Toward Infrastructure Improvement An Agenda for Research (1994) / Chapter Skim
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The Context and Status of U.S. Infrastructure Research
The Context and Status of U.S. Infrastructure Research
Pages 21-36
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From page 21... ...
effort on infrastructure research, development, and technology adaptation activities is not well developed. Spending occurs in both public and private sectors, and in uncoordinated programs by municipalities and commercial enterprises, as well as large governments or corporations.
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From page 22... ...
At the one extreme, highway research has long been reliably supported by budget allocations from federal and state gasoline tax revenues and is conducted in a large number of federal and state laboratories, universities, and many private companies. At the other extreme, institutional buildings receive little explicit attention as infrastructure, and building research on the whole receives limited funding.
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From page 23... ...
If perhaps 0.02 percent of sales are devoted by such businesses to infrastructure-related R&D,6 then the estunated annual spending is $88 million. Various private firms provide design services, construction management, operations research, and other professional services related to infrastructure.
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From page 24... ...
Further, many analysts have pointed out that R&D activity does not necessarily lead to innovation.7 Nevertheless, the committee agreed that low research effort signals an environment less likely to yield innovation, and evidence suggests that the United States may be lagging in comparison to other countries. For example, Cohen and Noll (1992)
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From page 25... ...
These laboratories depend on funding provided by the operating programs rather than direct budget allocations for research, and thus have limited ability to set their own research agendas.
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From page 26... ...
Programs in electrical, mechanical, water resources, and construction engineering, architecture, urban planrung, urban design, and landscape architecture also readily include topic-related infrastructure systems and technology. In addition, the fields of economics, public finance, public administration, geography, and regional planning contribute regularly to enhanced understanding and methodology for infrastructure development and management.
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From page 27... ...
. Seeking to emulate the federal gasoline tax set-aside that supports much of the nation's highway research, membership fees are based on the annual revenues of the member companies, which are generally proportional to the kilowatt-hours of electric power or cubic feet of gas produced and sold.
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From page 28... ...
The SHRP, ending in 1993, did in fact produce many useful results, and the Federal Highway Administration is establishing a national training center for state officials, intended to speed transfer of SE~P-produced technology into practice in the 50 states. The committee did review some studies that were based on a broader perspective of infrastructure, although not necessarily rinsed explicitly at developing research agendas.
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From page 29... ...
. field construction technologies, including trenchless construction technologies, tunnels, soil improvements and stabilization, dredging technology, and rail track construction and rehabilitation; · materials and corrosion, including continued research on concrete, asphalt, steel, geotextiles, plastics, advanced composites, and research on protecting materials against corrosion; and
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From page 30... ...
THE NSF'S ROLE IN INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH The NSF's support of research is meant to build a knowledge base of engineering and science to support technological innovation throughout the nation's economy. Because the NSF's research spending is concentrated in the nation's colleges and universities, its impact extends beyond immediate research results to the next generation of infrastructure professionals.
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From page 31... ...
The robed infrastructure as a factor shaping urban development is poorly understood, as are the economic and social costs of inserting new systems into already developed areas. Research can enhance our ability to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts of infrastructure.
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From page 32... ...
However, from time to time, special programs have been undertaken that encourage collaboration across academic disciplinary boundaries or that address needs not easily placed within traditional organizational structures. For example, over the past several years the NSF has funded initiation of several research centers, focused on earthquake engineering, Portland-cement-concrete technology, and large-scale structures.
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From page 33... ...
Both stances have merit, and spiking the appropriate balance attracted continuing discussion as the committee defined and refined its guidance in these seven broad infrastructure research niche areas: . Systems life-cycle management, including plant or network operations, asset deployment, maintenance practices, system performance assessment, and control, management, renewal decisions, quality of life and environmental management, throughout all stages of the life cycle from initial materials production to final facility demolition and waste disposal; · Analysis and decision tools, for planning and design, needs assessment, dealing with capacity issues;
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From page 34... ...
This and subsequent estimates are based on cited data or studies, or reflect the judgement of committee members and staff. 5By comparison, approximately one-third of total annual construction spending is typically devoted to public works and private infrastructure facilities (BRB, 1988~.
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From page 35... ...
i3A fourth research area, on institutional effectiveness and productivity (encompassing economic, labor force, and human capital issues) , was added in subsequent planning.
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From page 36... ...
RECONSTRUCTION OF CROTON IAKE GATEHOUSE, NEW YORK The landmarked gatehouse structure for the main New York City reservoir had to be rehabilitated at this prominent site ancl an expansion unit incorporated into the clesign. The challenge was to use new materials in a style compathle with that of the historic structure to create a symbol for the entire system.
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