Where, when, what, and how much to invest in infrastructure. CAIT tools and applications support data-based decisions that are crucial to efficiently managing and preserving bridge, road, rail, energy, and water systems.
Training & Events
Studying Damages from Hurricane Maria to Improve Future Infrastructure Resilience
Following Hurricane Maria, CAIT-affiliated researchers at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico have been studying the damage, examining transportation infrastructure that failed during the storm, and developing resources to make local transportation infrastructure more resilient and prepared for future weather events.
Enhancing the Resilience of Tunnels Subject to Fire Events
Major tunnel fires not only result in the loss of lives but can also cause property damage and long service disruptions that can result in millions of dollars lost and major socioeconomic impacts. While much research has gone into safety surrounding fire events in tunnels, less has been done in resilience.
News
For students who dream of flying
A grant from the NSF helped launch Atlantic Cape Community College’s new associate’s degree program in applied science with a concentration on small commercial drone field technicians.
An Updated Look at The Effects of COVID-19 on Transportation and Infrastructure
Last month we spoke to CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. James Hughes to discuss COVID-19 and its potential impacts on the economy and regional transportation. Now we check back with him again for new insights as the situation progresses.
THMPER featured in Civil Engineering magazine
The February 2018 issue of CE magazine featured THMPER—a portable, rapid testing device for bridge load-bearing capacity. THMPER is a breakthrough because it does this critical task faster, cheaper, and with less traffic disruption than other current methods.
Bridge evaluation device lands prestigious Pankow Innovation Award
THMPER determines bridge load ratings faster, cheaper, and with less traffic disruption than other current methods. A portable evaluation tool and data lab, it employs three refined methods outlined by AASHTO: modal impact testing, refined analysis, and calibration of FE element models.
Building connections that last
FHWA is promoting ultra-high performance concrete to improve the strength, simplicity, and durability of prefabricated bridge element connections. This innovation builds on field experience of dozens of states in the U.S. since 2009.
Building the right roads for the right loads
David Orr from the Cornell University Local Roads Program is working on a tool to help towns with low-volume rural/local roads plan and build them in keeping with the traffic loads they carry.
CAIT Affiliated Researchers Publish New Book on Impacts of Trade on Transportation
CAIT-affiliated researchers examine the impact of major trade agreements such as NAFTA and the European Union Customs Union, and their implications on transportation systems globally.
Associate Director Elected Secretary of Council of University Transportation Centers
The Associate Director of CAIT, Dr. Patrick Szary, has served on the executive committee of CUTC previously as well as playing an instrumental role in both leading CAIT’s research in aligning with the national vision of USDOT while also engaging regional stakeholders and developing the Center as a dynamic resource.
CAIT Awarded $3.5 million from USDOT UTC program
Rutgers’ CAIT was awarded a $3.5 million grant from USDOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration under the University Transportation Center (UTC) program. This is the third time CAIT has successfully competed to retain its UTC status.
CAIT Director Discusses Infrastructure Resilience and Climate During ITRC Seminar
As the economic impact of climate change on infrastructure continues to grow, it is important to consider these impacts in future resilience planning. CAIT Director Dr. Ali Maher discussed this and more in a recent presentation during the ITRC Seminar Series.
CAIT Director Named to NJ’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently announced the formation of a statewide council of leaders from various industry, community, and faith-based groups and institutions across New Jersey to work together and advise on the state’s restart and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
CAIT experts testify before NJ Assembly transportation committee
CAIT director Dr. Ali Maher and civil engineering professor Dr. Franklin Moon offered their thoughts on New Jersey infrastructure and encouraged lawmakers to view researchers in higher education as a resource and partner for finding solutions to the state’s pressing issues.
CAIT Helps Secure Funding for Advancement of Portal North Bridge Replacement Project
The 110-year-old Portal North Bridge carries approximately 450 trains and 200,000 passengers on an average day, and is in need of repair. CAIT helped to secure new funding from FRA that will allow NJ Transit and other stakeholders to advance these vital infrastructure projects.
CAIT Partners with ARA on Geotechnical Research Contract
ARA was selected as a contractor to provide program support and engineering services to the FHWA’s Office of Bridges and Structures and National Geotechnical Team. CAIT has teamed up with them as a subcontractor to provide research support and expertise.
CAIT pavement crew wants agencies to join the RAAT-Pack
Modern asphalt pavement performance testing has evolved quickly. The physical testing procedures are relatively simple, but analyzing the collected data is complex and intensive. If you’re an asphalt technician or engineer, that’s where RAAT-Pack has your back.
Two New Studies from CAIT Analyze End-of-Track Collision Prevention Strategies
While extensive research has been done on train safety related to derailments and other areas, the same cannot be said for end-of-track collisions at passenger terminals. The Rail and Transit Program at Rutgers CAIT has taken an active research role in addressing this.
Best Practices for Deploying Real-Time Traffic Signal Performance Monitoring
Traffic congestion costs the US billions each year in productivity as commuters find themselves stuck on the nation’s crowded roadways. As more people use the transportation system, investment in innovative, intelligent technology is needed to ensure that current infrastructure can support the growing need.
CAIT Research Helps NJ Transit Secure Funding for State of Good Repair Projects
The FRA issued a notice of funding opportunity for state of good repair projects including a total of $291.4 million in grant funding to help repair vital intercity passenger rail assets. Of that funding, NJ Transit was later awarded $18.3 million to upgrade the Trenton Transit Center, and CAIT helped to secure it.
CAIT Researcher Co-Edited New Book on Eco-efficient Pavement Construction Materials
"Eco-efficient Pavement Construction Materials" provides engineers with the latest information and research on eco-efficient pavement materials and green infrastructure.
UTC Research Compares Pavement Condition Indexes To Help Estimate Service Life
New research from Rutgers CAIT is examining the consistency and relationship of three Pavement Condition Indexes. Analyzing them can result in more durable and sustainable airfield pavement in the long-term, and has the potential to help find improvements to the current practices in airfield-pavement management systems.
Researcher Models Economic Impact of Raritan River Bridge Replacement Project
The NJ Transit Board of Directors recently approved an approximately $250 million contract with George Harms Construction for the initial construction phase of the Raritan River Bridge Replacement project. A study by CAIT-affiliated researchers helped to gauge the economic impact of the Raritan River Bridge project.
Dr. Husam Najm Named Educator of the Year by ASCE Central Jersey Branch
ASCE Central Jersey honors members dedicated to the advancement of engineering every year at its annual awards ceremony. This year, they selected CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Husam Najm for the Educator of the Year Award due to his dedication in helping educate the next generation of civil engineers at Rutgers.
CAIT Researcher Speaks at Capitol Hill on Gaps in Infrastructure Resilience
The Coastal Universities Coalition is a consortium of the nation’s leading academic institutions convened to develop science-based solutions to the most pressing issues facing populated coastal regions. This month, a CAIT researcher was invited by the organization to speak on infrastructure resilience.
CAIT Researcher Speaks on the State-of-the-Art in NDE and Bridge Assessment Tech
On September 16th from 2-3 pm, Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) hosted affiliated researcher Dr. Nenad Gucunski for a presentation on the state-of-the-art in the use of Nondestructive Evaluation and other technologies for the comprehensive assessment of concrete bridges.
CAIT Researcher Validates Paratransit Skills Assessment and Wins TRB Best Paper Award
A recent paper from Rutgers CAIT validated the Paratransit Skills Assessment and found it can predict an individual's ability to use paratransit services with greater than 96% accuracy.
CAIT Researcher Recognized at 21st Annual NJDOT Research Showcase
This year, a Rutgers and CAIT-affiliated faculty member took home the 2019 NJDOT Research Implementation Award for his innovative work on the development of a new protocol for accepting new coating systems.
TRB Journal Features CAIT Study for Development of Clustered Traffic Inputs
Traffic load and vehicle weight are two important variables in doing proper pavement design. A new study analyzed traffic clusters in New Jersey to characterize the data into mechanistic-empirical pavement design. This will help the state better understand its roads and build better designs in the future.
