Upcoming Webinar
Upcoming Webinar
The Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC) is proud to host Research Highlights Webinars each month to showcase the exciting research conducted by teams from five universities as we seek to address the U.S.'s transportation infrastructure durability challenges by focusing on Precast Concrete (PC)-related technologies.
Register for TRANS-IPIC next Research Highlights Webinar below!
Friday, 10/24/2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CST)
Topic 1:
Precast concrete with self-powering defrosting capability
Abstract
This project is aimed at developing precast concrete with self-powering defrosting capability. The proposed self-powering approach is based on a novel concept that exploits the electrical energy in a capacitor. During discharge, energy is released from the capacitor. During charging, energy is provided to the capacitor. The concept involves the capacitance changing upon a change in temperature.
Project PI
Deborah D.L. Chung
Deborah D.L. Chung is SUNY Distinguished Professor in University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. She received Ph.D. degree in Materials Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and B.S. degree from California Institute of Technology. She is the inventor of smart concrete. She has authored or coauthored >600 archival journal papers, and is Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Topic 2:
AI-based Lift Path Planning for Robotic Installation of Precast Bridge Components
Abstract
This project developed an AI-based framework for 3D crane lift path planning in robotic installation of precast bridge components. A deep reinforcement learning agent was trained and tested in physical-based simulation for collision avoidance and high-precision placement. It achieved high success rate and efficiency, proving feasibility for potential implementation in transportation infrastructure.
Project PI
Jiannan Cai
Dr. Jiannan Cai is an Assistant Professor in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Her research interests include creating innovative sensing, artificial intelligence, and robotics (particularly human-robot collaboration) methods to enhance construction automation and robotics, civil infrastructure and building management, and community smartness and resilience. Her research has received fundings from various agencies, including National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), University Transportation Center (UTC) – Tran-SET and TRANS-IPIC, among others.