Last year, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the recipients of grant awards for National, Regional and Tier 1 University Transportation Centers (UTCs). Among the awardees, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) of Texas A&M University were selected to either lead or partner with eight UTCs. Researchers from CIR are working on infrastructure related topics at four of these centers. 

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation (NCIT) and the Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) are two of the infrastructure focused UTCs that TEES and TTI are partnered with, and both research & education centers are making significant strides in infrastructure and transportation related topics. 

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation (NCIT) 

The NCIT, based at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), is a national tier research and education center that aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of civil infrastructure systems.  

Led by Professor Judy Perkins (PVAMU), the NCIT is part of a consortium that includes several members of The Texas A&M University System, along with partnering institutions such as Arizona State University, Michigan State University, Rutgers University, and Blinn College District. The center focuses on improving durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure through its research, education, and technology transfer programs. NCIT focuses on three major areas: infrastructure durability & resilience, policy, and technology. 

Dr. Melissa Tooley (TTI) and Dr. Anand Puppala (TEES) are the affiliated PI and Co-PIs from the Texas A&M University System, respectively. Another Co-PI, Dr Charles Gurganus (TTI and TEES) has been involved in workforce training and development.  

Dr. Tooley expressed her anticipation for the future, saying, “I look forward to enhanced relationships with involved faculty and staff within TTI, TAMU and PVAMU, as well as our partner institutions. We have a wonderful opportunity to enhance the diversity of the transportation profession in terms of the disciplines involved in transportation research, and the students that we produce for the workforce.”   

Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) 

The Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) is a regional tier UTC with a focus lead by University of Oklahoma (OU) on enhancing economic prosperity and safety through durable and climate-resilient transportation and freight infrastructure.  

The center’s work program assesses and mitigates the vulnerability of transportation infrastructure to climate change, extreme weather, and sea-level rise through innovative research, effective implementation, trained workforce, strong leadership, and well-organized programs. The SPTC consortium, led by Professor Musharraf Zaman (OU), includes universities from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas, along with international collaborators.  

The SPTC is led by Dr. Musharraf Zaman of the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Anand Puppala (TEES) is the affiliated PI from the Texas A&M University System with Dr. Maria Koliou (TEES), Dr. Kevin Womack (TTI) and Dr. Melissa Tooley (TTI) as affiliated co-PIs.  

SPTC is leading research on multiple areas, novel materials, and technologies for enhancing infrastructure durability in coastal, tribal, and rural settings, performance-based infrastructure life cycle and asset management, and vulnerability assessments of interdependent and multi-modal transportation infrastructure systems.  

Building resilience into the future of infrastructure 

Both NCIT and SPTC are playing pivotal roles in transforming the infrastructure and transportation landscape. Their research and initiatives enhance the durability and resilience of infrastructure and prepare the workforce for future challenges. As we face increasing climate change threats, the work of these centers becomes even more critical in ensuring a sustainable and resilient future. In addition to impactful research, both centers are training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of infrastructure durability and management topics with technology, innovative materials and construction research, and novel models. 

 

This year, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced grant awards for multiple University Transportation Centers (UTCs). Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Texas A&M University will lead or aid eight of these during the 2022-2026 Program. 

Led by Texas State University, the Coastal Research and Education Actions for Transportation Equity (CREATE) is a Tier 1 UTC that will receive $2 million annually for five years. The CREATE consortium, which includes Texas A&M and TEES as principal partners, will research ways to improve the durability and longevity of coastal multimodal transportation infrastructure.  

Dr. Anand J. Puppala, director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal and A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M, is the affiliated principal investigator (PI) for CREATE. Dr. James Kaihatu from civil and environmental engineering and Dr. Jens Figlus from ocean engineering are co-PIs.  

Operating from the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR), CREATE is one of multiple infrastructure oriented UTCs that will be stationed at CIR. The team, along with Dr. Nripojyoti Biswas, TEES Senior Research Engineer I from the CIR, will work with Dr. Stacey Kulesza from Texas State University and other consortium partners, including the University of Miami, Oregon State University and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez on research, technology transfer and workforce training activities. 

“The Center’s research on innovative technologies, technology transfer and professional preparation will train future workforce within the coastal transportation infrastructure industry,” Puppala said. “Overall, these endeavors will boost our nation’s global competitiveness and enhance national coastal infrastructure resiliency and security.” 

Research projects by CREATE will focus on four major research areas: 

• Transformational coastal infrastructure design and construction 
• Coastal transportation infrastructure evaluation, prediction and prevention 
• Equitable response to unprecedented hazards 
• Pathways to blue economy transportation careers 

CREATE will advance transformative knowledge and embrace disruptive technologies to provide economic, sustainable and societal benefits to coastal communities. The UTC aims to revolutionize coastal transportation infrastructure with enhanced efficiency, safety and durability, particularly for equitable infrastructure solutions in disadvantaged communities. CREATE also addresses the current and impending climate change challenges by designing innovative transportation infrastructure that can withstand coastal hazards and will work towards sustainable and resilient infrastructure for the nation. 

For more information about the UTC’s for the 2022-2026 Program: https://www.transportation.gov/utc/bil-centers-and-grantees

For more information about CIR lab spaces, tours or conference & training venues visit cir.tamu.edu