CAIT chosen to lead USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center
The Region 2 UTC consortium is focusing on developing practical tools and methods to improve infrastructure health, durability, and resilience. Partners are: Atlantic Cape Community College, Columbia, Cornell, NJIT, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Princeton, Rowan, SUNY–Farmingdale, and University at Buffalo.
CAIT Seminar Series: A Seminar on Port Logistics
On October 20th from 12 noon to 2 pm, the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) will host a seminar on port logistics. Click here to learn more and register.
Effects of Exposure to Fire on Strength of Suspension Bridge Cables Over Time
On December 9th from 2-3 pm, CAIT-affiliated researchers will give a webinar on "Effects of Exposure to Fire on Strength of Suspension Bridge Cables Over Time" as part of the ongoing CAIT Seminar Series.
CAIT Seminar Series: State-of-the-Art in the Use of Nondestructive Evaluation
On Wednesday, September 16th, from 2-3 pm, Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) will host the next installment of its ongoing seminar series on the state of the art in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and other technologies for the assessment of concrete bridges.
Studying Damages from Hurricane Maria to Improve Infrastructure Resilience
On January 29th, 2021, from 2-3 pm EST CAIT will host UTC partners from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico for a seminar on their latest research studying damages from Hurricane Maria to improve future infrastructure resilience.
CAIT Update Enews, August 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Includes stories on recent events, research, and faculty accomplishments and activities.
CAIT Update, August 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, December 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, December 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, February 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, January 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update Enews, July 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Includes stories on recent events, research, and faculty accomplishments and activities.
CAIT Update, July 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, Jun 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, March 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update Enews, May 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Includes stories on recent conferences, research, and faculty accomplishments and activities.
CAIT Update, April 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, November 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, November 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, October 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update, September 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT
CAIT Update, September 2020
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT
CAIT Webinar Series: Geotechnical Asset Management
Retaining walls, embankments, slopes, and subgrades are types of geotechnical assets that can adversely influence the performance of transportation and other infrastructure systems, particularly with increasing age as deterioration and the consequences from deferred maintenance are realized.
CAIT-Affiliated Researcher to Study New Tech to Better Prepare for Future Pandemics
Columbia University recently announced 10 faculty teams that were each awarded $85,000 to develop innovative technology for New York City during COVID-19. CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Sharon Di was among one of those faculty teams selected for a project developing a crowd management systems for public transit systems.
Augmented Reality And Autonomous Technology to Analyze the Edenville Dam Break
Using cutting edge technology stemming from augmented reality and connected vehicles, a CAIT researcher presents a potential new way to analyze infrastructure failures despite a lack of available data — as was the case in the Edenville Dam failure.
CAIT-affiliated Researcher Wins DARPA Young Faculty Award
The DARPA Young Faculty Award works to identify and engage rising stars in research, and help them develop research ideas within the context of national security needs. CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Javanmard won the award this year.
Cornell to Host Webinar on Thickness Design of Low-Volume Roadway Pavements
In June UTC partners at Cornell's Local Roads Program will host a free webinar on low-volume roadway pavements and how to use a new software they have developed to help local agencies do their own pavement designs.
Every Day Counts round five initiatives announced
FHWA acting administrator Brandye Hendrickson has announced the fifth round of the agency’s Every Day Counts (EDC) program, 10 selected proven, yet underutilized innovations to enhance safety, reduce congestion, shorten project timelines, and improve sustainability.
FHWA Executive Director Receives Prestigious Rutgers Medal of Excellence Award
Thomas D. Everett was honored for his service and received the prestigious Rutgers Engineering Society Distinguished Engineer Award earlier this month at The 2019 Medal of Excellence Awards Dinner. He stopped by CAIT for a tour of The BEAST and other facilities too.
Fire Engineering Expert Recognized by American Institute of Steel Construction
Primarily focused on the performance of structures under fire, Dr. Negar Elhami Khorasani is currently researching damage to concrete railway-tunnel lining during fire events, which can have millions of dollars of impact, through a UTC Fire in Tunnel Collaborative Project at CAIT.
Free webinar: OSHA standards for protecting workers against silica dust
OSHA Education Centers in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, are jointly hosting a free WebEx presentation on silica hazards from March 5 to 9, 2018. This is open to anyone in the country. It focuses on best prevention practices and silica standards compliance for construction and industry.
Collaborative UTC Project Addresses Fires In Tunnels
The project is related to a recent presentation at the 2019 Graduate Seminar Series hosted by Rutgers Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where Mr. Joseph Englot, National Director of Infrastructure Security at HNTB, discussed alternative fuel vehicles, fire events, and more.
How COVID-19 May Affect the Region and Its Transportation Infrastructure
CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. James W. Hughes breaks down what some of the longer-term economic and transportation-related effects of the Coronavirus, COVID-19, might be on the region.
Permeable Pavement Can Help Alleviate Urban Heat Island Effect
A CAIT researcher has developed permeable concrete designs that are highly effective in handling heat. This pavement contains large connected pores, allowing water to drain and reducing pavement temperature. In some crowded cities, average air temperatures reach 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in more rural areas.
CAIT Study Looks at Impacts of Pedestrian Infrastructure on People with Autism
Dr. Cecilia Feeley will be using a safe, virtual environment to study how people with autism react to different types of pedestrian infrastructure. She is recruiting participants for the study now.
Prescription for healthy communities is active transportation funding
This report explains what active transportation financing is and how it works, sets out the benefits of increased active transportation financing in local government, examines different approaches, and explores important considerations regarding policy goals and campaign directions.
Long-runnning asphalt pavement conference still drawing crowds
At 62 years and counting, the region’s longest-running asphalt pavement conference was attended by nearly 320 pros from research, transportation agencies, and private industry.
Online tool with truly comprehensive data on 600,000-plus U.S. bridges
Bridge owners faced with difficult choices every day rely on multiple resources help them make maintenance and rehabilitation decisions. There are many databases out there, but no single source for comprehensive bridge performance data. Until now.
Meet CAIT’s 2019 Outstanding Student of the Year: Noah Thibodeaux
At the 99th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting, a student from UTC partner school NJIT was recognized by CUTC as a Student of the Year. The award highlights outstanding UTC students and their accomplishments in the field of transportation.
Governor announces $30 million for NJ towns to improve truck routes
NJDOT announced the first awards in the new Local Freight Impact Fund program totaling $30.1 million to help municipalities safely manage large truck traffic. It is supported by the gas tax that was part of the 2016 TTF reauthorization.
Governor announces opening of NJ Transportation Infrastructure Bank
The Murphy administration announced that the New Jersey Transportation Infrastructure Bank is now offering low-interest loans to municipalities and counties to help them reduce the overall cost of local transportation projects.
New Asphalt Analysis Software Tool Helps Test Pavement Performance More Efficiently
CAIT researchers at the Rutgers Asphalt and Pavement Laboratory created this new free technology and are now licensing it to professionals in the field. The software can easily provide analysis for various asphalt-performance testing specifications while alleviating errors and decreasing testing time.
Innovation Hub: Bridging the gap between tomorrow’s transportation network
A CAIT proposal transforms part of downtown New Brunswick into a test bed for technologies that collect, process, analyze mobility big data—a crucial component to future integration of autonomous vehicles, a safer pedestrian and cycling environment, and robust public transit.
New Software Tool Will Help Local Agencies Do Their Own Pavement Design
Under-designing roads can mean more expensive repairs for local towns and counties in the long run. Cornell’s Dr. David Orr, PE, developed an innovative tool to help bring the proper pavement designs to local agencies. The product launched this winter following testing by local agencies and stakeholders in New York State.
NJ Transit and CAIT Awarded Grant to Study Pedestrian Detection at Rail Crossings
Federal Transit Administration Grant Award Advances Transit Innovation and Safety.
NJ Transit Selects Four Companies to Develop Innovative High-Tech COVID-19 Solutions
This summer, CAIT and NJ Transit partnered to study the potential applications of ultraviolet-c light for disinfecting the agency’s bus fleet from COVID-19 in an effort to investigate the latest technology to help keep vehicles clean during the pandemic.
