Point of View: Engineering infrastructure innovations start in Oklahoma

Annually we celebrate National Engineers Week by recognizing the latest engineering advancements and discoveries. Many of the students, faculty and researchers in the University of Oklahoma Gallogly College of Engineering produce work that impacts people and technology globally, but much of our work impacts people right here in Oklahoma, especially our efforts to improve our state’s infrastructure.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation maintains more than 30,000 roadway miles. In addition to the 1.37 million registered vehicles in Oklahoma, our state is the hub for our nation’s major trade routes of I-35, I-40, I-44 and U.S. 69. The trucking industry annually moves 500 million tons of freight in our state. As our infrastructure ages, the demand for strong, reliable roads and bridges is critical.

Researchers at the Gallogly College of Engineering work closely with ODOT and private concrete companies to design infrastructure innovations that would improve the durability and longevity of concrete materials while decreasing maintenance and repair costs.

Since 2004, ODOT has reduced Oklahoma’s structurally deficient bridges from 1,168 to fewer than 200 in 2017. To extend the longevity of these bridges and reduce deterioration, civil engineering professor Royce Floyd and his team of student researchers are developing ultra-high-performance concrete reinforced with steel fibers. The concrete material is more resistant to cracking, has higher compressive strength and can withstand Oklahoma’s extreme weather conditions. Graduate student Steve Roswurm is working with Chris Ramseyer, Fears Structural Engineering Laboratory director, to address “shrinkage concrete,” which can lead to cracks and failure over time. He is testing the addition of an extra mineral in the compound that will reduce and possibly eliminate drying shrinkage. These are just a few examples of road and bridge research that have impact on our travel, safety and pocketbooks.

Even our undergraduate engineering students play an important part in repairing, replacing and improving our state’s infrastructure. The OU Bridge Design Squad and the Fears Laboratory research team work with ODOT to repair, replace and improve Oklahoma’s bridges.

The elements of our infrastructure are crucial to the lives of millions of people and commerce yet are often overlooked until it's time for costly repairs. National Engineers Week is a time to renew our passion and vision to prepare future generations of engineers. It’s also a reminder to keep pushing toward innovation that will improve our infrastructure’s efficiency and safety and reduce climbing costs to our state’s budget. The collaborative work and research conducted by OU and ODOT are creating a road map to safer and improved roads and bridges.

Landers is dean of OU's Gallogly College of Engineering and the AT&T Chair and professor of industrial and systems engineering.