Contact: Andrew Careaga Phone: 573-341-4328, [email protected]
NEW CENTER TO STRENGTHEN INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
ROLLA, Mo. -- A new research center at the University of Missouri-Rolla promises to undergird research efforts to fix the nation's bridges, roads and other ailing infrastructure.
The UMR Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies, created through the University of Missouri's Mission Enhancement program, will provide research expertise in the areas of building and civil infrastructure, such as roads and bridges; power infrastructure, such as electric power; and infrastructure management.
The CIES is UMR's newest research center and was officially announced Friday, Oct. 9, on the campus.
"Much of our nation's infrastructure -- from our highways and bridges to our pipelines and power grids -- was built before the era of high traffic and high tech," says Dr. Robert Mitchell, dean of the UMR School of Engineering. "Today's infrastructure is not equipped to handle the stresses modern society puts upon it. That's why it is so critical that we invest in new solutions for infrastructure problems."
For example, Mitchell adds, nearly one-third of the nation's 500,000 bridges are in need of major rehabilitation. Moreover, in Missouri, about 44 percent of all bridges are considered deficient, according to a 1997 Federal Highway Administration report.
"The sheer magnitude of the problem requires that universities and state and federal agencies work together to develop innovative solutions," Mitchell says.
"Through the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies, UMR will not only facilitate infrastructure research to meet the needs of state and national agencies and the private sector, but also will provide unique and important research opportunities for students in several engineering and science disciplines."
The CIES will involve researchers from eight departments in UMR's School of Engineering, School of Mines and Metallurgy, and College of Arts and Sciences.
"This new research center gives us an umbrella organization through which we can conduct research from a variety of academic disciplines," says Dr. Antonio Nanni, the Vernon and Maralee Jones Professor of Civil Engineering at UMR who also serves as the research center's director. "We're providing an opportunity for existing researchers and hope to attract additional research projects soon."
Nanni envisions future research activities of the CIES to include:
-- Developing new design methods for civil structures, such as highways, bridges and buildings.
-- Using non-destructive techniques to assess structural damage due to earthquakes, traffic or other stresses on civil infrastructure.
-- Rehabilitating bridges and buildings by applying lightweight fiber-reinforced composite materials. This involves wrapping the strong yet lightweight materials around columns, much like a bandage is wrapped around a sprained ankle.
-- Developing intelligent transportation systems and "smart" structures through the use of advanced sensors.
-- Studying new flood control, watershed modeling and river engineering methods.
-- Developing power system security, operation and reliability systems.
-- Developing new composite materials for use in construction and structural engineering.
The center meets one of UMR's two Mission Enhancement goals for the 1998-99 fiscal year -- that of improving research and education opportunities in the area of infrastructure. UMR's other Mission Enhancement goal this year is to improve research and education opportunities in manufacturing engineering.
The University of Missouri Mission Enhancement program is designed to meet the future research and education needs of the state by focusing on specific educational programs on each of the four University of Missouri campuses. The Missouri Legislature approved funds for Mission Enhancement projects last legislative session.
First-year funding for the CIES totals $250,000. The center is expected to attract more than $1 million in external funding over the next year.
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