Pick The Right Rapid-Repair Materials With This New Guideline
The short-term goal of this research is to develop a guideline that agencies can implement into their own decision-making processes when evaluating rapid-repair materials. Down the road, researchers hope to develop new methods of testing rapid-repair materials and freeze-thaw cycles so that it becomes standardized.
NJLTAP Will Help Develop Workshop on Safety Countermeasures
NJDOT recently received a $16,000 grant through the FHWA's ASAP program. Using the money, they will partner with NJLTAP and other stakeholders to develop a workshop designed to spread and implement proven safety countermeasures, from rumble strips to roundabouts, throughout the state.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, August 2020
Amid restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the region, researchers at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation have still been able to conduct important work and take on new challenges in transportation—highlighted by recent media coverage and virtual events.
Notable news: Region 2 UTC activities
The USDOT Region 2 UTC Consortium spreads knowledge through published works, conference presentations, and other opportunities. Here are some examples of the recent activities and accomplishments of our researchers.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, November 2019
As the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center, part of CAIT’s mission is to share the innovative tools, technologies, and processes that its researchers develop with the right stakeholders so that they can be implemented and solve the most pressing challenges today’s transportation network and industry faces.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, November 2020
Researchers at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation continue to conduct important work and take on new challenges in transportation during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. Here are some of our recent highlights.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, October 2019
This October, CAIT has been in the news for various research and projects, has seen faculty members honored for their excellence in education and research, and has hosted a number of classes and site visits.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, September 2020
Researchers at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation continue to conduct important work and take on new challenges in transportation during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. Here is some of what we have been working on, highlighted by recent media coverage and virtual events.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, Summer 2019
From analyzing research gaps in applying autonomous and connected vehicles to discussing scenarios for railway tunnel fires, Region 2 UTC partners had an eventful summer. Below are some highlights from our researchers to you, and upcoming events to look out for.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, Summer 2020
Amid restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the region, researchers at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation have still been able to conduct important work and take on new challenges in transportation—highlighted by recent media coverage and virtual events.
Partner Schools and Engineering Programs Recognized Among Top Universities
U.S. News & World Report revealed its 2021 Best Colleges ranking this September. Among a number of schools, many UTC partners were recognized in general as well as for their individual engineering programs.
Pavement preservation: When, where, and how?
Applying a pavement preservation treatment at the right time, on the right project, with quality materials and construction is a critical investment strategy for optimizing infrastructure performance.
Porous Parking Lots Help Relieve Flooding and Enhance Ecosystem in Linden NJ
By using Stormwater Green Infrastructure such as rain gardens and more recently porous parking lots, a CAIT-affiliated researcher is leading the way in building and implementing these environmentally-friendly measures to help control flooding events for at-risk neighborhoods.
Print Newsletter Captures Recent Highlights at CAIT
CAIT has been busy in recent months with projects ranging from building virtual reality modules for workforce training to using drones in innovative ways for highway interchange asset inspection. Check out the latest edition of Transportation Today, our print newsletter, for these stories and much more.
Bridge-testing RABIT™ foretold problems months before bridge closed
CAIT robot that performed inspections on the Arlington Memorial Bridge helped determine it was in critical condition.
Railroad research, technology, and teaching picking up steam at Rutgers
Dr. Xiang Liu is driving rail research and academics at RU. He is PI on several FRA research contracts. One on PTC—a hot topic after recent derailments—and another developing advanced risk analysis. Liu says RU can provide cutting-edge tech solutions and well-“trained” talent that railroads need.
Researchers and customers come together at Region 2 UTC partner meeting
As the Region 2 UTC lead institution, Rutgers CAIT gathered its consortium partners and high-level industry leaders to discuss the next round of UTC projects, clients’ priorities, and collaboration. Discussions focused on finding real-world implementable solutions for pressing transportation issues in the region.
Remote sensing, risk, and resilience
Hurricanes or other extreme events can cause pipeline leaks, joint-weakening, or even ruptures. Dr. Jie Gong developed a mapping, monitoring, and risk-evaluation system combining lidar, infrared imagery analysis, and GIS-based assessment tools to identify vulnerable pipelines after a disaster.
Robots could be infrastructure managers’ best friend
Robots are emerging in multiple roles for infrastructure construction, condition monitoring, and maintenance. From rigid machines to flexible soft ’bots—whether they fly, climb, crawl, or swim—these tools have rapidly expanding capabilities, applications, and utility in the field.
Rowan Professor Wins NCHRP Grant to Continue Life-Saving Highway Research
A CAIT-affiliated researcher at Rowan University recently received a $40,000 NCHRP grant to continue his critical work studying Wrong-Way Driving events and preventing fatalities caused by this highway phenomenon.
RU railroad expert Xiang Liu's study chosen for special issue of TRB journal
A study on managing risk associated with broken rails by Dr. Xiang Liu was chosen for a special issue of Transportation Research Record that collects papers from 2016–2017 that were most frequently cited and mentioned in journal articles, federal reports, and policy publications.
Drones Can Help Improve Safety on our Roads
By using drones to gather and evaluate interchange asset data, a team of researchers found a new potential use for UAV technology that can make collecting Wrong-Way Driving data safer and more efficient than traditional methods.
CAIT awarded FHWA $25.5 million contract for long-term bridge study
FHWA selected CAIT as PI on a competitive five-year contract worth up to $25.5 million for the Long-Term Bridge Performance program. Envisioned as 20-year research study, it will be the first nationwide effort to collect uniform quantitative data on bridge performance.
Rutgers CAIT Helps Teach Professional Engineers New Ground Improvement Methods
Rutgers CAIT hosted A Training Course on Ground Improvement Methods that outlined best practices for dealing with poor ground conditions at the job site. Professional engineers came to campus for the two-day event to learn about these technologies from guest instructor Jerry A. DiMaggio.
Virtual Environments Can Improve Work Zone Training
A CAIT researcher has developed two fully-interactive virtual environments that mesh innovative VR technology with the needs of infrastructure managers. Roadside crews can step into both of these bridge and pump-station environments, and step out with the hands-on experience they need to do their jobs.
Rutgers Drone Team Helps Engineers Develop As-Built Models of Construction Site
Elizabethtown Gas brought in a Rutgers Drone team to map a gas pipeline replacement project and capture geolocations of newly installed underground infrastructure. The data collected will help the team develop enhanced As-Built models that are vital for informing infrastructure stakeholders in the area.
Rutgers report predicts big changes in NJ demographics and transportation
In the 2020s, public and private sectors will find succession planning an increasing concern as boomers retire and members of Generation X ascend to top leadership ranks. This will affect transportation too, as car-centric boomers are replaced by millennials who have reinvented a transit-dependent urban geography.
Rutgers drone conducts first combo aerial-and-underwater bridge inspection
Rutgers’ Naviator is a unique drone that can both fly and maneuver underwater. It did the first combination aerial and underwater bridge inspection of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, June 18, 2017. CAIT is assisting with development and providing piloting and logistics support.
Severe Storm Highlights Recent Transportation Resilience Research at CAIT
Recent UTC projects from Rutgers CAIT address critical issues of asset management, transportation safety, and infrastructure resilience during severe weather events as Hurricane Season 2020 continues.
UTC Partners Investigate Damage To Infrastructure After Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria left devastating effects on Puerto Rico when the storm struck in 2017, with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management totaling the damage at $90 billion. Now, research from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico is examining ways to make pedestrian and traffic infrastructure more resilient in the area.
The Robots Are Coming, the Robots Are Coming!
CAIT expert briefed NJDOT on “gee whiz” automated systems and advanced technologies developed at the center that give bridge owners a picture of bridge health inside and out, and accelerated testing that indicates how they may hold up over time.
