Researchers from Florida International University (FIU) recently showcased a range of emerging technologies designed to improve the construction, inspection and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.
Professor Atorod Azizinamini, director of FIU’s Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction-University Transportation Center, and Professor Kenneth G. Furton, executive director of the FIU Global Forensic and Justice Center, presented innovations focused on improving bridge safety, extending the service life of aging infrastructure and strengthening inspection capabilities, according to a news release.
The technologies support a variety of infrastructure applications:
- A magnetic scanning system capable of identifying hidden corrosion inside bridge structures.
- Sprayable Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), that can be used to rehabilitate deteriorating infrastructure.
- Specially trained dogs, Pixie and Loki, who can detect volatile organic compounds released by corrosion beneath the surface.
- The FIU Wall Climber, a robotic vehicle capable of scaling vertical surfaces to assist with infrastructure inspection and monitoring.
“I’m proud that FIU is working in the bridge area and developing technologies that address many challenges we have across the nation in bridge engineering,” said Azizinamini in a press release from FIU.
The remotely operated Wall Climber can incorporate multiple sensors, allowing engineers to collect inspection data from difficult-to-access locations.
An American-made drone was also featured during the May 29 event at FIU’s Engineering Center, demonstrating how aerial and robotic technologies could make bridge inspections safer and more efficient.
Some of these technologies are already being deployed in the field. FIU’s UHPC was recently used on a bridge project in Virginia.
According to the university, the 3D-printed sprayable concrete grew out of the engineering team’s efforts to develop “non-proprietary, cost-effective UHPC mixtures and robotic spray technologies.”
FIU’s federally funded research centers continue to develop and test infrastructure innovations aimed at improving transportation systems nationwide.
Sources: FIU News Release, FIU News
