Materials and Technology
SMARTI ETN
- Funder: EU H2020 - MSCA-ITN-2016 - Innovative Training Networks
- Total value: € 3,990,59
- Start to end date: 2017 - 2021
Summary: The Sustainable Multi-functional Automated Resilient Transport Infrastructures European Training Network (SMARTI ETN), will bring together a stimulating platform where key stakeholders of the transport infrastructure sector will work alongside world-wide experts in smartening of systems (developers of high-tech sensors, advanced monitoring equipment, automated structures, etc.,) with direct support from the roads, railways and airports managers.
NTEC Members: Davide Lo Presti, Ana Jimenez Del Barco Carrion, Andrew Dawson, Gordon Airey, Luis Neves, Nick Thom, Alvaro Garcia and Tony Parry
Project Beneficaries: University of Nottingham, IFSTTAR, University of Palermo, University of Granada, EIFFAGE, GDG, AECOM and Dynatest
Whole-life Cost Assessment of Novel Material Railway Drainage Systems
- Funder: EPSRC, Rail Standards & Strategy Board, UK Dept. for Transport
- Total value: £591,597
- Start to end date: 2015 - 2019
Summary: Water plays a significant role in the degradation of railway infrastructure with high associated maintenance and repair costs. Climate change is predicted to result in more extreme weather and flash flood events. The railway drainage systems will therefore be put under severe strain. Much of the UK railway drainage infrastructure is old and in need of repair or replacement while traffic growth reduces the opportunities available to carry out maintenance. In light of these issues, this project focuses on providing novel and easily installed railway drainage solutions which make use of lightweight and cost-effective 'new materials'. Their use is investigated by full-scale, physical centrifuge and numerical modelling and some in-situ monitoring.
NTEC Members: Andrew Dawson, Nick Thom, Ivan Campos Led by colleagues in the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics
Project Beneficaries: University of Nottingham, Rail Standards & Strategy Board, Network Rail, Aspen and AECOM
Existing and Future Infrastructure
SMARTI ETN
- Funder: EU H2020 - MSCA-ITN-2016 - Innovative Training Networks
- Total value: € 3,990,59
- Start to end date: 2017 - 2021
Summary: The Sustainable Multi-functional Automated Resilient Transport Infrastructures European Training Network (SMARTI ETN), will bring together a stimulating platform where key stakeholders of the transport infrastructure sector will work alongside world-wide experts in smartening of systems (developers of high-tech sensors, advanced monitoring equipment, automated structures, etc.,) with direct support from the roads, railways and airports managers.
NTEC Members: Davide Lo Presti, Ana Jimenez Del Barco Carrion, Andrew Dawson, Gordon Airey, Luis Neves, Nick Thom, Alvaro Garcia and Tony Parry
Project Beneficaries: University of Nottingham, IFSTTAR, University of Palermo, University of Granada, EIFFAGE, GDG, AECOM and Dynatest
Resilience of a Himalayan Road Network
Funder: EPSRC – Global Challenges Research Fund
Total value: £12,000
Start to end date: 2017 - 2018
Summary: Due to its orography and recent history, Bhutan’s transportation network is extremely limited. Most road links don’t have alternatives. Almost all are very lengthy, tortuous and, consequentially, operate at low speeds (c25 km/hr on average). These roads are exposed to severe and frequent landslides and floods, caused both by extreme rain and earthquakes leading to frequent community isolation. The non-availability of a reliable and resilient road network is strongly implicated as a contributory cause of Bhutan’s low Human Development Index score. Therefore a small-scale scoping study was performed to describe the problems more specifically and to define candidate procedures capable of keeping roads open and achievable, to a basic performance level, by non-skilled local communities.
NTEC Members: Andrew Dawson and Luis Neves
Project Beneficaries: University of Nottingham, Royal University of Bhutan, Construction development Corporation Ltd, Royal Bhutanese Government’s: Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Dept. of Roads of Ministry of Works and Human Settlement
Key publications: Dawson, A.R., Neves, L.A.C., Sarkar, R. & Dijkstra, T., 2018, “Bhutanese road and bridge resilience to floods and landslides – first suggestions for assessment and response”, Proc. 4th International Conf. Transport Infrastructure, Pretoria, South Africa.