Testing of a New Device to Potentially Prevent Falling Ice on Cable-Stayed Bridges
CAIT researchers have demonstrated that mechanical vibrations have the potential to be one possible solution to alleviating the “ice bomb” dilemma. That is, ice accumulating on the stay cable sheaths of cable-stayed bridges and falling to the roadway below.
UTC Students and Researchers Collaborate on Projects in The BEAST
The BEAST at Rutgers CAIT is more than just an innovative facility that can estimate the lifespan of bridge systems. It also serves as an opportunity for students to receive experiential learning through the number of research projects that piggyback on the ongoing and future accelerated testing efforts within the lab.
TRB Guide: See Presentations, Posters, and More from Rutgers CAIT Researchers at TRB
The 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board will feature transportation professionals from around the world for a week of presentations, posters, meetings, awards, networking, and more. Use this schedule to find out when and where researchers from Rutgers CAIT will be discussing their own work.
Ultra-laser imaging for pavement surface analysis
FHWA’s Safety Design Team recently completed safety analysis research on pavement using state-of-the-art 3D ultra-laser imaging data collection that incorporates higher data resolution and an integrated data platform.
USDOT UTC Region 2 Researchers Win Awards, Present, and More at Annual TRB Meeting
Transportation professionals from around the world came together last week to share research, discuss the future of the industry, network, and more. Among them, researchers from CAIT shared their own work ranging from autonomous vehicles and accessibility to preventing tunnel fires.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect and Analyze Railroad Trespassing Incidents
CAIT-affiliated researchers were featured in a recently-released issue of TR News for their work deploying artificial intelligence to help detect and analyze railroad trespassing events, utilizing an innovative solution to address one of the biggest challenges faced by the industry today.
UTC Partner School Selected for FAA UAS Training Initiative
UTC Partners at Atlantic Cape Community College were recently selected among a group of 15 new schools to participate in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative.
UTC Partners Collaborate on NSF Project to Improve AI Systems and Machine Learning
Five students from Atlantic Cape Community College will be joining researchers from Rowan University to investigate potential improvements to artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms—with the goal of further developing these technologies to learn from and adapt to a perpetually changing environment.
Atlantic Cape Community College Launches Drone Degree This Fall
Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC) is helping its students enter the multi-billion-dollar drone industry in two ways: with micro-credentials offered through a new degree program, and by establishing the college’s drone-pilot certification program as the industry standard.
Video: CAIT Seminar Series on Geotechnical Asset Management
On August 24th from 3-4 pm, the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) hosted Mark Vessely, P.E., principal engineer with BGC Engineering for a presentation on geotechnical asset management.
Effects of Exposure to Fire on Strength of Suspension Bridge Cables Over Time
On December 9th CAIT hosted affiliated researchers from Columbia University for a webinar on their latest research studying the “Effects of Exposure to Fire on Strength of Suspension Bridge Cables Over Time” as part of the ongoing CAIT Seminar Series. Watch the webinar here.
Research
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Solidification/Stabilization Remedial Strategy for PFAS Transportation Sites
This project seeks to determine if Solidification and Stabilization (S/S) is a viable remedial strategy for PFAS contaminated sediment. -
Risk and Resilience Analysis Tool for Asset Management
The primary goal of this proposal is to evaluate and demonstrate the application of prevailing risk and resilience assessment approaches and integrate them in a holistic transportation asset management (TAM) framework. -
Improving the Long-Term Performance of Bridge Decks
The goal of this proposal is to leverage the testing being conducted by FHWA within the BEAST lab to develop a better understanding of the demands for which bridge decks are exposed to in service. -
Tool to assess the flood vulnerability of its infrastructure
The primary goal of this proposal is to work with NJDOT to develop a new visualization tool and enhanced capacity for NJDOT personnel to assess the flood vulnerability of its infrastructure and assets. -
Demonstration of seismic vulnerability assessment of a group of NY state bridges
The primary goal of this proposal is to demonstrate seismic vulnerability assessment of a group of NY state bridges subjected to deterioration due to corrosion or other factors. -
Assessing Transportation Infrastructure Vulnerability to Coastal Storms
The study intends to develop a decision support tool that can assist infrastructure stakeholders in making decisions at the day-to-day operation level (i.e. evacuation or shutting down of roads and bridges) to protect communities from impeding flooding events as well as in making long-term infrastructure decisions. -
Development of UAS Practical Training for Inspection and Monitoring Activities
The goal is to design and develop training curricula including the development of assessment instruments for deriving both formative and summative learning outcomes. The project will evaluate UAS operations and make recommendations on procedures for inspection to assist decision making by regional agencies. -
Development of electrified roadway that provide energy source for electric vehicles
This primary goal of this research is to develop new design of electrified pavement that have durable performance while providing efficient charging functionality. The research results will contribute to the development of electrified roadway that provide energy source for electric vehicles. -
An AI-Based Identification System for Rotorcraft Landing Sites
The primary goal of this proposal is to create an AI-based system for the identification of helipads, heliports, and landing site infrastructure from various heterogeneous datasets, including video from rotorcraft, drones, satellite images, or aerial imagery, as well as textual data sources. -
Evaluating the Safety and Mobility Impacts of American Dream Complex
The primary goals are to identify the traffic and safety issues associated with the opening of the American Dream complex, and to collect relevant data to develop an analytics framework using modern machine learning algorithms to identify conflicts between the drivers and pedestrians in the vicinity of this complex. -
Cost-effective bridge decks for improved durability
The goal is to develop cost-effective standard open rib SOBD demonstrating similar performance as CRD to promote increased implementation of SOBD for short and medium span highway bridges for improving durability, extending service life and safe operation of US bridge infrastructure. -
Advanced Analytic and Risk Techniques to Railroad Operations Safety and Management
This project will develop of a prototype system that complements and improves the current tools and Decision Support Systems (DSS) to support short line railroad in prioritizing maintenance activities, operational decisions and investment decisions. -
Smart Intersection Mobility Testbed (SIMT)
This project will establish the pilot Smart Intersection Mobility (SIMO) testbed in downtown New Brunswick for the collection, processing, visualization, and application testing with the smart mobility sensor data. -
Simulation of Degradation and Failure of Suspension Bridge Main Cables
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a well-defined methodology to estimate the remaining strength of a suspension bridge cable that has been exposed to fire. -
Methodologies for rapid inspection and assessment of fatigue damage
The goals of the study are to investigate the root causes of the unusual fatigue cracking observed at the stiffener-to-flange welded connections in floor beams under stringers; and to decide an appropriate intervention plan. The research is expected to develop a cost-effective intervention plan. -
VT and AR for visual inspections (VI) and structural health monitoring (SHM)
The objective of this work is to create a method and associated software for integrating, documenting, accessing, and visualizing lifetime inspections and monitoring data and metadata of infrastructure using virtual tours (VT), informational modeling (IM), and augmented reality (AR). -
Multi-Objective decision framework for airfield pavement management
The multi-criteria decision making framework developed in this project will include evaluation of pavement life, cost, safety, and sustainability of airfield pavement and will be flexible to meet different needs of airport authority to make sound decisions in choosing investment options. -
Prioritizing Infrastructure Resilience throughout the Capital Planning Process
The Port Authority of NY & NJ is a leader nationally in incorporating climate resilience into major capital projects at the design phase. The agency has adopted comprehensive design guidelines to improve the resilience of agency infrastructure. However, the agency is interested in documenting leading practices at pee…
-
Performance-Based Engineering of Transportation Infrastructure Considering Multiple Hazards
Performance- or risk-based earthquake engineering has gained widespread acceptance as a path to achieve user-specified performance targets, which include characterizations of casualties, repair cost, and business interruption, for intensity, scenario- and time-based assessments. There are tools whose roots are in U.S. nu…
-
Augmented Reality in Life-cycle Management of Transportation Infrastructure Projects
The primary goal of this study is to help transportation stakeholders achieve better understanding of the usefulness of augmented reality (AR) technologies and encourage wider acceptance of AR in life-cycle management of transportation infrastructure systems through literature synthesis, technology evaluation,…
-
Life-cycle forecast model for tunnel ventilation relative to mixed vehicle fleets
This project will provide the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and other agencies that manage tunnel assets with a mixed vehicle fleet model that helps forecast realistic, practical, and long-term, life-cycle costs of tunnel ventilation systems. -
Pavement Design for Local Roads and Streets
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a simple to use tool that would allow local agencies to develop a mechanistic-empirical design for lower volume (<1,000 vpd) highways. The primary focus would be on pavement overlays and rehabilitation. The current tools available use older empirical-only meth…
-
MEMS Sensor Development for In-Situ Quantification of Toxic Metals in Sediment
The primary goal of this project is to develop a new sample-to-answer, in-situ micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) probe that can rapidly determine hot-spot locations of metal contamination and what areas do or do not require dredging. This tool could make the resource management process significantly more…
-
MEMS Field Deployment
The objective of the study is to develop a working prototype of a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device for the real-time, in-situ quantification of metals concentrations in marine sediments. Initially, the field version will be a battery powered, hand held probe that can be pushed into the sediment in relativel…
-
ADA Paratransit Facility Alternatives
Several transit agencies nationwide have owned ADA-complementary paratransit facilities since the mid-1990s. A few others have taken to facility ownership within the past decade. NJ TRANSIT has always leased its facilities for Access Link, the ADA-complementary paratransit service provided in parts of 18 New Jersey count…
-
Landfill Closure with Dredged Materials: Desktop Analysis
This project for the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) was designed to analyze potential closure of uncapped New Jersey landfills using dredge material from existing confined disposal facilities (CDF).
