Known as IRISE — Impactful Resilient Infrastructure Science and Engineering — the consortium involves government, industry and academic leaders working together to choose the research projects that they think would most benefit road and bridge work in this area. The first year’s projects include reviewing ways to prevent or reduce corrosion; whether microbes can be used to help concrete “self-heal” cracks; better mixes of concrete for repairs years after it cures; and improving a design tool so it can be more easily applied to conditions in Pennsylvania.

“Having all the partners identify what they need is the key to the consortium,” said Julie Marie Vandenbossche, director of the consortium and a professor of civil engineering specializing in concrete.
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