Asset Management

Pavement Management Systems provides the basics for developing a pavement management system to help local governments manage their pavement network by providing an understanding of the concept and importance of road surface inventories and condition surveys.

This course is for municipal or county employees and those that work with them who are involved in the planning, inspecting and placing of asphalt pavements. The course will provide the information needed to properly plan and monitor a hot mix asphalt paving project.

The course material reviews the importance of preventive maintenance to the life of an asphalt pavement. The material will help the student identify common asphalt distress, the cause of the distress, and the appropriate treat

On the 10th Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, the 2022 Northeast Coastal Conference brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss what we have learned, ongoing research and projects that are making our shores and coastal communities safer, and new ways we can continue to build a more resilient future.

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.

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.

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.

A three-year project at Columbia University is building Digital Twins of intersections, roadways, and other key infrastructure in New York City to monitor and map traffic flow throughout the city. Using Digital Twins can help officials simulate traffic and congestion conditions and test potential mitigation strategies.

CAIT's BEAST Lab has been testing a full-scale, 50-ft. bridge deck for a project sponsored by the FHWA to learn about how the bridge deteriorates under exposure to extreme environmental conditions and traffic loading — and to evaluate emerging bridge preservation technologies such as UHPC.

This summer, the BEAST Lab at Rutgers CAIT began to evaluate emerging bridge preservation technologies in addition to ongoing testing of a full-scale, 50-ft. bridge deck. Specifically, researchers started investigating UHPC to establish measurements of the material’s long-term performance under real-world conditions.

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.

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.

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 examine the impact of major trade agreements such as NAFTA and the European Union Customs Union, and their implications on transportation systems globally.

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.

Dr. Szary leads CAIT’s research efforts helping to align them with USDOT’s national vision and the needs of stakeholders in the Northeast region. He has been a member of CUTC’s executive board previously, most recently serving as Secretary last year.

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.

The BRP is aimed at preserving bridges in the state, enhancing the condition of key transportation infrastructure, and developing new technologies to help engineers build with resilience in mind.

Working with the University of the Virgin Islands, CAIT researchers have developed a Flood Risk and Resilience Analysis Tool that can assess and visualize risk for roadways and other infrastructure susceptible to flooding and storms. It was built based on real flood data and the US Virgin Islands transportation system.

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.

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.

Rutgers CAIT recently enhanced capability in large-scale structural-testing equipment that will enable full utilization of its existing laboratory infrastructure and expand its portfolio in transportation research by providing access to a capability that currently does not exist in any other university in NJ and the region.

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.

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.

The Infrastructure Asset Management Academy for Engineers and Planners is a 6-course program taught by experts at CAIT and industry partners designed to provide students with the knowledge, tools, and experience needed to make more informed asset management decisions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Researchers are developing a new tool to monitor track misalignment on the Manhattan Bridge that will help NYC engineers make informed repair and rehabilitation decisions in the future. They are also investigating the impact of dynamic amplification on bridge-fatigue life and possible mitigation options.

Due to how it is sourced and produced, the mechanical properties and characteristics of Recycled Concrete Aggregate can vary greatly. As demand for this material grows, it is important for the construction industry to understand the nature of RCA and how it can be applied to different projects.

Dr. Jie Gong’s recent work has focused on promoting coastal urban community resilience, including leading remote sensing-based post-disaster reconnaissance missions during Hurricane Sandy and other storms with the goal of advancing damage assessment methods and turning data into actionable resilience knowledge.

"Eco-efficient Pavement Construction Materials" provides engineers with the latest information and research on eco-efficient pavement materials and green infrastructure.

Dr. James W. Hughes has been tracking the economic impacts of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic with his series of “Fast Track Research Notes.” As recovery continues and vaccines are distributed at a larger scale, he discusses some of the shifts that have occurred and what things might look like as we rebuild.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Changing global climate patterns and warming temperatures are increasing the risk and vulnerability of numerous key transportation infrastructure assets, and new research from a CAIT-affiliated researcher suggests that this may include asphalt pavements as well.

Dr. Jie Gong gave a 3-hour course earlier this fall on statewide infrastructure resilience to storms, flooding, and other natural disasters at the NJ Regional Intelligence Operation Center.

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.

The Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prizes are awarded to ASCE members for notable achievements in research related to civil engineering. Dr. Hao Wang was recognized by ASCE with a Huber Prize this year for his innovative research developing sustainable, durable, resilient, and smart pavement systems.

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.

Rutgers CAIT researchers Dr. Peter Jin and Dr. Jie Gong are contributing research on digital twin projects as part of a new Center of Excellence for Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks at Rutgers University that will combat potential threats to buildings, schools, stadiums, and other infrastructure.

The system analyzes video footage to detect illegal pedestrian activity and deliver data to help reduce preventable train strikes.

Inaccurate network pavement data can impact pavement management decisions such as roadway repairs and more. CAIT researchers at the Rutgers Asphalt Pavement Lab are working with NJDOT to test new pavement inspection equipment and locations to ensure data is accurate and representative of roads in New Jersey.

The 23rd Annual NJDOT Research Showcase was an opportunity for the New Jersey transportation community to learn about the broad scope of academic research initiatives underway and share technology transfer activities being conducted by institutions of higher education partners and their associates.

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.

A report from CAIT researcher Dr. Thomas Bennert, in collaboration with stakeholders from NJDOT, tests the performance of existing High Friction Surface Treatment installations at locations in New Jersey, as well as the viability of alternatives such as High Friction Chip Seal for areas showing signs of premature failure.

