ISTVS supported collaborative research proposals due Dec 31st, 2025 - Submit a two-page proposal now!

Dear ISTVS Members,

As approved by the ISTVS Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce a new ISTVS Small Research Grant solicitation aimed at advancing the science and practice of Terrain Characterization and Performance Evaluation in Off-Road Mobility. A recent call for proposals in August 2025 addressed all-terrain tires, while the focus of this proposal is on the terrain.

This solicitation aligns with the long-standing objectives of the ISTVS Research Grants Program, established in 2014, which seeks to encourage:

Interaction among ISTVS members
International collaboration
Progress toward ISTVS technical and scientific goals
Active participation from early-career and student members
Recognition of ISTVS as the leading authority in terrain–vehicle interaction, off-road mobility science, and terramechanics

Call for Proposals

The ISTVS Board of Directors (BOD) invites proposals for funding support of collaborative efforts that contribute to improved understanding, measurement, and interpretation of terrain properties to support analysis, modeling, and evaluation of off-road mobility.

Funding provided under the ISTVS Small Research Grants program is intended to be complementary to existing resources and should be used to enable coordination, synthesis, and community-focused progress, rather than to fully fund standalone research projects.

All investigators must be active ISTVS members.

Up to one award may be made under this solicitation, contingent upon the quality and relevance of the proposals received.

Scope and Focus Areas

Proposals may consider a broad range of terrain types, including soils, sands, clays, snow, ice, and vegetated terrain, and may address environmental and seasonal variability affecting off-road mobility and vehicle–ground interaction. Consideration of emerging sensing and modeling technologies, uncertainty and variability in terrain and mobility assessment, and alignment with practical operational requirements is encouraged. Proposals that support consistent interpretation, comparability, and application of results across institutions, terrains, or methodologies are particularly well aligned with the objectives of ISTVS. Proposed work should address challenges or gaps related to terrain characterization and/or mobility performance assessment, including (but not limited to):

Emerging methods for terrain measurement, sensing, or classification
Definition, evaluation, or standardization of mobility performance metrics
Integration of terrain data with vehicle performance models or tools
Comparison or harmonization of experimental, field, and modeling approaches
Development of best practices, reference datasets, or benchmarking methodologies
Identification of needs or pathways toward future ISTVS standards

Projects that emphasize collaboration, knowledge exchange, and broadly applicable outcomes for the ISTVS community are particularly encouraged.

Proposal Action Dates

Proposal submission deadline: December 31, 2025
Proposals must be submitted by email to the ISTVS General Secretary at gs@istvs.org
Funding recommendations will be made following review by an Evaluation Committee and approval by the ISTVS Board of Directors

Proposal Guidelines

Proposals should be concise and limited to two (2) pages, excluding appendices. A one-page biographical sketch for each Principal Investigator (PI) must be included as an appendix, highlighting work relevant to ISTVS and prior involvement with the Society. Both Full and Student members are eligible to serve as PIs.

Required Proposal Contents

Proposals should include the following sections:

Goals and Scope
Clear statement of objectives and relevance to terrain characterization and/or mobility performance metrics.
Current state of the art and limitations
Clear case on the research gap, why it is important to solve, and how the proposal intends to address it.
Significance to ISTVS
Description of the anticipated technical, scientific, and potential community-level impact.
Proposed Activities, Deliverables, and Timelines
Description of tasks, milestones, and tangible outputs (e.g., reports, datasets, recommendations, publications) along with the timeline.
Project Organization and Collaboration
Description of participating individuals or institutions, roles, and coordination approach.
Success metrics
How do you define the success of the project, and how will you measure it? What are the mid-term and final evaluations? Why do you think you will be successful (i.e., address any risks involved)?
Budget Request and Justification
Amount of funding requested and how it will be used to support the proposed activities.
References

Other sections may be added.

Funding Level and Duration

Requested funding is expected to be in the range of USD 1,000–5,000 per year, although this is indicative.

The initial project duration will be one year. Extensions may be considered based on progress, outcomes, and BOD approval.

Oversight and Expected Outcomes

Each funded project will be assigned a Project Technical Adviser (PTA) by the ISTVS BOD to provide technical oversight and serve as a liaison with the Board.

Expected outcomes may include, but are not limited to: