Title  : NSF 93-4 - Engineering Brochure on Infrastructure
Type   : Letter
NSF Org: ENG
Date   : March 19, 1993
File   : nsf934




CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS RESEARCH: STRATEGIC ISSUES
Executive Summary of a Report by the Civil Infrastructure Systems
Task Group National Science Foundation

In  January 1992, the NSF Civil Infrastructure Systems Task Group
was   established  by  the  Engineering  Directorate's  Strategic
Planning  Committee. In April 1992, NSF organized a  workshop  on
Civil Infrastructure Systems (CIS) Research to determine the need
for  a  national focus on such research and to develop the  basis
for  a broad-based, interdisciplinary CIS research program. Forty
experts  from universities, industry, professional practice,  and
federal    agencies   recommended   that    NSF    establish    a
multidisciplinary  initiative  to  conduct  basic   research   on
materials  and  infrastructure components, to integrate  systems,
and  to  turn research results into industrial applications.  The
report  of  NSF's workshop and written contributions  from  other
experts helped formulate the following recommendations.
@INSIDE  COVER = The text of this booklet is excerpted  from  the
National  Science  Foundation  Report  <169>Civil  Infrastructure
Systems  Research:  Strategic Issues.<170>  For  copies  of  this
booklet  or  information about the full report  or  the  NSF  CIS
Workshop  report call: Sherri Swann, (202) 357-7737,  Room  1132,
National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550, USA.

The  opinions expressed in this document are those  of  the  Task
Group  participants and do not necessarily represent NSF  policy.
Recommendations of the Task Group are currently under  review  by
NSF.

Printed in the United States of America
Expert Committee onCivil Infrastructure SystemsResearch Workshop

IAN G. BUCKLE, State University of New York,Buffalo
G. WAYNE CLOUGH, Virginia PolytechnicInstitute & State University
STEPHEN A. MAHIN, University of California, Berkeley
THOMAS  J.  PASKO  Jr., U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal
Highway Administration
BOYD PAULSON, Stanford University
CELESTINO R. PENNONI, American Society of Civil Engineers

Civil Infrastructure Systems

A  civilization's rise and fall is linked to its ability to  feed
and  shelter  its  people and defend itself.  These  capabilities
depend on infrastructure--the underlying, often hidden foundation
of  a  society's  wealth  and quality of  life.  A  society  that
neglects its infrastructure loses the ability to transport people
and  food,  provide  clean air and water,  control  disease,  and
conduct  commerce. In the last 100 years or so the United  States
invested  heavily  in  canals, fresh water, interstate  highways,
airports,  rapid  mass transit systems, and  modern  fiber  optic
systems,  etc.  But excessive demand, misuse,  and  neglect  take
their toll. In 1992 alone, the Chicago flood and Hurricane Andrew
illustrated  the  fragility of these systems and  the  staggering
losses their failure incurs.

There  is  an  urgent need to rebuild America. But  the  cost  is
prohibitive if this is not done intelligently, and the burden  of
such  an  investment could jeopardize the U.S.  economy's  future
growth.  Instead, the nation must strive for intelligent renewal,
a process that cost- effectively uses limited economic, material,
and human resources.

There  is  also an increasing need to put existing  knowledge  to
work  in  industry, and to develop new engineering and scientific
knowledge.  This is a tough intellectual challenge: the  nation's
infrastructure  is  made  up  of hundreds  of  large,  intricate,
engineering,  political, and economic systems  that  interact  in
complex  ways.  Past  research focused  on  the  performance  and
operation  of  individual  components in  separate  systems.  The
result  is  incremental improvement in some areas but  relatively
unaffected system performance.
Background

Construction, including structural and geotechnical  engineering,
is  among  the largest U.S. industries, making up 7.3 percent  of
the  1991 GNP and employing six million people. At the same time,
industry spending on research and development (R&D) is among  the
world's lowest--about 0.4 percent of gross sales. Intense foreign
competition  and  a  lack  of R&D are eroding  the  technological
advantages  of  U.S.  construction companies,  causing  the  U.S.
construction  industry to lose ground in both  the  domestic  and
international markets.

