This week in infrastructure systems:
Self-Healing Pavements
One of my undergraduate classmates (OK, she was a couple years ahead of me) at Howard, UT-Austin's Raissa Ferron, had her research on self-healing concrete highlighted in the Cockrell School's publication, In the Lab. Dr. Ferron is hoping that bacteria entrained in the concrete can help "heal" cracks in the concrete as they are exposed to the elements. The challenge is keeping the bacteria alive long enough to provide this resilience function.
What the Candidates are Saying
For those folks interested in understanding how the Democrats or Republican candidates will address infrastructure, especially urban infrastructure needs, Blair Levin of the Brookings Institution is doing a 3-part series that may provide some important insights. Consider the introduction to the series:
This is the first in a series of three blogs on cities, technology, the next generation of urban development, and the next administration. In this one, I’ll discuss Hillary Clinton’s recent technology plan and in particular, the significance of her endorsement of, and a willingness to invest in, a civic Internet of Things.” In the second, I will lay out why the federal government should focus on how cities are likely to be the primary government jurisdictions on the leading edge of using new technology to transform the public sphere. In the third, I will suggest five specific policies for how either a Clinton or Trump Administration could accelerate economic growth and social progress by helping cities use emerging technologies.
I have been trying to do my own informal research into what the candidates are saying about infrastructure, and it just isn't a focus right now in our domestic politics. That said, the candidates aren't silent on the issue, and I hope to provide a few additional insights from across the Web in the coming weeks.
GOP Propose Phase-out of Federal Funding for Local Transit
The Engineering News-Record reports that the GOP are proposing a plan that will phase-out federal funding for mass transit. Their position is, reportedly, that mass transit serves only a small population, and is inherently a local affair. While this is the position articulated in the party platform, and not a legislative proposal, it does strike an interesting point of view at a time where the US clearly needs additional infrastructure investment, including in the public transit of its largest cities.
Panama Canal Puts Pressure on US Ports
The Panamax expansion is now putting pressure on US East Coast port cities to catch up on the complex infrastructure upgrades that are required to fully accommodate the increased capacity and larger ships. For example, Construction Equipment Guide is reporting that the Port of Savannah can accommodate the ships, but the Savannah River is still not deep enough to accommodate the largest ships. More complications may be found at other ports where land-side connections to transportation infrastructure may not be prepared to handle the increased container volume.
Can Ports Drive Renewable Energy Development?
Ogdensburg, NY is showing how wind energy can fuel the growth of business at our ports. The increased need for equipment and facility development can spill over into jobs in the transportation and shipping industries. Specialized equipment requires upgraded rail, maritime, and ground transportation, which also require maintenance, operations, and logistics workers. NY Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul spent some time this week demonstrating the positive cascading effects of state investments in their infrastructure.