An Analysis of Regional Economic Growth in the U.S. Midwest, April 2005

In this paper we examine some of the economic forces that underlie economic growth at the county level. In an effort to describe a much more comprehensive regional economic growth model, we address a variety of different growth hypotheses by introducing a large number of growth related variables. When formulating our hypotheses and specifying our growth model we make liberal use of GIS (geographical information systems) mapping software to “paint” a picture of where growth spots exist. Our empirical estimation indicates that amenities, state and local tax burdens, population, amount of primary agriculture activity, and demographics have important impacts on economic growth.

Evaluating Direct and Indirect Economic Outcomes of the 2008 Iowa Weather‐Related Disasters

This research seeks to fill some of the gaps in understanding the local, regional, and statewide economic consequences of the disasters of 2008. This report evaluates sets of population, unemployment, employment, business firms, and trade patterns over time in an attempt to discern the household consumption and business productivity disruptions caused by the weather disasters of 2008.

What can the United States learn from Spain's Pork Sector? Implications from a Comparative Economic Analysis, September 2005

This study provides a comparative economic analysis of the primary production of pork and its marketing channel in Spain and the United States. The focus on Spain is due to the profound growth and transformation of its pork sector over the last 20 years, compared with other major players in the world market for pig meat. The analysis reveals a number of similar characteristics but also important differences between the two countries. The significant expansion of Spain’s pork production sector stemmed from a number of factors that apply, to a relatively large extent, to some U.S. states (in particular, North Carolina) but do not apply to the U.S. pork production sector as a whole. This implies that it is unlikely that the U.S. pork production sector as a whole will mimic an expansion driven by the same type of factors in the future. Likewise, it seems highly unlikely that the U.S. consumption of pig meat will expand in the future based on the same driving forces behind the sharp increase in Spain’s domestic demand for pig meat over the last 20 years. The analysis also indicates that Spanish pig producers are currently being subjected to more stringent environmental and animal welfare regulations than their U.S. counterparts and that these regulations are becoming increasingly more restrictive. It would not be surprising to see similar trends emerging in the United States, leading to a substantially more restrictive regulatory environment for U.S. hog producers.

Gradation Analysis of Cold Feed and Extracted Bituminuous Mix Samples, MLR-88-2, 1988

Since 1987, the Iowa Department of Transportation has based control of hot asphalt concrete mixes on cold feed gradations. This report presents results of comparisons between cold feed gradations and gradations of aggregate from the same material after it has been processed through the plant and laydown machine. Results are categorized based on mix type, plant type, and method of dust control, in an effort to quantify and identify the factors contributing to those changes. Results of the report are: 1. From the 390 sample comparisons made, aggregate degradation due to asphalt plant processing was demonstrated by an average increase of +0.7% passing the #200 sieve and an average increase in surface area of +1.8 sq. ft. per pound of aggregate. 2. Categories with Type A Mix or Recycling as a sorting criteria generally produced greater degradation than categories containing Type B Mixes and/or plants with scrubbers. 3. None of the averages calculated for the categories should be considered unacceptably high, however, it is information that should be considered when making mix changes in the field, selecting asphalt contents for borderline mix designs, or when evaluating potential mix gradation specification or design criteria changes.

Image Analysis of PCC and AC Pavements Using SEM Images, HR-346, 1994

The major objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of image analysis for characterizing air voids in Portland cement Concrete (PCC), voids and constituents of Asphalt Concrete (AC) and aggregate gradation in AC. Images for analysis were obtained from a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Sample preparation techniques are presented that enhance signal differences so that backscattered electron (BSE) imaging, which is sensitive to atomic number changes, can be effectively employed. Work with PCC and AC pavement core samples has shown that the low vacuum scanning electron microscope (LVSEM) is better suited towards rapid analyses. The conventional high vacuum SEM can also be used for AC and PCC analyses but some distortion within the sample matrix will occur. Images with improved resolution can be obtained from scanning electron microscope (SEM) backscatter electron (BSE) micrographs. In a BSE image, voids filled with barium sulfate/resin yield excellent contrast in both PCC and AC. There is a good correlation between percent of air by image analysis and linear traverse.

Sieve Analysis of Combined Aggregate Samples by Different Test Methods, MLR-84-05, 1982

This past winter the sieve analysis of combined aggregate was investigated. This study was given No. 26 by the Central Laboratory. The purpose of this work was to try and develop a sieve analysis procedure for combined aggregate which is less time consuming and has the same accuracy as the method described in I.M. 304. In an attempt to use a variety of aggregates for this investigation, a request was made to each District Materials Office to obtain at least 3 different combined aggregate samples in their respective districts. At the same time it was also requested that the field technician test these samples, prior to submitting them to the Central Laboratory. The field technician was instructed to test each sample as described in method I.M. 304 and also by a modified AASHTO T27 method which will be identified in the report as Method A. The modified AASHTO Method A was identical to T27 with the exception that a smaller sample is used for testing. The field technicians submitted the samples, test results and also comments regarding the modified AASHTO procedure. The general comments of the modified AASHTO procedure were: The method was much simpler to follow; however, it took about the same amount of time so there was no real advantage. After reviewing AASHTO T27, T164, I.M. 304 and Report No. FHWA-RD-77-53 another test method was purposed. Report No. FHWA-RD-77-53 is a report prepared by FHWA from data they gathered concerning control practices and shortcut or alternative test methods for aggregate gradation. A second test method was developed which also was very similar to AASHTO T27, The test procedure for this method is attached and is identified as Method B. The following is a summary of test results submitted by the Field Technicians and obtained by the aggregate section of the Central Laboratory.

