The 22nd Annual NJDOT Research Showcase was an opportunity for the New Jersey transportation community to learn about the broad scope of academic research initiatives underway and share technology transfer activities being conducted by institutions of higher education partners and their associates. The annual event serves as a showcase to present the ongoing initiatives and benefits of the NJDOT Research program. This event was also the first Research Showcase conducted by webinar with sessions held from 9am-12pm on October 27, 28, and 29, 2020.
Each day’s Research Showcase Program included presentations by university researchers, NJ agency representatives, and engineers offering their perspectives and fielding questions on topics including responses to the challenge of weather and climate change, emerging technologies such as smart mobility, and the effects of Covid-19 on transportation networks. These presentations were followed by poster sessions presenting research of students attending New Jersey’s universities and colleges.
DAY 1
On Day 1, the NJDOT Commissioner of Transportation, Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, provided opening remarks along with the Federal Highway Administration’s Assistant Division Administrator in New Jersey, Valeriya Remezova. Both speakers noted NJDOT’s steps taken and plans for the future to promote resiliency.
The keynote speaker was Gerald E. “Jerry” Buckwalter, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer of the American Society of Civil Engineers who presented the “ASCE Future World Vision.” Mr. Buckwalter described the ASCE role in imagining the future of cities, incorporating rapid developments in technology, alternative energy, climate change, materials, policy and funding, and demographics and urbanism. The project created five interactive scenarios of multi-dimensional city and neighborhood systems to adapt to changes over the next fifty years. These visions are intended to engage youth in thinking about engineering, spark public interest, provide a visual starting point for discussion, encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and create a common language, and to foster innovation among university students.
Amanda Gendek, Manager, NJDOT Bureau of Research announced several awards given in recognition of research, innovation and implementation efforts. Below is a listing of the award winners presented at this year’s showcase:
2020 Outstanding Student in Transportation Research Award
Recipient: Laura Marques Soarces, Rutgers University, Energy Harvesting on New Jersey Roadways
2020 NJDOT Research Implementation Award
Recipient: Yusuf Mehta, Rowan University, Environmental Impacts of Recycled Asphalt Pavement
2020 Best Poster Award
Recipient: Thales Couto Braguim, Rutgers University
Poster: Load Rating, Analysis, and Monitoring of the Sagging Fascias Girder of I-287 Bridge over US202/206
2025 NJDOT Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Award
Recipients: Scott Ainsley and Mark Crago, NJDOT Operations Training Unit
Innovation: Anti-Jacknife Device
The Build a Better a Mousetrap Award was given to Scott Ainsley and Mark Crago in NJDOT’s Operations Training Unit for their Anti-Jacknife Device. They developed this early warning device to prevent jackknifing and damage to trucks and trailers during new employee CDL training. The device increases cost savings by eliminating the need for repairs, and improves efficiency during new employee training (see videos below).
DAY 2 and DAY 3
DAY 2
Day 2 Sessions
The Effect of Covid-19 on the Port Industry – Global Trends & Regional Effects
Presenters: Sotiris Theofanis, PhD and Maria Boile, PhD (Rutgers University)
Enhancing Resilience of Bridges through Real-time Deformation Monitoring using UWB Technology Enhanced by Machine Learning
Presenter: Yiming Liu (Stevens Institute of Technology)
Coming Soon: NJDOT Flood Risk Visualization Tool
Presenter: Jon Carnegie, AICP, PP (Rutgers University
New Jersey’s Climate Change Resilience Strategy
Presenters: Dave Rosenblatt, Assistant Commissioner (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection)
New Brunswick Innovation Hub Smart Mobility Testing Ground Phase 1 Planning
Presenter: Peter J. Jin, PhD and Ali Maher, PhD (Rutgers University)
Improving Resilience, Safety, and Service Life of the Pulaski Skyway
Presenter: Ruben Gajer, PE (Arora and Associates, PC)
DAY 3
Day 3 Sessions
Exploring the Impacts of VMT induced PM2.5 on the Rate of COVID-19 Infection
Presenter: Yeganeh Hayeri, PhD and Hojat Behrooz (Stevens Institute of Technology)
Behavior of Concrete Barriers for Bridges in New Jersey
Presenter: Anil Agrawal, PhD (The City College of New York)
Accelerating Mobility for All: Analysis of Focus Group Feedback from Persons with Disabilities Following Autonomous Vehicle Rides
Presenter: Cecilia Feeley, PhD and Andrea Lubin (Rutgers University)
Automated Analysis of Surrogate Safety Measures and Non-compliance Behavior of all Road Users at an Intersection
Presenter: Deep Patel and Mohammad Jalayer, Ph.D (Rowan University)
POSTERS
(click images for PDF)
Optimized Speed Profiles for Sustainable Train Operation with Regenerative Braking – Leon Allen and Steven Chien, NJIT
Load Rating, Analysis, and Monitoring of the Sagging Fascia Girder of I-287 Bridge over US202/206 – Thales Couto Braguim, Rutgers University
Process-Based Modeling for Inlet Management – Jon K. Miller, Laura Lemke, Matthew S. Jannsen, Stevens Institute of Technology
Control of Shrinkage Cracks in Bridge Decks by Using Hybrid Fiber Reinforced High Performance Concrete – Mina Habib
Load Rating/Posting Policy for SHVs and EVs and Reliability Assessment of SHV Load Models – Chan Yang, Peng Lou, Chaekuk Na, Dongjian Gao, Rutgers University
Effects of Thixotropic UHPC on Interfacial Properties as an Overlay – Jiang Du, Weina Meng, Adi Abu-obeidah, Hani Nassef, Stevens Institute of Technology
Implementation of Porous Concrete in Sidewalks in New Jersey – Kathleen Stavole, Jack Cannon, Luke Dragon, Hardik Yagnik, Husam Najm, Rutgers University
Climate Change Impact on Pavement Overlay Performance with Adaptation Strategies – Xiaodan Chen, Rutgers University
Thermally and Mechanically Balanced Structural Design of Insulated Pavements for Cold Region Applications – Zhuang Zhuo, Ayman Ali, Cheng Zhu, Yusuf Mehta, Wade Lein, Christopher DeCarlo, Zhaoxing Xie, Rowan University & the US Army Corps of Engineers