The ABC-UTC has assembled an experienced, knowledgeable, and engaged group of bridge academics and engineers who will collectively provide the transportation industry with the tools needed to effectively and economically utilize the principles of ABC to enhance mobility and safety, and produce safe, environmentally friendly, long-lasting bridges.
The ABC-UTC consortium members have well-established, working relationships with one another that span decades. Collectively, the consortium has the expertise and synergy to accomplish the Center’s objectives. The ABC-UTC’s research team is particularly well-suited to solving the remaining barriers to widespread implementation of ABC practices and construction of longer service-life bridges. The Center’s Director, Dr. Atorod Azizinamini of Florida International University (FIU), is an internationally recognized expert in ABC and bridge design. The University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Washington both have nationally and internationally recognized programs in earthquake and structural engineering; Iowa State has long been nationally recognized for its bridge engineering program, which emphasizes ABC, and the University of Oklahoma is one of the nation’s leaders in geotechnical engineering research with a specific emphasis on bridge engineering. Further, the research team includes Mary Lou Ralls, former State Bridge Engineer of Texas and currently an affiliate of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at FIU. Mrs. Ralls, as Director of Technology Transfer, will ensure an effective and timely implementation of the results developed by the ABC-UTC.
Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university in Miami, Florida. With a student body of nearly 50,000, FIU serves a large number of economically disadvantaged students. Nearly 50 percent of all undergraduate students at FIU receive financial aid, and nearly 60 percent of those recipients come from families with annual household incomes under $30,000.
FIU is a member of Hispanic Serving Institutions, defined by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities as “colleges, universities, or systems/districts where total Hispanic enrollment constitutes a minimum of 25 percent of the total enrollment.” FIU is the largest producer of Hispanic engineers in the continental United States. The Titan America Structures and Construction Testing Laboratory is one of the largest full-scale testing facilities in the State of Florida, with a total area of 6,375 ft2 of floor space.
Florida A&M University-Florida State University
The Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, established by the Florida Legislature in 1982, is the joint engineering school for Florida A&M and Florida State universities, the only shared college of engineering in the nation. With more than 3,000 engineering students, this unique collaboration between a number 1 public Historically Black University and a Research-1 institution makes it possible to learn cutting-edge engineering skills in a varied environment offering a real-world experience that employers value. Among the student population, 33% of students are African American, and 30% are female and approximately 86% of engineering students enrolled and graduating through FAMU are African Americans.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University in College Station is a land-, sea-, and space-grant public university. With more than 79,000 students, it is currently the second-largest university in the United States. A&M’s College of Engineering, ranked 9th in the nation among public engineering colleges, is home to over 23,595 students as of Fall 2023, with 19,248 undergraduates and 4,347 postgraduates, making it the second largest in the nation. Its Civil Engineering program is ranked 7th among public undergraduate programs and 9th among graduate programs. Research on infrastructure design, performance, and durability is performed at the university’s Center for Infrastructure Renewal, a state-of-the art 138,000 square-foot facility opened in 2018. Among the unique resources at the CIR are an 8400 sq ft strong floor, a 60 ft x 40 ft strong wall, full-scale testing capability for bridge support components, railroad rail fatigue testing, and a full range of seismic testing. The CIR also has expertise in advanced concrete and asphalt characterization.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia (UGA), founded in 1785, is a leading public research institution classified as an R1 university by the Carnegie Foundation for its “very high research activity.” As a land-grant institution, UGA is committed to serving the people of Georgia by advancing interdisciplinary research and addressing infrastructure challenges. The College of Engineering plays a key role in promoting resilient infrastructure, focusing on solutions in bridge asset management. In Fall 2024, the College surpassed 3,000 students, marking a milestone. Undergraduate enrollment grew by approximately 10% annually between 2023 and 2024, with Civil and Mechanical Engineering leading the expansion. Graduate enrollment surged by 18.3%, reflecting the college’s increasing research capacity. UGA contributes to the IBT/ABC UTC by leveraging its expertise in bridge engineering and education, focusing on local bridge owners and collaborating with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). UGA has also launched an online MS in Civil Engineering program, including a bridge engineering studio course developed with GDOT and the bridge industry to incorporate real-world experience into education. UGA researchers use cutting-edge computational modeling, monitoring technologies, and AI-driven predictive analytics to revolutionize bridge asset management with solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. The university’s Structural Engineering Testing Hub supports full-scale testing, ensuring the practical application of research to infrastructure projects, fulfilling its land-grant mission. Dr. Birgisson leads the UGA effort with Drs. Chorzepa, Durham, and others.
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)
The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is a top-tier public research institution recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community impact. Its goals focus on fostering student success, advancing research, promoting diversity, and contributing to economic and societal growth. UNR is classified as an R1 Carnegie Research University, indicating very high research activity, and is consistently ranked among the best public universities in the U.S. UNR serves over 21,000 students from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and vibrant academic environment. Research strengths span seismology, renewable energy, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The university is renowned for its College of Engineering, particularly in structural and earthquake engineering. UNR’s Large-Scale Structures Laboratory and Earthquake Engineering Laboratories are among the most advanced in the nation. These facilities house multiple shake tables capable of simulating real-world earthquake conditions to improve building resilience. These labs support cutting-edge research in bridge retrofitting, base isolation, and structural performance under seismic loads attracting global researchers and industry leaders.
University of Washington
The UW is one of the world’s preeminent public universities, and is ranked No. 13 in the world on the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities and No. 10 by US News and World Report. It boasts seven Nobel Prize winners, 15 MacArthur Fellows, 175 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine and 181 fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It receives more federal research dollars than any other public university in the nation. The UW educates more than 55,000 students annually at its three campuses (Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell). 82% of those students attend the Seattle campus, which is home to the Civil Engineering Department. About 70% of the total are undergraduates, and 30% are graduate and professional. Of the undergraduates, approximately three quarters are residents of the state, and 35% of them represent the first of their families ever to receive a college degree. Nearly one quarter of the incoming 2017 domestic freshman class was comprised of minorities. The Structural Engineering Laboratory in the Civil Engineering Department has an extensive strong floor, a strong wall, a one-dimensional earthquake shaking table, and a wide variety of test equipment with capacities up to 2.4 million pounds in addition to several unique pieces of specialized, custom-built equipment. It constitutes the preeminent research laboratory in the Pacific Northwest, and provides service to industry as well.
University of Oklahoma
With more than 31,000 students enrolled, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a comprehensive university offering 152 baccalaureate programs, 160 master’s programs, and 75 doctorate programs. The school is ranked first among public universities in enrollment of National Merit Scholars and among the top ten in the graduation of Rhodes Scholars. For the second year in a row, OU was a recipient of the 2017 HEED Award, that measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment through initiatives, programs and outreach; student recruitment, retention and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. The Carnegie Foundation classifies OU as a research university with “very high research activity.” The University of Oklahoma houses major facilities for structural engineering research and education. The OU Fears Lab contains a 13,000-square-foot high-bay laboratory space, 1,800-square-foot Advanced Concrete Research Laboratory (ACRL), and 3,500 square feet of office space.