| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | July 29, 2022 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 29, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2224282 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Jaime A. Camelio
jcamelio@nsf.gov (703)292-2061 TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2022 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $50,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $50,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
257 FULLER RD ALBANY NY US 12203-3613 (518)437-8689 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
100 Seymour Road Utica NY US 13502-1311 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | I-Corps |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): |
|
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the potential development of a possible solution for highway slope failure. Highway slope failure can be a common issue nationwide and highway agencies can spend millions of dollars on highway maintenance. The proposed technology may also assist in improving the nation?s need to improve its road infrastructure grade ?D?. The proposed technology could save costs compared to the current solutions available. While the primary beneficiary of this product will be the highway agencies, the landfill industry will be a secondary beneficiary because the proposed technology is produced from the recycling of plastic The potential use of plastic in transportation infrastructure projects could reduce the amount of plastic waste and may create an opportunity for the recycling industry to develop a market for this product.
This I-Corps project is based on the possible development of a technology to use recycled plastic in highway slope repair as a potentially innovative, low-cost, and sustainable solution. The technology has been successfully implemented in several field demonstration projects, and while the current solutions (i.e., soil nail, soil anchor, micropile) can be effective, they may be time-consuming and expensive. The proposed work could answer important questions regarding a pathway for the future application and adoption of other alternative and sustainable materials in transportation infrastructure projects.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This I-Corps project is based on the possible development of a technology to use recycled plastic in highway slope repair as a potentially innovative, low-cost, and sustainable solution. The technology has been successfully implemented in several field demonstration projects, and while the current solutions (i.e., soil nail, soil anchor, micropile) can be effective, they may be time-consuming and expensive. The proposed work could answer important questions regarding a pathway for the future application and adoption of other alternative and sustainable materials in transportation infrastructure projects.
The intellectual merit of the proposal was to test the hypothesis that the highway agecies would be very much inclined to adopt a new technology which has potential environmental benefits also. In addition, the team also assumed thatthere could be a secondary market for the technology as it is diverting plastic wastefrom the landfill. Another hypothesis the team tested was: Diverting plastic from landfillwould earn some space recovery for landfill owners. The broader impact of the propsoal was to save tax dollar for the people adopting a low cost solution.
Based on the interviews, the team concluded that, there is very bleak chance of a secondary market. The team conducted 9 interviews from the solid waste sector[Landfill Director (2), Staff Engineer (5), Influencer (2)]. All of them mentioned that,landfill space isn't a major headache for the solid waste industry. As such, the teammodified the business thesis focusing only on the highway agencies.
The project team conducted rest of the interviews with highway officials across the nation. The hypothesis of the study was latest technology is the biggest issue or headache for the state DOT. However, based on the discussion with 27 states and more than 100 interviews, it was evident that the biggest headache for the highway agencies is trained personnel. Due to the retirement of the baby boomers and the wave of retirement due to COVID-19, there is a shortage of skilled technical people in those departments. 71% of the interviewee reported that trained personnel is thepriority one whereas budgest is second with 12% mentioning. As our product falls underthe new technology category, it was found that each state has an approved materialslist. Any new product has to go through that approaval list before adoption. Therefore,the team requires a pilot project first to prove its applicability.
Last Modified: 10/04/2024
Modified by: Asif Ahmed
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
