Misato NotoSmart infrastructure is an emerging field that invests in artificial intelligence and big data to improve the quality of service, such as transportation.
Associate professor Luna Lu from Purdue University is working in this field with the idea of making infrastructure more agile, sustainable and dependable. One of the technologies she and her team are developing is a sensor that monitors the condition of concrete and sends real-time data on its strength to computers. This technology conveys more accurately when roads and bridges need repairs and allows transport engineers to have a better idea of exactly what materials they will need to respond to potential damage. Furthermore, engineers will also have a better idea of when new concrete is ready to take on heavy traffic. As a result, the technology will prevent cracks and unnecessary repairs caused by reopening roads too soon.
Lu is also developing “self-healing concrete,” which is particularly useful during harsh winters. For roads in the U.S. Midwest, concrete goes through freeze-thaw cycles, which makes them susceptible to cracks, and eventually fissures. A tiny crack would activate super absorbent polymers to absorb water and produce concrete-like material that seals the crack autonomously. This self-healing concrete helps reduce the need to shut down roadways or bridges for maintenance.