Every  country has civil infrastructure systems (CIS),  and  most
countries  undertake CIS research. Japan, Canada, Australia,  and
most  European  countries have state-funded research  foundations
similar  to  NSF. Japan's Ministry of Construction  operates  the
well-funded  Public  Works Research Institute  and  the  Building
Research  Institute;  the  Ministry of  Trade  and  Industry  and
Science  and  Technology Agency have nationally  coordinated  CIS
research programs.
Based  on  a  1987 Congressional Office of Technology  Assessment
report  on construction and materials R&D for U.S. public  works,
Japanese  construction companies spend about 30 times  more  than
U.S.  counterparts on construction research, while major European
construction   firms  outspend  the  U.S.  about   eight   times.
Increasingly,  foreign  laboratories have the  technological  and
human means to excel nationally and internationally.

Strong  public and institutional interest in urban infrastructure
has  grown  with  the recognition that U.S. civil  infrastructure
systems   are   not   benefiting  from   advances   in   emerging
technologies,   and   have   not  been   adequately   maintained.
Revitalization  has  been sporadic, largely  without  a  holistic
approach to deficiencies. The nation needs a cohesive strategy to
revive inner-city, suburban, and rural environments.

Academic and industrial research over the last decade has spurred
advances   in   new  materials,  structural  systems,   automated
construction,   ground  enhancement,  prefabricated   assemblies,
electrokinetic      geotechnology,     corrosion      inhibition,
electro-optical communication, understanding of public decisions,
management, location and siting, and public finance. Yet barriers
still  exist  to  transferring this basic  knowledge  into  civil
infrastructure practices. Today, it generally takes 5 to 20 years
to   move  such  knowledge  from  research  institutions  to  the
marketplace.
Although  many  federal  agencies support infrastructure  systems
research, the National Science Foundation (NSF) accounts  for  65
percent of federal funding for basic civil engineering research--
almost   all  of  which  is  related  to  CIS.  This  complements
industrial research but generally is more basic and longer  term.
NSF  support  provides  the knowledge  base  in  engineering  and
science upon which will rest many industrial CIS innovations.  By
creating  a  national  focus  of  continuous  CIS  research   (in
cooperation  with  the  DOD, DOT, EPA,  and  other  CIS-based  or
CIS-pertinent  agencies), NSF will provide  an  environment  that
encourages  the  vigorous,  industry-based  investment   in   CIS
research critical to our future progress and competitiveness.

Recommendations

NSF  should  move quickly to put existing knowledge  about  civil
infrastructure   to  work  and  generate  new   engineering   and
scientific   knowledge.  NSF's  approach  should   be   holistic,
targeting  optimal  system performance and innovative  techniques
and methods. NSF should seek to

Promote  proof-of-concept research, knowledge transfer, education
and training, human resource development, and federal, state, and
private-sector partnerships.

Systematically   address   issues   of   deterioration   science,
assessment technologies, and renewal engineering.

Strengthen  research programs at infrastructure-related  academic
research centers.

Encourage  university and other investigators to pursue  critical
civil infrastructure systems research needs.

The Research Thrust

A  CIS research effort should be developed with two thrusts:  one
for   performing  basic  research,  and  another  for  addressing
knowledge diffusion--enabling research results to be turned  into
products  and services for industry. In this effort,  NSF  should
target three elements of infrastructure renewal:

DETERIORATION  SCIENCE: A fundamental issue in understanding  why
constructed facilities decay is to understand better the  science
of  deterioration.  Most such efforts involve  proof  tests  that
subject  new  materials to some <169>extreme<170> condition  that
causes  the  material to fail, and this is then  proposed  as  an
indicator of the material's performance. Unfortunately, few tests
are dependent on the basic mechanisms that cause failure for even
the  limited  test conditions, much less actual conditions.  Even
conventional construction materials can be thought of as  systems
whose  properties  continually evolve over time,  and  complexity
increases  when  materials  are repaired  or  upgraded.  A  major
component  of  this  research  will  be  materials  science   and
mechanics.  Other  contributions are expected  from  programs  in
failure  processes;  risk and reliability; materials  processing,
fabrication, manufacturing, and assembly; corrosion, fatigue, and
environmental hazards; performance criteria; extension of service
life; and strength and durability.

ASSESSMENT   TECHNOLOGIES:A  major  problem  in   repairing   and
upgrading infrastructure is an inability to assess accurately the
state  of  health of a constructed facility. The sheer number  of
facilities to be evaluated, and the difficulty of accessing vital
structural  components  adds to the problem.  This  differs  from
diagnosing a system like the human body, whose parts and  general
placement are known and documented. Current methods for assessing
constructed  facilities are relatively primitive and  unreliable,
prompting  conservative, often costly decisions.  This  situation
could be reversed with a modest research investment. Research  in
this   area  will  focus  on  nondestructive  evaluation,   smart
materials, damage processes, advanced instrumentation, evaluation
of  service  life  and long-term monitoring;  system  evaluation;
characterization of performance under extreme events;  acceptable
risk;  interdependence  of infrastructure  systems;  geographical
information systems; and social and economic effects.