City of Bernard Sewer Funds Independent Auditor's Reports Financial Statements and Supplemental Information Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs, June 30, 2002

Other Audit Reports

A Statistical Analysis of Iowa Premature Concrete Pavement Deterioration, Supplementary Study, HR-1063, 1997

This supplementary project has been undertaken as an effort to continue work previously completed in the Pooled Fund Study of Premature Concrete Pavement Deterioration. As such, it shares the objective of "Identifying the variables that are present in those pavements exhibiting premature deterioration," by collecting additional data and performing statistical analysis of those data. The approach and philosophy of this work are identical to that followed in the above project, and the Pooled Fund Study Final Report provides a detailed description of this process. This project has involved the collection of data for additional sites in the state of Iowa. These sites have then been added to sites collected in the original study, and statistical analysis has been performed on the entire set. It is hoped that this will have two major effects. First, using data from only one state allows for the analysis of a larger set of independent variables with a greater degree of commonality than was possible in the multi-state study, since the data are not limited by state to state differences in data collection and retention. Second, more data on additional sites will increase the degrees of freedom in the model and hopefully add confidence to the results.

Labeling Regulations and Segregation of First- and, Second-Generation Genetically Modified Products: Innovation Incentives and Welfare Effects, April 2005

We review some of the most significant issues and results on the economic effects of genetically modified (GM) product innovation, with emphasis on the question of GM labeling and the need for costly segregation and identity preservation activities. The analysis is organized around an explicit model that can accommodate the features of both first-generation and second-generation GM products. The model accounts for the proprietary nature of GM innovations and for the critical role of consumer preferences vis-à-vis GM products, as well as for the impacts of segregation and identity preservation and the effects of a mandatory GM labeling regulation. We also investigate briefly a novel question in this setting, the choice of “research direction”when both cost-reducing and quality-enhancing GM innovations are feasible.

Industrial-economic survey of Clinton, Iowa, and the surrounding area,1960.

This is an "Industrial-Economic Survey" of Clinton, Iowa and the surrounding area that was compiled and assembled for the use of any manufacturing of commercial organization which has in interest in setting up operations in the general Clinton area. Facts and statistics are shown to use for location analysis. Numerous photos and maps are included.

Total Cost of Transportation Analysis of Road and Highway Issues, HR-388, 2002

In the administration, planning, design, and maintenance of road systems, transportation professionals often need to choose between alternatives, justify decisions, evaluate tradeoffs, determine how much to spend, set priorities, assess how well the network meets traveler needs, and communicate the basis for their actions to others. A variety of technical guidelines, tools, and methods have been developed to help with these activities. Such work aids include design criteria guidelines, design exception analysis methods, needs studies, revenue allocation schemes, regional planning guides, designation of minimum standards, sufficiency ratings, management systems, point based systems to determine eligibility for paving, functional classification, and bridge ratings. While such tools play valuable roles, they also manifest a number of deficiencies and are poorly integrated. Design guides tell what solutions MAY be used, they aren't oriented towards helping find which one SHOULD be used. Design exception methods help justify deviation from design guide requirements but omit consideration of important factors. Resource distribution is too often based on dividing up what's available rather than helping determine how much should be spent. Point systems serve well as procedural tools but are employed primarily to justify decisions that have already been made. In addition, the tools aren't very scalable: a system level method of analysis seldom works at the project level and vice versa. In conjunction with the issues cited above, the operation and financing of the road and highway system is often the subject of criticisms that raise fundamental questions: What is the best way to determine how much money should be spent on a city or a county's road network? Is the size and quality of the rural road system appropriate? Is too much or too little money spent on road work? What parts of the system should be upgraded and in what sequence? Do truckers receive a hidden subsidy from other motorists? Do transportation professions evaluate road situations from too narrow of a perspective? In considering the issues and questions the author concluded that it would be of value if one could identify and develop a new method that would overcome the shortcomings of existing methods, be scalable, be capable of being understood by the general public, and utilize a broad viewpoint. After trying out a number of concepts, it appeared that a good approach would be to view the road network as a sub-component of a much larger system that also includes vehicles, people, goods-in-transit, and all the ancillary items needed to make the system function. Highway investment decisions could then be made on the basis of how they affect the total cost of operating the total system. A concept, named the "Total Cost of Transportation" method, was then developed and tested. The concept rests on four key principles: 1) that roads are but one sub-system of a much larger 'Road Based Transportation System', 2) that the size and activity level of the overall system are determined by market forces, 3) that the sum of everything expended, consumed, given up, or permanently reserved in building the system and generating the activity that results from the market forces represents the total cost of transportation, and 4) that the economic purpose of making road improvements is to minimize that total cost. To test the practical value of the theory, a special database and spreadsheet model of Iowa's county road network was developed. This involved creating a physical model to represent the size, characteristics, activity levels, and the rates at which the activities take place, developing a companion economic cost model, then using the two in tandem to explore a variety of issues. Ultimately, the theory and model proved capable of being used in full system, partial system, single segment, project, and general design guide levels of analysis. The method appeared to be capable of remedying many of the existing work method defects and to answer society's transportation questions from a new perspective.

Total Cost of Transportation Analysis of Road and Highway Issues, TR-477, Phase 2, 2003

A prior project, HR-388, (which was entitled "Total Cost of Transportation analysis of road and highway issues"), explored the use of a total economic cost basis for evaluation of road based transportation issues. It was conducted as a proof-of-concept effort between 1996 and 2002, with the final report presented in May 2002. TR-477 rebuilt the analytical model using current data, then performed general, system level, county level, and road segment level analyses. The results are presented herein and will be distributed to all county engineers for information and local use.