Periodic dredging of channels and marinas is of significant importance to New…
-
Laboratory Performance Evaluation of Pavement Preservation Alternatives
The overall goal of this study is to determine the most optimal time to apply pavement preservation treatments. Researchers will conduct full-scale accelerated pavement testing and performance evaluation. They also will examine different pavement alternatives, conducting comprehensive performance evaluations i…
-
Large-Amplitude Forced Vibration Testing for St-Id of Bridges and Foundation Reuse Assessment
The overarching aim of the research is to explore and establish the ability of large-amplitude, forced vibration testing to reveal the current performance and forecast the future system performance of bridges, with the consideration of dynamic soil-foundation-structure effects. With the ability to perform reli…
-
Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume I
Given the importance of overcoming the challenges associated with aging and deteriorating bridges, and the need for a full-scale proving ground for evaluation of new and advanced materials and devices, CAIT has procured full-scale load testing equipment. The Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing…
-
Rail Track Asset Management and Risk Management
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a customized concept of operations (ConOps) of rail track asset management and risk management, built upon an understanding of existing practice, needs, and gaps. The ConOps will be customized to a particular rail agency: PATH.
This research will adopt an “user-in-…
-
Monitoring and assessing risk of pipelines after natural disasters
Ground displacement or collapsed buildings caused by natural disasters can lead to explosions, injuries, and environmental catastrophes. Jie Gong integrated several remote-sensing technologies, data processing, and decision-support tools to help pipeline owners monitor assets post-disaster and assess increased risks. -
Fire in the hole: Quantifying effects of tunnel fires
Tunnel fires can cause loss of life, property, and mobility. Evaluating effects of extreme heat, one must consider intensity and duration, structural response, and changes to the surrounding soil. Rather than focusing on safety and evacuation, this project seeks to quantify fire damage and assess risk to tunnels. -
Self-cleaning and Depolluting Geopolymer Coatings for Graffiti Prevention and Removal (Demonstration Project)
The primary focus of this report is to demonstrate the suitability of an inorganic polymer composite coating for transportation-related structures. This report presents the results of three field applications and evaluation of graffiti resistance including removal techniques, self-cleaning, and depollution properties.
Technical Consultation on the Use of Satellite Communications for Remote Monitoring of Field Instrumentation Systems
The increasing emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure systems has led to greater use of advanced sensors and condition monitoring systems. Wireless sensors and sensor networks are emerging as sensing paradigms that the structural engineering field has begun to consider as substitutes for traditional tethered …
Short Line Rail: Its Role in Intermodalism and Distribution
The purpose of this project is to investigate the potential role of short line railroads in the U.S. to perform intermodal terminal operations and distribute/pick-up containers/trailers in metropolitan areas. Included in this project is an investigation of the potential for short line railroads to serve industrial parks …
Performance Based Integrated Asset Management (PBIAM)
This project will perform an investigation that covers the following broad objectives:
• The state-of-the-art in asset management of highway infrastructure in the United States and abroad
• Research needs for demonstrating a network-level implementation of asset management to a regional highwa…Development of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to Aid in Finding
This proposal is for the development and distribution of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for individuals with the Autistic Spectrum Disorder to understand the skills necessary to ride various paratransit and community transportation services. These services include fixed route, complimentary ADA paratransi…
Develop Consultant Management Estimating Tool
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Consultant Management Bureau’s primary responsibilities are to negotiate staffing hours/resources with engineering design consultants, and to monitor the consultant’s costs. Currently the Consultant Management Bureau uses knowledge of past and current proje…
Interagency Coordination and E-STIP Deployment Support
The primary objective of this project to establish the ESTIP application to provide interactive tools and protocols for TIP/STIP review and approvals involving several stakeholders, including NJDOT, FHWA, MPOs, and NJ Transit. To ensure that all the stakeholders’ design requirements were properly addressed in the E-STI…
Drainage Identification, Analysis, and Mapping Project
The primary objective of this research is to develop a Drainage Information Analysis and Mapping System (DIAMS), with online inspection data submission, which will comply with the necessary requirements, mandated by both the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB-34) and the federal storm water regulations.
Comprehensive Bridge Deck Deterioration Mapping of Nine Bridges by Ground Penetrating Radar and Impact Echo
Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), like many other State DOTs, is faced with the need of identifying and deploying means for rapid, nondestructive and accurate condition assessment and performance monitoring of bridge decks. Finding the right technologies will make a tremendous difference in the financial resour…
Demonstration of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – (NJDOT Statewide GPR Pilot Project)
As a part of the Pavement Management Systems (PMS) project, ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at locations throughout New Jersey. Interpretations of the survey information were conducted for both network-level pavement management and design-level (project management) purposes. The objective of the wor…
Hydrodynamic Modeling for Ex-Situ Testing
The primary objective of the project is to provide a review of the current state of practice regarding hydrodynamic models and modeling for ex-situ testing applications. From a selection of graphics, simulations and numerical modules available, the study will provide ease of use, parameter requirements, applicability, fu…
Development of a Dredge Planning and Decision Support Tool
The report presented herein is a comprehensive overview of the practice of harbor dredging at the Port of New York and New Jersey, USA. The study was commissioned by the Port Authority of Piraeus, Greece with …
THMPER mobile evaluation tool delivers load-capacity results quick like a bunny
THMPER is a fast, cost-effective tool to determine bridge load ratings that employs three refined methods outlined by AASHTO: modal impact testing, refined analysis, and calibration of finite element (FE) models. THMPER is self-contained, portable, and returns accurate results in about a day.Bridge Retrofit or Replacement Decisions: Tools to Assess Sustainability and Aid Decision Making
Many bridges in this country have reached their intended service-life, and are deemed in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement services. A life cycle inventory collects relevant information about sustainability impacts that can be used to assess the effect of decision on the econo…
COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL:The Connection between State of Good Repair and Resilience: Measures for Pavements and Bridges
Resilience: “The ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events” Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative
While there are many definitions of resilience and almost as many measures of resilience, operationalizing the concept to be useful in decision makin…
The Impact of Tolls on Access and Travel Patterns of Different Socioeconomic Groups: A Study for the Greater New York Metropolitan Area
This research will analyze data from the 2011 household travel survey for the Greater New York Metropolitan area, conducted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) and the North Jersey Tran…
Satellite Assessment and Monitoring for Pavement Management
To minimize obstruction to the traffic, this project aims to carry out investigation of the capability of remote sensing satellite data, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data for use in advan…
Collaborative Proposal: Resilience: Definitions, Measurement, Tools, and Research Opportunities
The goal of this project is to develop a road map for research through CAIT on transportation infrastructure resilience.Life Cycle Cost Reduction Study
The research team proposes the development of a cutting edge guideline on Life Cycle Cost Reduction. This document will address the challenge many infrastructure asset owners face and provide critical decision-making tools to optimize both network-level and project specific improvements.
