|
Technology Transfer: Commercializing Innovative Infrastructure Technologies
The
Institute is strategically positioned to address its primary goal, enhancing
both the extent and quality of transportation infrastructure across
the country. Recognizing that commercializing innovative infrastructure
technologies requires new and different approaches, the Institute has
applied a multi-level strategy.
Partnering
and Working Relationships
Working
directly with infrastructure practitioners from across the country,
particularly in nondestructive testing and evaluation, our researchers
have partnered with engineers and public agencies across the continent
to solve problems and develop innovative technology applications in
response to specific requests.
In
1996, the Institute commissioned the Civil Engineering Research Foundation
to produce a report ont he barriers to innovation in the infrastructure
industry and how to overcome them.
Although
careful not to compete with engineering consulting firms, we perform
specialty instrumentation and consulting for infrastructure agencies
around the country. This has resulted in the successful transfer
of some exciting technologies. Two that stand out are a variety of
continuous
remote monitoring installations and adoption by the California Department
of Transportation of an Institute-developed method to measure minute
early bridge movements with sensitive tilt-sensors as a way of detecting
scour damage -- the main cause of bridge failure.
We
have provided "hands on" support and assistance to Northwestern
faculty members who are attempting to commercialize technologies,
such
as the TDR pulser and the hanger pin imaging system.
In
1996, we formed and continue to sponsor the Midwest Bridge Inspection
and Maintenance Technology Sharing Consortium, which includes
the states
of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin. This group facilitates
sharing of information on current practices and research relating
to
bridge inspection and maintenance among state transportation engineers
and university researchers.
|
