Teams from Florida International University recently demonstrated several emerging roadbuilding technological advancements for a crowd of U.S. Department of Transportation officials, including techniques using animals and robots.
During Infrastructure Week at the FIU Engineering Center, faculty showcased research aimed at improving bridge safety, extending the life of aging infrastructure and strengthening inspections.
A key innovation FIU displayed for USDOT officials, as well as some of Florida’s congressional and state delegations, was its work in 3D-printed Ultra-High Performance Concrete.
Designed for speeding up the building and repairing of climate-resilient infrastructure, FIU teams presented work on concrete mixtures and different spraying technologies. UHPC was recently deployed for the first time on a bridge in Virginia.
FIU faculty also presented a magnetic scanning system for detecting hidden corrosion within bridges, as well as two specially trained dogs — Pixie and Loki — able to smell volatile organic compounds beneath surfaces that indicate corrosion in bridges.
USDOT officials also got to see robots in action, including FIU’s remote-operated Wall Climber, which can scale vertical flat surfaces for infrastructure monitoring and inspection via multiple integrated sensors.
FIU teams also displayed a U.S.-made drone to highlight how aerial and robotic tech can make bridge inspections safer and more effective.
FIU staff were also present in Washington, D.C., during the recent Infrastructure Week advocacy event, where engineering faculty highlighted the university’s work on next-generation technology for creating more resilient public infrastructure. This includes surface-level infrastructure and resilience research focusing on coastal adaptation, structural reinforcement and extreme-weather mitigation.
Infrastructure Week is an annual event that allows policymakers and industry leaders to connect on American roadbuilding issues including long-term investment plans and funding needs for roadbuilding, bridge, transit systems and public works projects.