RENEWAL   ENGINEERING:   Constructed   facilities--the   nation's
largest,     tangible    resource--include     facilities     for
transportation,  energy, waste collection  and  treatment,  water
supply  and protection, environmental protection, and for living,
working,  playing  and  performing  functions  of  education  and
government. These physical underpinnings of society need renewal,
modification,  and  upgrading, and research  will  emphasize  new
design  and  construction  methods. Other  opportunities  include
using  new  or  modified materials, trenchless  technology  (e.g.
microtunneling), batch manufacturing techniques in  construction,
simulation,  innovative  repair and  modification,  and  modified
construction   techniques   suited  to   robotics   applications.
Innovative electrical and communication systems could play a role
in   intelligent   highways.  Other   research   topics   include
performance criteria and repair strategies; demolition, disposal,
and  recycling;  preservation of national resources;  information
theory,   expert   systems,  and  artificial  intelligence;   and
integrating structural design, processing, and fabrication.
Each   element  addresses  cross-cutting  research  in  materials
science,  mechanics, social sciences, geotechnical and structural
engineering,  fluid mechanics and water resources,  environmental
engineering,   chemistry,   and   mathematical,   computer,   and
information science. This broad-based, multidisciplinary  program
emphasizes  system  integration and builds on  NSF  strengths  in
engineering and science.

Culture and Infrastructure

Civil infrastructure research is a multidisciplinary effort  that
requires contributions from all engineering disciplines--and  the
earth,  physical,  chemical, biological, mathematical,  computer,
and social sciences, as well as education and human resources.

Infrastructure     solutions    involve    social,     political,
environmental,  and  economic  elements  as  well  as   technical
elements.  The  general public and elected  officials  are  often
reluctant  to  support infrastructure projects because  of  high,
uncertain direct costs; disruption and costs to neighborhoods and
businesses  during construction; the impact of projects  such  as
freeways  on  familiar  environments and valued  lifestyles;  and
effects  on  the  natural  environment. Technology  could  better
target  these concerns. For example, microtunneling is  far  less
disruptive than open trenching for installing utility lines,  and
research  on  lowering  the  cost of large-bore  tunneling  could
permit   transportation  corridors  to   be   moved   underground
economically.  While  many  barriers  to  solving  infrastructure
problems  are  social,  economic, environmental,  and  political,
technology improvements are fundamental.

In  addition  to  its critical relationship to  people  and  food
transport,  clean  air  and water, public  health  and  commerce,
infrastructure  is  equally important as a cultural  symbol.  Its
physical  image,  placement, and relationship to communities  and
landscapes  represent  a  vast, uncharted  territory  for  future
research. To paraphrase writer Cornell West, from a New York
Times Magazine article, "Learning to Talk of Race,"  The vitality
of any public square ultimately depends on how much we care about
the  quality  of  our  lives together. Our public  infrastructure
reflects our economic policies and the priority we place  on  our
common life.

NSF   Programs  in  Civil  Infrastructure  Systems  (CIS)-Related
Research

DIRECTORATE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BIO). Research supported  by
the   Biological   Sciences   Directorate   (BIO)   on   genetic,
biochemical,  physiological, and economic traits of organisms  in
relation to their physical environment offers a way to understand
and  improve  the  role  of  living organisms  in  infrastructure
deterioration.

DIRECTORATE  FOR COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(CISE).  The  CISE Information, Robotics and Intelligent  Systems
Division  includes the Robotics and Machine Intelligence program,
which  funds  research  in  automated  intelligent  machines  and
sensing  systems. This includes robotic systems  for  excavation,
material   handling,  exploration,  construction,   and   repair;
computer vision and other advanced sensing and metrology  systems
for   automated  construction;  and  nondestructive  testing  and
inspection.  The  Database  and  Expert  Systems  program   funds
information systems research relevant to facilities design,  data
management, and fault diagnosis.

