摘要: |
The following factors are considered in the selection process for synthesis topics: (1) The problem should be widespread enough to generate broad interest in the synthesis. (2)The problem should be timely and critical with respect to economic impact, safety, or social impact. (3)The problem is appropriate if current practice is non-uniform or inconsistent from agency to agency, or if the validity of some practices appears to be questionable. (4)The quality and quantity of useful available information should indicate a need to organize and compress that which has already been learned and written on the topic. (5)The topic should not be one where ongoing research or other activities in progress might be expected to render the synthesis obsolete shortly after completion. For each specific synthesis topic selected, TRB forms a topic panel of experts in the subject area to guide the researchers in organizing and evaluating data collected and to review the synthesis report. At its first meeting, each topic panel thoroughly discusses the topic, refines the tentative scope, suggests sources of information, and selects a consultant based on expression of interest received typically in response to an industry wide solicitation. Following this meeting, an agreement is negotiated with the selected consultant to gather information on the topic, synthesize it, and draft a report. For each synthesis topic, the objectives are (1) to locate and assemble documented information; (2) to learn what practice has been used for solving or alleviating problems; (3) to identify all ongoing research; (4) to learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) to organize, evaluate, and document the useful information that is acquired. Each synthesis will be an immediately useful document that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. |