Startup Uses Drone for Cleaning Water, Collecting Data
March 11, 2021
An Atlanta-based startup RanMarine has built a drone that swims rather than flies. The “WasteShark,” traverses waterways to collect litter, biomass, microplastic and other debris using a basket underneath the device. In addition to removing litter, the drone also collects data on water conditions. Sensors allow the WasteShark to analyze water temperature, pH levels, depth,......
North Dakota DOT Unveils Autonomous Protection Truck
March 11, 2021
In 2019, 234 work zone related crashes occurred on North Dakota highways, resulting in 64 injuries and two fatalities. To combat the issue, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) used a grant from the Federal Highway Administration to improve work zone safety with an “autonomous impact protection vehicle.” Impact protection vehicles are usually driven......
Massachusetts implements nation’s 1st clean peak standard
March 11, 2021
In August of 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources announced the launch of its Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPES), the first CPES in the nation. This standard is designed to provide incentives for utilities to use clean energy technologies that supply electricity or reduce demand during seasonal peak demand periods. These incentives come on......
First Gas-Hydrogen Power Plant in the U.S. Makes Waves in Ohio
March 11, 2021
The 485-MW Long Ridge Energy Terminal combined cycle power plant has transitioned to running on carbon-free hydrogen by way of blending hydrogen in the gas stream, allowing the plant to burn 100% green hydrogen over the next decade. This is the first hydrogen-burning power plant in the U.S. and the first that blends hydrogen in......
Flood-Prone Town Uses Predictive Modeling to Protect Residents
March 11, 2021
Increasingly severe weather events have permeated through the Southeast in recent years. Cary, North Carolina has been no exception, with business and residents contending with repeated and costly stormwater flooding. In 2020, the city of Cary formed a partnership between SAS and Microsoft to create an advanced monitoring system and predictive model. The system uses......
MDOT deploys unique technology to inspect underwater infrastructure
March 11, 2021
Inspecting bridge scour – sediment around the substructure of a bridge – is difficult for all agencies, especially during high water or severe weather events. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Great Lakes Engineering Firm have used a small, autonomous boat-like device called EMILY to inspect scour beyond what is usually possible during......
Oregon city generates recoverable energy from underground water pipeline
March 11, 2021
The City of Hillsboro, Oregon has put into place a first-of-its-kind water utility technology that converts excess water pressure to carbon-free electricity. The project, called the Hillsboro In-Pipe Hydroelectric Project, is the first recoverable energy project that features the In-PRV ™ smart water technology. The groundbreaking technology is expected to generate anywhere from 185,000 to......
Recycled Roadways Paving the Future
March 11, 2021
We often hear about using recycled plastics to create containers, furniture, even art – but what about roads? The California-based company TechniSoil Industrial has succeeded in creating a new type of polymer-based binder, known as Neo, which creates a road that lasts 2-3 times longer than traditional asphalt. Neo is used in a Cold In-Place......
Digitized shipping program improves efficiency at Port of Los Angeles
March 11, 2021
Most data on shipment origins, vessel tracking, container allocation, marine terminal availability, port-wide analytics is siloed in separate data systems. The Port of Los Angeles in conjunction with GE Transportation, a Wabtec company, normalized these data sets and integrated them into a single cloud-based platform known as its Port Optimizer program. In doing so, they......
Arizona’s I-10 Incorporates First-of-its-Kind Dust Detection
March 11, 2021
Drivers traveling through a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson are often met with severe dust storms, the result of Arizona’s summer monsoon season. These storms play a significant role in crashes and fatalities. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT’s) recently-finished $72 million improvement project looks to aid drivers through these storms......
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