Advancing Infrastructure Sensing Through the INSITES Consortium
As infrastructure across America ages, technology barrels ahead and provides opportunities to transform and secure roadways, bridges, electrical grids, and other vital structures. To realize the potential of advances in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins, and to develop a future-ready workforce, the University of Pittsburgh is establishing a new consortium of industry and government stakeholders—INfrastructure Sensing for Intelligent Transportation and Energy Systems (INSITES).
Informed by the important collaborative efforts and engagement of the University of Pittsburgh Infrastructure Sensing Collaboration (UPISC) Workshop over the last few years, INSITES will comprise a diverse group of industry and government leaders who directly support research in infrastructure monitoring as well as training and education opportunities for students across disciplines to prepare for careers in the field. Pitt researchers and other academic partners will collaborate with INSITES members to develop and deploy sensing technology that harnesses advances in ML, AI, and modeling.
Since launching in 2022, the UPISC has connected industry, government, and academia at annual workshops. At these workshops, real-world problems are presented and solutions explored. Keynote speakers and panelists from organizations including the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Transportation provide expert insight on infrastructure and sensing. Researchers present their work. Students—the next generation of leaders in infrastructure monitoring—share their research in poster sessions and network with businesses and governmental leaders.
Since the first workshop, interest and activity has grown tremendously. Through these stakeholder engagements and interactions, the UPISC steering committee recommended developing a formalized collaboration, and the concept for the INSITES consortium was born.
“The energy, research, and opportunities that have come out of the annual workshops have been inspiring,” said Paul Ohodnicki, PhD, RK Mellon Faculty Fellow in Energy and associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Pitt. “Based on stakeholder input from the workshops, we’ve identified an opportunity to formalize this new consortium as a high-priority action item to achieve impact. As the need to advance infrastructure sensing technology grows more pressing, we’re excited about the potential of INSITES.”
Through research, papers, and patents, the INSITES consortium seeks to provide direct support to industry while developing and deploying new, more intelligent technology like predictive monitoring that detects failures and contamination before disasters happen. Faculty engagement with students and early-career researchers will also enable next generation workforce development to support this important area.
“A thriving country and economy depend upon robust, resilient, modern infrastructure,” said Ohodnicki. “And I can’t think of a better time, with technological advances creating so much transformative potential, to launch this industry consortium and guide innovation that can make a difference for generations to come.”
To learn more, visit the INSITES consortium website or contact the INSITES team.