In the years following the devastation that Hurricane Maria caused for Puerto Rico, CAIT-affiliated researchers at PUPR have been collecting field data from damaged traffic signs and bridges, testing these transportation assets to better understand their structural failures and breaking points during the storm.

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.

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.

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.

On Thursday, February 25th, Rutgers CAIT will host UTC partners at the University at Buffalo for a seminar discussing their latest research quantifying damage to concrete tunnel lining during fire events in order to recommend proper mitigation actions and improve overall resilience of tunnels.

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.

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.

The National Center for Rural Road Safety is a leading resource to help transportation agencies reduce deaths on their roadways. As it heads into its second tenure, the Center recently announced a new approach and team to help address the needs of local agencies and rural transportation practitioners.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

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.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

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.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

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.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The technology was created as part of a UTC project analyzing potential mobility and safety concerns of the transportation network surrounding the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The way that we think about and use transportation as it exists today has been shaped by innovative women leaders throughout history. They have contributed greatly to the safety of all modes of travel, efficiency of our transportation systems, and the development of new technology that drives transportation into the future.

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.

On August 30th from 1 - 2 pm EST, UTC partners at Rowan University will discuss their research Evaluating the Mobility Impacts of American Dream Complex and Developing Innovative Intersection Safety Tools, as part of a presentation during the CAIT Seminar Series. Learn more and register here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

At the 30th annual CUTC Awards Banquet, a UTC student from Rutgers University was recognized by CUTC as the CAIT 2020 Student of the Year. The award highlights outstanding UTC students and their accomplishments in the field of transportation.

At the 102nd annual TRB meeting, Geoffrey Vega, a Ph.D. student in Engineering & Applied Sciences at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR), received the 2022 Student of the Year Award alongside his peers at the CUTC Annual Banquet on Saturday, January 7th.

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.

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.

Ship channel managers regularly have to schedule maintenance and dredging activities in order to keep channels clear from sand, debris, and trash. Delays in dredging can triggering increased risks, the need for repeated maintenance and lost revenue.

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.

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.

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.

Federal Transit Administration Grant Award Advances Transit Innovation and Safety.

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.

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.

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.

From addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 to maintaining our roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure in the region, take a look at some of the recent highlights from researchers at Rutgers Center for Advanced infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) as we head into the new year and close out 2021.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From innovative research to receiving awards, read about some of the recent highlights and successes from researchers at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation during the summer months.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CAIT robot that performed inspections on the Arlington Memorial Bridge helped determine it was in critical condition.

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.

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.

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.

This summer local officials celebrated the grand opening of a new 2-mile asphalt trail along the Skillman Road Pathway in Montgomery Township, NJ. In partnership with NJDOT, FHWA, and Rutgers CAIT, the pathway includes areas of experimental porous concrete designed to alleviate flooding and puddling in the area.

Able to climb stairs, navigate rough terrain, and respond to commands, the mobile robotic dog, “Spot,” offers Rutgers CAIT researchers an autonomous technology for innovations in infrastructure maintenance and repair.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This certification meets AASHTO standards and requirements. It also further validates equipment used in the lab and supports ongoing efforts at Rutgers to monitor and maintain New Jersey’s pavement network in partnership with NJDOT.

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 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.

Approximately 30 “MSc in Shipping” students, along with faculty from the Department of Maritime Studies, visited the US for tours of shipping and port organizations such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as relevant research centers and academic programs.

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.

This new research project will help to identify best practices to facilitate truck movements and minimize truck wait time at JFK International Airport for land-side cargo movements through a systems analysis of cargo movement and logistics.

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.

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’ 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.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey celebrated its 50th annual Engineering Excellence Awards this July, and recognized Rutgers professor and CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Nenad Gucunski as its Educator of the Year.

Since Hurricane Ida struck New Jersey, a team of Rutgers engineers, researchers and students has been in the field assessing flood damage and gathering data to help improve flood prediction models and how New Jersey responds to future storms.

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.

The Middlesex County - Mobility Living Laboratory is transforming 12 downtown city acres and the wider Middlesex County into a cutting-edge smart mobility testing ground, designed to create an "innovation economy" in the region that aligns with the state's goals.

This fall, CAIT hosted multiple guests for tours of its Rutgers Asphalt Pavement Lab and other innovative labs and facilities on campus. From stakeholders at transportation agencies throughout the NJ/NY region to state legislators, CAIT showcased some of the impactful research happening at our labs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

University at Buffalo engineers, and CAIT UTC partners, Dr. Negar Elhami-Khorasani and Dr. Anthony Tessari are looking at how to improve fire safety in tunnels.

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.

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.

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.

CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Sharon Di is part of a team of Columbia University researchers who recently received NSF funding to create a virtual replica, or digital twin, of New York City that will continuously learn and dynamically update itself as the city traffic environment changes in real time.

During a recent episode of the Structural Engineering Podcast Channel, UTC partner at NJIT and CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Matthew Bandelt, was interviewed about his work with this innovative material and its many applications. 

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.

Dr. Matthew Bandelt, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a CAIT University Transportation Center partner, won the award to continue his research studying the use of highly ductile concrete materials in structural systems.

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 (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.

University Transportation Center partners at Rowan University are creating an effective and specialized approach to the Last Mile Challenge for the City of Camden, NJ, to improve transportation accessibility, public health, education, and employment opportunities for city residents.

Research with GatewayJFK and JFK International Airport analyzed the benefits of an airport-wide Truck Flow Management System to coordinate truck traffic and cargo movements throughout the airport and surrounding region.

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.

On Friday, January 29th, CAIT hosted UTC partner Dr. Gustavo Pacheco-Crosetti for a seminar presentation on his work to date studying the damages from Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico in order to improve future infrastructure resilience.

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.