The authors will also perf…
Tracking Housing Recovery in Sea Bright, NJ and the Relationship to Infrastructure Renewal
Understanding how a community is recovering from a disaster is critical to being able to make investments in transportation infrastructure. This project is a follow up study to a 2014 study that looked at the recovery process in Sea Bright, New Jersey. While small (both in terms of population and area), Sea Bright is re…
Development of an Online Platform for Streamlining Highway LIDAR Data Collection, Sharing, and Processing
The goal of this project is to develop an online platform for sharing, visualizing, and analyzing lidar data to support typical DOT data needs. The project is based on existing data collection capabilities that have been developed at Rutgers University. These capabilities include static terrestrial laser scanning and m…
Development of a Bridge Resource Program for the New Jersey Department of Transportation
The mission of Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) Bridge Resource Program (BRP) is to provide bridge engineering support to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)’s Bridge Engineering and Infrastructure Management Unit. The program would be a partnership bet…
Development for Transportation Asset Management Inventory & Management Tools
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is concerned with maintaining a minimum level of retroreflectivity on traffic signs under both federal and state jurisdictions. New retroreflectivity standards have been enacted by the FHWA that mandate all transportation agencies “must establish and implement a sign management…
Evaluation of Real-Time Parking Information Dissemination on Energy Consumption and Environment Pollution
The project is proposed to expand the previous efforts (by WinLab-Rutgers) performed on Parking Guidance and Information System (ParkNet) and assess the effect of real-time dissemination of on-street parking information using mobile connectivity on the gas emission and consequently the environment pollution. The research…
Prototype for All-in-One Asset Management Tool
The objective of the project is the development of a full All-in-one Asset Management tool will be described followed by the identification of specific modules and features that will be implemented during a prototype phase. The All-in-one tool will be developed using client/server applications including a desktop capabil…
Feasibility and Design of an Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF)
The Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF) would be the first facility in the world to enable accelerated scientific study of deterioration processes on full-scale bridges and also would offer state-of-the-art advanced pavement materials evaluation and testing capabilities.
Specifically, the AITF would…
ADA Paratransit Service Area Geographic Realignment
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public transit agencies to provide paratransit service to individuals who are unable to use fixed-route buses because of their disability. New Jersey first introduced Access Link paratransit in 1993; in compliance with the law, the system fully shadowed the NJ TRANSIT lo…
Video Cameras in Access Link Paratransit Vehicles
The objective of this project is to identify the actual current use of continuous recording in demand response or other public transportation applications in the US, determine the projected costs per vehicle within the next three years for continuous recording vs. Drive Cam type, document actual use of continuous recordi…
Improve SafetyNet Data Quality
The primary objective of this project is to promote data quality in the SAFETYNET database and maintain New Jersey’s state rating in an acceptable level (Green) for all defined State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) measures through consistent monitoring. The project will also provide recommendations for the future enhanceme…
Pavement Resource Program 2010/2011
The primary objective of the Rutgers Pavement Resource Program (PRP) is to utilize the extensive laboratory and field pavement testing equipment and staff expertise of the Pavement Resource Program in all aspects of Pavement Engineering to assist the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Pavement and Drainage Manag…
Evaluation of Erosion Potential of Estuarine Sediments in NY/NJ Harbor Using an Advanced Ex-Situ Erosion Testing Method
Over 55 million cubic yards of sediment will be removed to create the new channels in the Port of NY/NJ. These new channels must be maintained through periodic dredging to remove accumulated silt. Managers need to predict the amount of sedimentation that will occur in order to plan for the expense. Understanding and pr…
Pavement Resource Program 2008
The primary objective of the Rutgers Pavement Resource Program (PRP) is to use the extensive laboratory and field
pavement testing equipment and staff expertise of PRP in all aspects of pavement engineering to assist the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Pavement and Drainage Management Systems Unit i…Rutgers/NJDOT Pavement Resource Program: NJDOT Statewide GPR Project Network, GPR Data Collection and Analysis Update of HPMA GPR Database
Center for Advanced Transportation Infrastructure (CAIT) of Rutgers University is mandated to conduct ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to update NJDOT’s pavement management system with GPR-measured pavement layer thicknesses.
Based on the review of the GPR data currently in the pavement management system, …
Material Characterization and Seasonal Variation in Material Properties
The main objective of this study was to calibrate the AASHTO pavement temperature and seasonal adjustment models, or to develop new models. The models were based on New Jersey conditions and also will be used in network- and project-level FWD analysis.
For this study, 24 pavement sections were instrumented and a n…
Long-term Evaluation of Prestress Losses in Concrete Bridges Using Long-gauge Fiber Optic Sensors
One of the most important aspects of a prestressed concrete structure is the distribution of the prestressing force along the structure, both at transfer and in the long term. Time-dependent prestress losses a…
Utilizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Infrastructure Management
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to inspect, inventory, and monitor interchange assets within New Jersey’s road network. The team will use UAS to collect video and photographic data to do preliminary inspections on multiple components of the interchange, including s…
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Solidification/Stabilization Remedial Strategy for PFAS Transportation Sites
This project seeks to determine if Solidification and Stabilization (S/S) is a viable remedial strategy for PFAS contaminated sediment. -
Risk and Resilience Analysis Tool for Asset Management
The primary goal of this proposal is to evaluate and demonstrate the application of prevailing risk and resilience assessment approaches and integrate them in a holistic transportation asset management (TAM) framework. -
Improving the Long-Term Performance of Bridge Decks
The goal of this proposal is to leverage the testing being conducted by FHWA within the BEAST lab to develop a better understanding of the demands for which bridge decks are exposed to in service. -
Tool to assess the flood vulnerability of its infrastructure
The primary goal of this proposal is to work with NJDOT to develop a new visualization tool and enhanced capacity for NJDOT personnel to assess the flood vulnerability of its infrastructure and assets. -
Demonstration of seismic vulnerability assessment of a group of NY state bridges
The primary goal of this proposal is to demonstrate seismic vulnerability assessment of a group of NY state bridges subjected to deterioration due to corrosion or other factors. -
Assessing Transportation Infrastructure Vulnerability to Coastal Storms
The study intends to develop a decision support tool that can assist infrastructure stakeholders in making decisions at the day-to-day operation level (i.e. evacuation or shutting down of roads and bridges) to protect communities from impeding flooding events as well as in making long-term infrastructure decisions. -
Development of UAS Practical Training for Inspection and Monitoring Activities
The goal is to design and develop training curricula including the development of assessment instruments for deriving both formative and summative learning outcomes. The project will evaluate UAS operations and make recommendations on procedures for inspection to assist decision making by regional agencies. -
Development of electrified roadway that provide energy source for electric vehicles
This primary goal of this research is to develop new design of electrified pavement that have durable performance while providing efficient charging functionality. The research results will contribute to the development of electrified roadway that provide energy source for electric vehicles. -
An AI-Based Identification System for Rotorcraft Landing Sites
The primary goal of this proposal is to create an AI-based system for the identification of helipads, heliports, and landing site infrastructure from various heterogeneous datasets, including video from rotorcraft, drones, satellite images, or aerial imagery, as well as textual data sources. -
Evaluating the Safety and Mobility Impacts of American Dream Complex
The primary goals are to identify the traffic and safety issues associated with the opening of the American Dream complex, and to collect relevant data to develop an analytics framework using modern machine learning algorithms to identify conflicts between the drivers and pedestrians in the vicinity of this complex. -
Cost-effective bridge decks for improved durability
The goal is to develop cost-effective standard open rib SOBD demonstrating similar performance as CRD to promote increased implementation of SOBD for short and medium span highway bridges for improving durability, extending service life and safe operation of US bridge infrastructure. -
Advanced Analytic and Risk Techniques to Railroad Operations Safety and Management
This project will develop of a prototype system that complements and improves the current tools and Decision Support Systems (DSS) to support short line railroad in prioritizing maintenance activities, operational decisions and investment decisions. -
