Good data, thorough analysis, and innovative applications. CAIT thinks the answers to many infrastructure problems lie in the information and insights data analysis provides.
Training & Events
News
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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USDOT competition seeks innovative ways to analyze crash data
USDOT launched a national competition, Solving for Safety: Visualization Challenge, for crash data analysis innovations. Competition is open to local government personnel, data scientists, academics, and safety experts.
Research
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Investigating advanced materials to help bridges withstand earthquakes
A project studying combined effects of corrosion and earthquakes on existing bridges, and the efficacy of repairs using cementitious composites to reduce vulnerability of bridges to these hazards. -
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,…
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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. -
Flood Vulnerability Assessment and Data Visualization for Lifeline Transportation Network
This project aims to develop a 2-D hydrodynamic model to assess the extent/severity of flooding from extreme weather events (such as Hurricane Sandy) and to evaluate the efficiency of existing transportation infrastructure.
The model will incorporate a representation of the transportation system network, flood eve…
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Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume II
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…
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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…
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Cloud-Based Virtual Traffic Sensor Network with 511 CCTV Traffic Video Stream
The proposed research will develop a cloud-computing platform for state-wide traffic video data analytics. The platform will use the existing 511 CCTV traffic video streams to generate traffic flow and occupancy data to enrich the existing TRANSCOM data feed primarily containing travel time and event data. The added flow…
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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. -
“Smart Bicycle”-based Safety Enhancement for Bicycle/Motorcycle Riding
Bicycles and motorcycles are widely-used transportation/recreation vehicles and an unstable platform. Compared with passenger vehicles, active safety technology is less developed for bicycle/motorcycle systems and yet it is urgently needed. The project will build a theoretical and algorithmic foundation for the bicycle-b…
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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…
Long-Term Monitoring of a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS)
The geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS) is an innovative alternative to conventional bridge technology that utilizes closely spaced layers of geosynthetic reinforcement and compacted granular fill material to provide direct bearing support for structural bridge members. Using this technology, …
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…
Transportation cost modeling for U.S. soybean exports
Moving soybeans and other commodities is a complex operation, often involving multiple production sites and distribution hubs and multimodal transportation. A new trend is moving smaller units of soybeans in shipping containers. Dr. Yun Bai modeled a range of scenarios to see if this emerging trend is cost effective.-
Investigating advanced materials to help bridges withstand earthquakes
A project studying combined effects of corrosion and earthquakes on existing bridges, and the efficacy of repairs using cementitious composites to reduce vulnerability of bridges to these hazards. -
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. -
Flood Vulnerability Assessment and Data Visualization for Lifeline Transportation Network
This project aims to develop a 2-D hydrodynamic model to assess the extent/severity of flooding from extreme weather events (such as Hurricane Sandy) and to evaluate the efficiency of existing transportation infrastructure.
The model will incorporate a representation of the transportation system network, flood eve…
-
Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume II
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…
-
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…
-
Cloud-Based Virtual Traffic Sensor Network with 511 CCTV Traffic Video Stream
The proposed research will develop a cloud-computing platform for state-wide traffic video data analytics. The platform will use the existing 511 CCTV traffic video streams to generate traffic flow and occupancy data to enrich the existing TRANSCOM data feed primarily containing travel time and event data. The added flow…
-
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. -
“Smart Bicycle”-based Safety Enhancement for Bicycle/Motorcycle Riding
Bicycles and motorcycles are widely-used transportation/recreation vehicles and an unstable platform. Compared with passenger vehicles, active safety technology is less developed for bicycle/motorcycle systems and yet it is urgently needed. The project will build a theoretical and algorithmic foundation for the bicycle-b…
-
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…
Long-Term Monitoring of a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS)
The geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS) is an innovative alternative to conventional bridge technology that utilizes closely spaced layers of geosynthetic reinforcement and compacted granular fill material to provide direct bearing support for structural bridge members. Using this technology, …
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…
Transportation cost modeling for U.S. soybean exports
Moving soybeans and other commodities is a complex operation, often involving multiple production sites and distribution hubs and multimodal transportation. A new trend is moving smaller units of soybeans in shipping containers. Dr. Yun Bai modeled a range of scenarios to see if this emerging trend is cost effective.
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