DIRECTORATE  FOR  EDUCATION AND HUMAN  RESOURCES  (EHR).<MS>  CIS
research  is intrinsically interdisciplinary, relying heavily  on
scientific  and  engineering research, education,  practice,  and
methodology. Programs that support undergraduate engineering  and
science  education  (particularly  at  the  introductory  level),
laboratory  development, engineering and scientific  research  in
CIS-related  areas, faculty enhancement, and career and  graduate
program access constitute a significant portion of EHR activity.

DIRECTORATE   FOR   ENGINEERING  (ENG).  ENG-supported   research
enhances  the knowledge base of and is most directly  related  to
CIS.  The  topics currently supported include structural analysis
and design, construction and fabrication, material processing and
synthesis,  power and communications, environmental  engineering,
and  safety  against  earthquake, wind, and  other  hazards.  ENG
programs  that support CIS research are: Structures, Geomechanics
and  Building  Systems;  Construction  Processes;  Mechanics  and
Materials;  Earthquake Hazard Mitigation;  Natural  and  Man-Made
Hazard  Mitigation;  Fluid, Particulate  and  Hydraulic  Systems;
Environmental  and  Ocean  Systems;  Small  Business   Innovation
Research;  Engineering  Education and Centers  Division  programs
(Engineering   Research   Centers  and  Industry-University   and
State-Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers); and  the
Electrical and Communications Systems Division Programs. Most  of
these programs have jointly engaged in interdisciplinary research
focused on innovative approaches to CIS problems.

DIRECTORATE FOR GEOSCIENCES (GEO). All engineered structures  and
societal  lifelines  are  subject to environmental  stresses  and
natural  hazards. These include high winds, floods, wave  action,
marine  corrosion,  freezing  and thawing,  and  earth  movements
ranging  from  sudden earthquakes to prolonged  soil  creep.  GEO
supports  research on characterizing these environmental  factors
and assessing the resulting natural hazards.

DIRECTORATE  FOR  MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES  (MPS).  MPS
supports  many  activities that are related or relevant  to  CIS.
Materials  research  addresses the preparation,  processing,  and
properties   of  advanced  and  novel  materials  for  structural
applications,  communications,  sensors,  energy   storage,   and
transportation.  Materials  chemistry,  surface   chemistry   and
physics,    electrochemistry,    analytical    chemistry,     and
photochemistry contribute both to development and construction of
infrastructure   and   to  understanding   and   preventing   its
deterioration. Theoretical and computational research in  support
of  CIS  areas  includes development of modeling  and  simulation
techniques  and performance prediction. Many research  topics  in
mathematical   sciences   contribute   in   important   ways   to
deterioration  science,  assessment  technologies,  and   renewal
engineering.  Research  in  physics  and  astronomical  sciences,
leading  to  high-speed data acquisition devices and improvements
in   the  state-of-the-art  measurement  science,  has  long-term
implications for CIS.

DIRECTORATE  FOR SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES  (SBE).
CIS-pertinent   programs  supported  by  this  directorate   have
critical,  far-reaching  social  and  economic  significance   in
renewing and maintaining the physical infrastructure. Research to
improve  the  physical infrastructure must address the  need  for
viable  urban  economies, strong urban tax bases, and  a  trained
urban work force.

About the National Science Foundation

The  National  Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950  (Public  Law
81-507)  created  NSF  to  promote the progress  of  science  and
engineering,  and education in those areas. NSF is  independent--
not part of any other federal department or agency--and run by  a
presidentially  appointed director and a board of  24  scientists
and  engineers, university officials and industry leaders  and  a
staff  of  about 1,200. NSF accounts for almost a fourth  of  all
federal support to academic institutions for basic research. With
assistance  from  more than 55,000 outside experts,  NSF  reviews
nearly 30,500 proposals a year and awards more than 16,000 grants
and  contracts  to  some 2,000 universities,  colleges,  academic
consortia, nonprofit institutions, and small businesses.

NSF  ensures  that  the  spectrum  of  research  fields  receives
adequate  federal support, and that America's human resources  in
science  and  technology are replenished. NSF plays a  leadership
role  in  identifying  the  "grand  challenges"  of  science  and
engineering research and--because research increasingly  requires
cooperation  among  universities, federal  agencies,  public  and
private sectors, and nations--marshalling the resources to tackle
them.  At  least  40 federal agencies engage in  activities  that
range from research on coastal erosion to new forms of energy  to
improving  the  national  defense. Only  NSF  can  sponsor  basic
research  anywhere in the United States or, in  cooperation  with
other nations, the world.