Technology Partnerships
Technology Partnerships Bring Innovations to Market
By offering a technology funding boost, a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program is helping highway industry innovations make the leap from promising prototypes to market-ready products. The Technology Partnerships Program provides grants to fund the critical final steps in developing technologies with potential to improve highway quality and safety or reduce construction congestion. It also promotes partnerships with state and local highway agencies to test and demonstrate those technologies in real-world settings.
Private industry is an essential partner in developing solutions to the challenges facing our Nation's transportation system. The Technology Partnerships Program was established to assist private sector companies with technologies that have already been developed to a late-stage prototype to the marketplace faster so they can be put to use. While FHWA has long supported technology research and development, it's the first time the agency has provided grants to general industry for late-phase technology development.
The program is a competitive grant program. So far, there have been three solicitations for proposals in 2007, 2008 and 2009. A total of seven companies have received Technology Partnerships grants of $200,000 to $500,000 in response to the 2007 and 2008 solicitations. The proposals for 2009 are currently under review. Interested individuals may request an email notification if a 2010 grant solicitation is anticipated.
2009 Awardees
- Fully Precast Bridge Bents for Use in Seismic Regions. (Berger/Abam Engineers) Prefabricated bridges bents, also known as piers, have not been used in seismic regions because methods of making connections that are both structurally robust and quick to assemble were relatively unknown and not addressed in design specifications. This project will demonstrate a totally precast concrete bridge bent system that can be used in seismic regions. The new technology, to be used on a bridge in Washington State, allows bridge bents to be prefabricated off site, and the segments moved into place, and assembled onto the bridge, greatly reducing construction time and traffic delays. Award amount of $400,397.
- Full Depth Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Waffle Bridge Panels. (Coreslab Structures, Omaha) Bridge engineers are seeking new ways to build better bridges, reduce travel times, and improve repair techniques; thereby reducing maintenance. Precast panels manufactured from UHPC can provide significant durability improvements to bridge decks due to the high strength, extremely low permeability, and improved connection details inherent in the system. The use of this innovation will result in reduced construction time for new and rehabilitated bridges, the ability to upgrade the load carrying capacity of existing bridges, and improved durability of bridge decks. Award amount $382,971.
2008 Awardees
In January 2008, five grants were awarded to accelerate the adoption of innovations that have the potential to reduce congestion and improve highway quality and safety. The grants will encourage the use of innovative equipment, materials, practices or processes in the design, construction or financing of highways.
The awards will help the five companies refine and test technologies currently at the prototype stage in a real-world highway setting in partnership with state departments of transportation and local transportation agencies.
- All-Weather Pavement Marking System (3M Company). Wet road conditions make it difficult for drivers to see conventional pavement markings, a situation that is especially hazardous in work zones where lane shifts are common. The All-weather Pavement Marking System incorporates specially designed wet reflective optical materials into pavement marking paint to make it easier for drivers to see markings on wet roads and respond appropriately. 3M will use the grant to adapt its product for cost-effective temporary use in work zones. Award amount: $499,277.
- Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer (Haskell Lemon Construction Company). Improper compaction during construction is a leading cause of asphalt pavement degradation. The prototype Intelligent Asphalt Compaction analyzer is a device mounted to compaction equipment to provide real-time data so compaction inconsistencies can be remedied while asphalt is still pliable. Replacing the time-consuming manual process currently used will reduce construction time and make pavements last longer. Award amount: $200,000.
- Aggregate Imaging System (Pine Instrument Company). The composition of aggregates used in pavement surfaces affects durability and skid resistance. The Aggregate Imaging System combines hardware that captures real-time digital images of paving material samples, and software that analyzes shape, texture and ratio characteristics of aggregates such as Hot Mix asphalt and hydraulic cement concrete, to improve the speed and accuracy of testing. Award amount: $200,000.
- Automated Pavement Marker Placement System (Stay Alert Safety Services Inc). Applying raised pavement markers manually is time-consuming and dangerous for workers. The prototype device, which can be mounted on standard equipment, will automate the process of reflective marker installation on roads. Initial tests showed the system reduced labor hours, construction time and risk of worker injury. Award amount: $451,660.
- Asphalt Binder Cracking Device (EZ Asphalt Technology LLC). The way asphalt responds to low temperatures is critical to its performance. The Asphalt Binder Cracking Device provides a simple and reliable method to test the cracking potential at different temperatures of the binders used in asphalt. The device will assist the industry in predicting and preventing asphalt failure due to cracking at low temperatures, extending the life of pavements and reducing the need for patching or repaving. Award amount: $239,386.
FHWA is expected to announce the awards from the August 2008 solicitation in February 2009.
Notifications
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