assessment
-	SD1993-08, Analysis of the Impact Upon State and Local Roads of Transporting Garbage to Centralized Solid Waste Disposal Sites
-	SD1993-10, Increased Efficiency Through Integrated Project Filing
-	SD1995-03, Assessment of SDDOT Training Needs for the South Dakota Department of Transportation
-	SD1995-07, Criteria and Guidelines for Innovative Contracting
-	SD1995-08, Design and Performance of Created Wetlands
-	SD1996-03, Review of SDDOT’s Field Collected Roadway Data
-	SD1996-04, A Location Referencing System to Support Data Integration
-	SD1997-01, SD DOT Customer Survey
-	SD1997-07, Development of Working Day Weather Charts for Transportation Construction in South Dakota
-	SD1997-13, Local Transportation Agency Training and Technical Assistance Needs Assessment
-	SD1998-05, SDDOT Pavement Management Segment Consolidation
-	SD1998-13, Development of South Dakota Accident Reduction Factors
-	SD1998-17, SDDOT 1999 Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD1999-01, Review of SDDOT's Highway Access Control Process
-	SD1999-04, 20-Year Traffic Forecasting Factors
-	SD1999-07, Documentation of South Dakota's ITS/CVO Data Architecture
-	SD1999-14, Design, Construction, and Maintenance of the Office of Research Web Site
-	SD2000-03, Update of the Non-State Trunk Inventory
-	SD2000-07, SDDOT Organizational Health Assessment 2000
-	SD2000-13, Assessment of Commercial Driver Rest Area Needs
-	SD2003-11, SDDOT 2004 Organizational Health Assessment
-	SD2001-11, Assessment of Techniques for Corridor Preservation in South Dakota
-	SD2002-06, SDDOT Organizational Health Assessment 2002
-	SD2002-07, SDDOT 2002 Statewide Customer Survey
-	SD2003-12, SDDOT 2004 Statewide Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2005-02, Verify Certain ITE Trip Generation Rate Applications in South Dakota
-	SD2005-06, Proactive Noise Avoidance and Mitigation Measures
-	SD2005-15, South Dakota Motor Carrier Services 2006 Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2006-02, SDDOT 2006 Organizational Health Assessment
-	SD2006-03, SDDOT 2006 Statewide Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2006-05, Review of SDDOT’s Pavement Management System
-	SD2006-06, Review of Travel Demand Forecasting Requirements in the SDDOT
-	SD2008-07, Energy Management Program for SDDOT
-	SD2009-01, Going Places: History of the South Dakota Department of Transportation, 1956 – Present
-	SD2009-02, Review of South Dakota’s Non‐State Trunk Road Inventory and Cultural Inventory
-	SD2010-03, SDDOT 2011 Statewide Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2011-04, Updated Performance Curves for SDDOT’s Pavement Management System
-	SD2012-05, Selection of Interest and Inflation Rates for Infrastructure Investment Analyses
-	SD2013-05, Climate and Groundwater Data to Support Mechanistic-Empirical Design in South Dakota
-	SD2013-08, Validating the National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) for South Dakota
-	SD2013-10, Applications of LiDAR for SDDOT
-	SD2015-07, SDDOT 2015-16 Statewide Customer Satisfaction Assessment
-	SD2016-06, Develop an Improved SDDOT Construction Cost Index
-	SD2017-06, South Dakota Department of Transportation - Funding Strategies for Transit Agencies in South Dakota
-	SD2018-02, Replacement of SDDOT’s Roadway Evaluation System
-	SD2024-01, 2025 Statewide Customer Satisfaction Assessment

Research Library

The SDDOT library is located in the Research office. To check out hard copies of any of these items, you will need a State Library card. Once you have the card, drop by the Research Office to pick up the item. If you'd like the item sent inter-office, talk to Nicole Brooks at 605-773-3571 or email nicolem.brooks@state.sd.us

Apply for a library card through the S.D. State Library or search the Library Catalog allows you to locate resources available at your library and at more than 70 other libraries throughout South Dakota.

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Contact

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Thad Bauer

Program Manager – Inventory Management & Research

605-773-3278

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Andy Vandel

Engineering Manager II - Research

605-773-3199

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Nicole Brooks

Senior Secretary

605-773-3571

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