Asset Management

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.

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).

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.

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- 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…

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,…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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-…

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Project details

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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 goal of this project is to develop a road map for research through CAIT on transportation infrastructure resilience.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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, …

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…

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…