Smart Intersection Mobility Testbed (SIMT)
This project will establish the pilot Smart Intersection Mobility (SIMO) testbed in downtown New Brunswick for the collection, processing, visualization, and application testing with the smart mobility sensor data. -
Simulation of Degradation and Failure of Suspension Bridge Main Cables
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a well-defined methodology to estimate the remaining strength of a suspension bridge cable that has been exposed to fire. -
Methodologies for rapid inspection and assessment of fatigue damage
The goals of the study are to investigate the root causes of the unusual fatigue cracking observed at the stiffener-to-flange welded connections in floor beams under stringers; and to decide an appropriate intervention plan. The research is expected to develop a cost-effective intervention plan. -
VT and AR for visual inspections (VI) and structural health monitoring (SHM)
The objective of this work is to create a method and associated software for integrating, documenting, accessing, and visualizing lifetime inspections and monitoring data and metadata of infrastructure using virtual tours (VT), informational modeling (IM), and augmented reality (AR). -
Multi-Objective decision framework for airfield pavement management
The multi-criteria decision making framework developed in this project will include evaluation of pavement life, cost, safety, and sustainability of airfield pavement and will be flexible to meet different needs of airport authority to make sound decisions in choosing investment options. -
Prioritizing Infrastructure Resilience throughout the Capital Planning Process
The Port Authority of NY & NJ is a leader nationally in incorporating climate resilience into major capital projects at the design phase. The agency has adopted comprehensive design guidelines to improve the resilience of agency infrastructure. However, the agency is interested in documenting leading practices at pee…
-
Performance-Based Engineering of Transportation Infrastructure Considering Multiple Hazards
Performance- or risk-based earthquake engineering has gained widespread acceptance as a path to achieve user-specified performance targets, which include characterizations of casualties, repair cost, and business interruption, for intensity, scenario- and time-based assessments. There are tools whose roots are in U.S. nu…
-
Augmented Reality in Life-cycle Management of Transportation Infrastructure Projects
The primary goal of this study is to help transportation stakeholders achieve better understanding of the usefulness of augmented reality (AR) technologies and encourage wider acceptance of AR in life-cycle management of transportation infrastructure systems through literature synthesis, technology evaluation,…
-
Life-cycle forecast model for tunnel ventilation relative to mixed vehicle fleets
This project will provide the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and other agencies that manage tunnel assets with a mixed vehicle fleet model that helps forecast realistic, practical, and long-term, life-cycle costs of tunnel ventilation systems. -
Pavement Design for Local Roads and Streets
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a simple to use tool that would allow local agencies to develop a mechanistic-empirical design for lower volume (<1,000 vpd) highways. The primary focus would be on pavement overlays and rehabilitation. The current tools available use older empirical-only meth…
-
MEMS Sensor Development for In-Situ Quantification of Toxic Metals in Sediment
The primary goal of this project is to develop a new sample-to-answer, in-situ micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) probe that can rapidly determine hot-spot locations of metal contamination and what areas do or do not require dredging. This tool could make the resource management process significantly more…
-
MEMS Field Deployment
The objective of the study is to develop a working prototype of a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device for the real-time, in-situ quantification of metals concentrations in marine sediments. Initially, the field version will be a battery powered, hand held probe that can be pushed into the sediment in relativel…
-
ADA Paratransit Facility Alternatives
Several transit agencies nationwide have owned ADA-complementary paratransit facilities since the mid-1990s. A few others have taken to facility ownership within the past decade. NJ TRANSIT has always leased its facilities for Access Link, the ADA-complementary paratransit service provided in parts of 18 New Jersey count…
-
Landfill Closure with Dredged Materials: Desktop Analysis
This project for the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) was designed to analyze potential closure of uncapped New Jersey landfills using dredge material from existing confined disposal facilities (CDF).
Periodic dredging of channels and marinas is of significant importance to New…
-
Laboratory Performance Evaluation of Pavement Preservation Alternatives
The overall goal of this study is to determine the most optimal time to apply pavement preservation treatments. Researchers will conduct full-scale accelerated pavement testing and performance evaluation. They also will examine different pavement alternatives, conducting comprehensive performance evaluations i…
-
Large-Amplitude Forced Vibration Testing for St-Id of Bridges and Foundation Reuse Assessment
The overarching aim of the research is to explore and establish the ability of large-amplitude, forced vibration testing to reveal the current performance and forecast the future system performance of bridges, with the consideration of dynamic soil-foundation-structure effects. With the ability to perform reli…
-
Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume I
Given the importance of overcoming the challenges associated with aging and deteriorating bridges, and the need for a full-scale proving ground for evaluation of new and advanced materials and devices, CAIT has procured full-scale load testing equipment. The Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing…
-
Rail Track Asset Management and Risk Management
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a customized concept of operations (ConOps) of rail track asset management and risk management, built upon an understanding of existing practice, needs, and gaps. The ConOps will be customized to a particular rail agency: PATH.
This research will adopt an “user-in-…
-
Monitoring and assessing risk of pipelines after natural disasters
Ground displacement or collapsed buildings caused by natural disasters can lead to explosions, injuries, and environmental catastrophes. Jie Gong integrated several remote-sensing technologies, data processing, and decision-support tools to help pipeline owners monitor assets post-disaster and assess increased risks. -
Fire in the hole: Quantifying effects of tunnel fires
Tunnel fires can cause loss of life, property, and mobility. Evaluating effects of extreme heat, one must consider intensity and duration, structural response, and changes to the surrounding soil. Rather than focusing on safety and evacuation, this project seeks to quantify fire damage and assess risk to tunnels. -
Self-cleaning and Depolluting Geopolymer Coatings for Graffiti Prevention and Removal (Demonstration Project)
The primary focus of this report is to demonstrate the suitability of an inorganic polymer composite coating for transportation-related structures. This report presents the results of three field applications and evaluation of graffiti resistance including removal techniques, self-cleaning, and depollution properties.
Technical Consultation on the Use of Satellite Communications for Remote Monitoring of Field Instrumentation Systems
The increasing emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure systems has led to greater use of advanced sensors and condition monitoring systems. Wireless sensors and sensor networks are emerging as sensing paradigms that the structural engineering field has begun to consider as substitutes for traditional tethered …
Short Line Rail: Its Role in Intermodalism and Distribution
The purpose of this project is to investigate the potential role of short line railroads in the U.S. to perform intermodal terminal operations and distribute/pick-up containers/trailers in metropolitan areas. Included in this project is an investigation of the potential for short line railroads to serve industrial parks …
Performance Based Integrated Asset Management (PBIAM)
This project will perform an investigation that covers the following broad objectives:
• The state-of-the-art in asset management of highway infrastructure in the United States and abroad
• Research needs for demonstrating a network-level implementation of asset management to a regional highwa…Development of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to Aid in Finding
This proposal is for the development and distribution of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for individuals with the Autistic Spectrum Disorder to understand the skills necessary to ride various paratransit and community transportation services. These services include fixed route, complimentary ADA paratransi…
Develop Consultant Management Estimating Tool
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Consultant Management Bureau’s primary responsibilities are to negotiate staffing hours/resources with engineering design consultants, and to monitor the consultant’s costs. Currently the Consultant Management Bureau uses knowledge of past and current proje…
Interagency Coordination and E-STIP Deployment Support
The primary objective of this project to establish the ESTIP application to provide interactive tools and protocols for TIP/STIP review and approvals involving several stakeholders, including NJDOT, FHWA, MPOs, and NJ Transit. To ensure that all the stakeholders’ design requirements were properly addressed in the E-STI…
Drainage Identification, Analysis, and Mapping Project
The primary objective of this research is to develop a Drainage Information Analysis and Mapping System (DIAMS), with online inspection data submission, which will comply with the necessary requirements, mandated by both the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB-34) and the federal storm water regulations.
