Primary Functions

The Bureau of Research is responsible for the oversight of federal funds dedicated to transportation research, KTRAN projects, KDOT library, and assisting in forensic investigations of prematurely failed transportation projects. 

• Serve as Chair of the Research Technical Committee and assist in the identification and prioritization of projects for KDOT’s research programs; 
• Undertake research projects approved by the Research Technical Committee and Research Program Council, or KDOT’s management; 
• Administer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP); 
• Administer technical information services, National Highway Institute (NHI) technical training, and plan and host conferences and workshops; 
• Edit and publish technical reports, write and publish research and technology transfer manuscripts, reports, news articles, and newsletters; 
• Maintain a KDOT library, which interacts with the national library network to assist staff when it is necessary to acquire transportation-related information; 
• Provide for research development and utilization of new highway construction materials and procedures; 
• Report research findings in various categories including asphalt materials, concrete materials, pavement surfaces, geology, and chemistry; 
• Develop the equipment and procedures necessary to implement research findings; 
• Evaluate unusual situations that may occur during standard construction and maintenance field operations and recommend corrective actions; 
• Maintain several national research databases and the bureau web site; 
• Serve as project monitors on contracted university or private sector research projects; 
• Chair the New Products Committee and administer new product evaluations; and 
• Serve as KDOT’s representative to the Transportation Research Board, as a member of the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee, and as a member of various other state, regional, and national technical panels and committees. 

RD&T Manual

Hosts NHI training classes, seminars and workshops; Coordinates additional training courses for the Agency; Publishes the Research & Technology newsletter.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) reflect an investment in your professional development. They represent one way you account for your efforts to expand and update your knowledge of subjects (e.g., concepts, techniques) in your particular area of expertise. The National Highway Institute (NHI) and the Technology Transfer Section frequently receive queries about the award of CEUs and PDHs. Here are some examples that may help answer your question. 

How many CEUs or PDHs will I earn for each course?
The number of CEUs awarded depends on the length of the training course. The number is listed in the course description, which can be found in the online NHI Courses Catalog. As a rule, NHI awards 0.6 CEU for each full day of instruction.

How do CEUs and PDHs compare?
The requirements to obtain CEUs are actually somewhat more stringent than the requirements for PDHs. One CEU is equal to ten PDHs and is readily transferable.

I am approaching the renewal of my Professional Engineer's license. What kind of documentation must I have for renewal?
The Board of Technical Professions has provided a form called the Log of PDH Earned. You should use this form to maintain the records that support the claimed credits. Do not send the form or records to the Board unless audited. You are required to keep the Log of PDH Earned and attendance verification records in the form of completion certificates or other documents that support evidence of attendance for at least four years.

Where are CEU and PDH records kept?
That question has several answers.

• Because credits are earned in a variety of ways, each individual is encouraged to keep track of his or her own credits.
• Records of individual professional development are kept at Technology Transfer for all courses that we sponsor.
• Technology Transfer also insures the KDOT Personnel Services office receives notice of credits earned by all courses that we sponsor. Courses taken that are not sponsored by our Section or by Human Resources should be brought to the attention of the Bureau or District Secretary.
• For those who fill out the CEU application form that is provided at the close of each course, a record is also kept at the NHI Office.

Webinars presented by US DOT's University Transportation Centers (UTCs)
This page has information about upcoming UTC webinars and how to register to attend them. There is also a link to a YouTube playlist containing more than 100 past UTC webinars.

Upcoming Webinars from Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Anyone can view this page, which includes a list of upcoming TRB webinars. However, to register to attend a webinar, you must create a MyTRB login. Employees of State DOTs can attend these webinars at no cost, so use your KDOT email address when you create your account.

Some live webinars allow participants to earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs). General information is available on the Registration Information page. PDH information specific to each webinar is included in the individual webinar announcement.

Past TRB Webinars
From this page, you can select a topic or a transportation mode to view a list of past webinars on the specified subject. Recordings of prior webinars are available at no cost to State DOT employees. Slides from the presentations are often available online, but recordings must be requested. Links to slides and to information about requesting recordings are on the TRB page for the specific webinar session.

TRB Straight to Recordings
These sessions are shorter than webinars, and are all pre-recorded. They are also free to the public, no login required.

If you know of other webinar series on transportation-related topics that might be useful to other KDOT employees, please email the KDOT Library to let us know so we can add the information to this page.

• Evaluation of New Products and Procedures for Construction and Materials - SOM 1.14.2
• Prequalified Materials and New Product Approvals 
• Preliminary Information for Product Evaluation
• New Product Submittal Flowchart 
• New Products Committee

• David Behzadpour, Chair, Technology Transfer Engineer, Bureau of Research
• Jason Van Nice, Vice Chair, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Construction and Materials
• Dan Wadley, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Research (Non-voting)
• Sally Mayer, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Research (Non-voting)
• Vacant, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Construction and Materials - Construction
• Chris Leibrock, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Construction and Materials - Testing
• Rick Barezinsky, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Construction and Materials - Materials
• Deb Tanking, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Road Design
• Tod Salfrank, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Local Projects
• Robert Fuller, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Maintenance
• Mark Hurt, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Structures and Geotechnical Services
• Vanessa Spartan, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Transportation Safety
• Sara Peters, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Traffic Engineering
• Mitch Sothers, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Innovative Technologies
• Shari Hilliard, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Intelligent Transportation Systems