General
The information on the RNS website is stored in a database of research needs statements. Each database record
is divided into fields, or categories, of information, such as title, sponsoring committee, and subject category.
When you use the search form, you can specify which field(s) to search and which word(s) to look for within the
field(s). Use any combination of field criteria below to better narrow the search results.
Search Techniques
Use the below search techniques within the "Keywords (multiple fields)", "Title," or "Index Terms" fields to refine your results.
Case
Search terms are not case sensitive. CHICAGO, Chicago, and chicago all retrieve the same records.
Field Descriptions
Search Field
Enter keywords using the rules above in the text field. The 'Keywords' field will search the Title, Description,
and Index Terms. If only searching by statement title or index terms, select the respective field from the dropdown.
Sponsoring Committee
To find an exact match, enter the first part of a committee name and click "Lookup." If multiple committees are desired
or the exact name is not known, then enter one or more words then just click "Submit Query." The search will match
records containing the search phrase within the organization name or address.
Subject Category
If desired, you may narrow your search by selecting from among the specific TRB subject categories.
Date Range
Select a date type from the listed options:
- Date Added - Date the statement was added to the database
- Date Modified - Date the statements was last updated in the database
Then enter the desired lower and upper bound years in four-digit format.
Sort Order
This option uses the "Sort By" field and specifies whether the results will be in ascending or descending order.