Comprehensive Bridge Deck Deterioration Mapping of Nine Bridges by Ground Penetrating Radar and Impact Echo
Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), like many other State DOTs, is faced with the need of identifying and deploying means for rapid, nondestructive and accurate condition assessment and performance monitoring of bridge decks. Finding the right technologies will make a tremendous difference in the financial resour…
Demonstration of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – (NJDOT Statewide GPR Pilot Project)
As a part of the Pavement Management Systems (PMS) project, ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at locations throughout New Jersey. Interpretations of the survey information were conducted for both network-level pavement management and design-level (project management) purposes. The objective of the wor…
Hydrodynamic Modeling for Ex-Situ Testing
The primary objective of the project is to provide a review of the current state of practice regarding hydrodynamic models and modeling for ex-situ testing applications. From a selection of graphics, simulations and numerical modules available, the study will provide ease of use, parameter requirements, applicability, fu…
Development of a Dredge Planning and Decision Support Tool
The report presented herein is a comprehensive overview of the practice of harbor dredging at the Port of New York and New Jersey, USA. The study was commissioned by the Port Authority of Piraeus, Greece with …
THMPER mobile evaluation tool delivers load-capacity results quick like a bunny
THMPER is a fast, cost-effective tool to determine bridge load ratings that employs three refined methods outlined by AASHTO: modal impact testing, refined analysis, and calibration of finite element (FE) models. THMPER is self-contained, portable, and returns accurate results in about a day.Bridge Retrofit or Replacement Decisions: Tools to Assess Sustainability and Aid Decision Making
Many bridges in this country have reached their intended service-life, and are deemed in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement services. A life cycle inventory collects relevant information about sustainability impacts that can be used to assess the effect of decision on the econo…
COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL:The Connection between State of Good Repair and Resilience: Measures for Pavements and Bridges
Resilience: “The ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events” Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative
While there are many definitions of resilience and almost as many measures of resilience, operationalizing the concept to be useful in decision makin…
The Impact of Tolls on Access and Travel Patterns of Different Socioeconomic Groups: A Study for the Greater New York Metropolitan Area
This research will analyze data from the 2011 household travel survey for the Greater New York Metropolitan area, conducted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) and the North Jersey Tran…
Satellite Assessment and Monitoring for Pavement Management
To minimize obstruction to the traffic, this project aims to carry out investigation of the capability of remote sensing satellite data, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data for use in advan…
Collaborative Proposal: Resilience: Definitions, Measurement, Tools, and Research Opportunities
The goal of this project is to develop a road map for research through CAIT on transportation infrastructure resilience.Life Cycle Cost Reduction Study
The research team proposes the development of a cutting edge guideline on Life Cycle Cost Reduction. This document will address the challenge many infrastructure asset owners face and provide critical decision-making tools to optimize both network-level and project specific improvements.
The authors will also perf…
Tracking Housing Recovery in Sea Bright, NJ and the Relationship to Infrastructure Renewal
Understanding how a community is recovering from a disaster is critical to being able to make investments in transportation infrastructure. This project is a follow up study to a 2014 study that looked at the recovery process in Sea Bright, New Jersey. While small (both in terms of population and area), Sea Bright is re…
Development of an Online Platform for Streamlining Highway LIDAR Data Collection, Sharing, and Processing
The goal of this project is to develop an online platform for sharing, visualizing, and analyzing lidar data to support typical DOT data needs. The project is based on existing data collection capabilities that have been developed at Rutgers University. These capabilities include static terrestrial laser scanning and m…
Development of a Bridge Resource Program for the New Jersey Department of Transportation
The mission of Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) Bridge Resource Program (BRP) is to provide bridge engineering support to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)’s Bridge Engineering and Infrastructure Management Unit. The program would be a partnership bet…
Development for Transportation Asset Management Inventory & Management Tools
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is concerned with maintaining a minimum level of retroreflectivity on traffic signs under both federal and state jurisdictions. New retroreflectivity standards have been enacted by the FHWA that mandate all transportation agencies “must establish and implement a sign management…
Evaluation of Real-Time Parking Information Dissemination on Energy Consumption and Environment Pollution
The project is proposed to expand the previous efforts (by WinLab-Rutgers) performed on Parking Guidance and Information System (ParkNet) and assess the effect of real-time dissemination of on-street parking information using mobile connectivity on the gas emission and consequently the environment pollution. The research…
Prototype for All-in-One Asset Management Tool
The objective of the project is the development of a full All-in-one Asset Management tool will be described followed by the identification of specific modules and features that will be implemented during a prototype phase. The All-in-one tool will be developed using client/server applications including a desktop capabil…
Feasibility and Design of an Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF)
The Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF) would be the first facility in the world to enable accelerated scientific study of deterioration processes on full-scale bridges and also would offer state-of-the-art advanced pavement materials evaluation and testing capabilities.
Specifically, the AITF would…
ADA Paratransit Service Area Geographic Realignment
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public transit agencies to provide paratransit service to individuals who are unable to use fixed-route buses because of their disability. New Jersey first introduced Access Link paratransit in 1993; in compliance with the law, the system fully shadowed the NJ TRANSIT lo…
Video Cameras in Access Link Paratransit Vehicles
The objective of this project is to identify the actual current use of continuous recording in demand response or other public transportation applications in the US, determine the projected costs per vehicle within the next three years for continuous recording vs. Drive Cam type, document actual use of continuous recordi…
Improve SafetyNet Data Quality
The primary objective of this project is to promote data quality in the SAFETYNET database and maintain New Jersey’s state rating in an acceptable level (Green) for all defined State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) measures through consistent monitoring. The project will also provide recommendations for the future enhanceme…
Pavement Resource Program 2010/2011
The primary objective of the Rutgers Pavement Resource Program (PRP) is to utilize the extensive laboratory and field pavement testing equipment and staff expertise of the Pavement Resource Program in all aspects of Pavement Engineering to assist the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Pavement and Drainage Manag…
Evaluation of Erosion Potential of Estuarine Sediments in NY/NJ Harbor Using an Advanced Ex-Situ Erosion Testing Method
Over 55 million cubic yards of sediment will be removed to create the new channels in the Port of NY/NJ. These new channels must be maintained through periodic dredging to remove accumulated silt. Managers need to predict the amount of sedimentation that will occur in order to plan for the expense. Understanding and pr…
Pavement Resource Program 2008
The primary objective of the Rutgers Pavement Resource Program (PRP) is to use the extensive laboratory and field
pavement testing equipment and staff expertise of PRP in all aspects of pavement engineering to assist the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Pavement and Drainage Management Systems Unit i…Rutgers/NJDOT Pavement Resource Program: NJDOT Statewide GPR Project Network, GPR Data Collection and Analysis Update of HPMA GPR Database
Center for Advanced Transportation Infrastructure (CAIT) of Rutgers University is mandated to conduct ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to update NJDOT’s pavement management system with GPR-measured pavement layer thicknesses.
Based on the review of the GPR data currently in the pavement management system, …
Material Characterization and Seasonal Variation in Material Properties
The main objective of this study was to calibrate the AASHTO pavement temperature and seasonal adjustment models, or to develop new models. The models were based on New Jersey conditions and also will be used in network- and project-level FWD analysis.
For this study, 24 pavement sections were instrumented and a n…
Long-term Evaluation of Prestress Losses in Concrete Bridges Using Long-gauge Fiber Optic Sensors
One of the most important aspects of a prestressed concrete structure is the distribution of the prestressing force along the structure, both at transfer and in the long term. Time-dependent prestress losses a…
Utilizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Infrastructure Management
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to inspect, inventory, and monitor interchange assets within New Jersey’s road network. The team will use UAS to collect video and photographic data to do preliminary inspections on multiple components of the interchange, including s…
Page last updated on March 14, 2019© 2019 CAIT, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. All rights reserved: permission is required for reuse of any and all content.
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