MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Greetings alumni and colleagues,
On behalf of the Engineering School of Infrastructure & Environment, It is my pleasure to share major updates from this past year.
First and foremost, please join me in bidding farewell to our previous department heads and welcoming new leadership. After serving as department head of the Department of Environmental Engineering for four years, Michael Annable, Ph.D., will step down and continue to serve as a professor. He led us toward implementing a new curriculum, and we are grateful for his service. After more than three decades at the University of Florida, Robert Thieke, Ph.D., will be making his final walk to his office in December as he officially retires from the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering. To say that he will be sorely missed would be an understatement. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bob for decades, and there is no way we can fill the hole that he is leaving us with. Finally, after a decade as being the driving force behind the success of the UF Transportation Institute (UFTI), Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D., a distinguished civil professor, has stepped down as its
On that same note, we are excited to announce new leadership for our departments. We are proud to welcome Elliot P. Douglas, Ph.D., as department head of the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. He has been with the university for over two decades and joined the department in 2017. He has a three-pronged approach on how he plans on building on the department’s upward projection. And we welcome Kyle A. Riding, Ph.D., who has been with us since 2016, has been appointed as department head of civil & coastal engineering and interim director of the UFTI. As he looks forward to new initiatives, he is determined to maintain the department’s educational excellence, including a new bachelor’s program with another department outside the college.
Reseach is at the center of what drives us to make improvements to the world around us. This past fiscal year, our faculty received over $20 million in research awards. You’ll read about how Antarpreet Jutla, Ph.D., an environmental engineering associate professor, is developing prediction models to forecast cholera, a waterborne infectious disease. And Xilei Zhao, Ph.D., a civil assistant professor, and her team continue to build a platform that will use real-time sensing data and artificial intelligence to facilitate realtime decision-making to mitigate the impacts of wildfires. We are also spotlighting the top articles and research to come out of our UFTI and the Center for Coastal Solutions.
We have faculty focused on creating solutions to protect, preserve and restore the one major resource we need—water. We spotlight three researchers that are tackling environmental issues.
We are proud of our students and alumni for paving the way for others. Our Eckhoff Steel Bridge team made history by winning the 2024 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Final for the fourth year in a row. No other team won national championships for three consecutive years, let alone four. They continue to impress along with our Concrete Canoe team that claimed its fourth national title at the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Engineering Championships. Beyond our student groups, we want to celebrate our students for their research and academic achievements.
Finally, we take immense pride in our alumni, who are celebrated for their dedication to engineering, community service, and their lasting impact on the School. Two of our alumni were awarded the university’s “40 Under 40” and we are honored to have one of them teach along with us. Meanwhile, we have an alum who followed in his father’s footsteps, while paving his own path.
We remain committed to celebrating the accomplishments of our faculty, students, and alumni. I send my best wishes for good health and happiness to you and your loved ones.
Go Gators.
KIRK HATFIELD, PH.D.
DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING
Forrest J. Masters, Ph.D.
Kirk Hatfield, Ph.D.
Elliot P. Douglas, Ph.D.
CAREER AWARD WINNERS (2019-2024) 17
TENURED, TENURETRACK FACULTY, LECTURERS 67
ENROLLED STUDENTS 976
168
RESEARCH PROPOSALS SUBMITTED
$ 20.6
MILLION IN RESEARCH EXPENDITURES
$ 20.3
MILLION SECURED IN NEW AWARDS
LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
We celebrate new leadership, welcoming Elliot P. Douglas and Kyle A. Riding into their new roles. Our heartfelt thanks go to Michael Annable, Robert Thieke, and Lily Elefteriadou, for their invaluable contributions.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Our Eckhoff Steel Bridge team made history by winning the 2024 national championship for the fourth year in a row, alongside Concrete Canoe team's fourth national title.
COASTAL NEWS
Stay informed with the latest advancements from the Center for Coastal Solutions.
UFTI NEWS
The UF Transportation Institute is paving the way for future mobility with innovative research and cutting-edge solutions. 30
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WITH TENURE FULL PROFESSOR
Promotions Recognitions
Christopher Ferraro
American Concrete Institute Vice Chair, Committee 323: LowCarbon Concrete Code
Kyle A. Riding
American Concrete Institute Wason Medal for Materials Research
Materials and Structures Journal Outstanding Paper Award
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Les Martin Award
David O. Prevatt
U.S. Department of State Jefferson Science Fellowship
Denise R. Simmons Sigma Xi Membership
Xiaoyu Song
Computers and Geotechnics Journal Top Reviewer Invited to join Editorial Board
Katherine Todd-Brown
Ecological Society of America George Mercer Award
Arnoldo Valle-Levinson
University of Western Australia Gledden Visiting Fellowship
Maitane Olabarrieta, Ph.D.
Denise R. Simmons, Ph.D. Khiem Tran, Ph.D.
Xiao Yu, Ph.D.
UF RESEARCH FOUNDATION PROFESSORS TWO FACULTY NAMED
By Ines Aviles-Spadoni and Reba Liddy
The University of Florida Research Foundation has recently named 34 of the university’s most productive and promising faculty members as UFRF Professors for 2024. Two professors Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D., the Barbara Goldsby Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, and Timothy Townsend, Ph.D., the Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc. Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, were among the faculty selected.
TIMOTHY TOWNSEND, PH.D.
LILY ELEFTERIADOU, PH.D.
Lily Elefteriadou an international leader in transportation engineering, has made significant contributions to the transportation sector. Her research focuses on groundbreaking work in critical areas such as highway capacity analysis, traffic management utilizing advanced transportation technologies, and signal control optimization. Elefteriadou’s work has contributed extensively to understanding and managing transportation systems.
Elefteriadou’s expertise in highway capacity analysis involves the development of analytical and simulation models to assess the performance of highway facilities in response to various design configurations and environmental factors.
Elefteriadou was the director of the UF Transportation Institute and created the I-STREET Living Lab in collaboration with Florida Department of Transportation and the city of Gainesville. Elefteriadou has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards for her remarkable accomplishments in transportation engineering research.These include the 2021 American Road and Transportation Builders Association Research and Education Award S.S. Steinberg Award, the 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers Harland Bartholomew Award (for her work on I-STREET), the 2015 James Laurie Prize for contributions to highway capacity analysis, the 2015 Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Transportation Research Board’s Fred Burggraff Award for excellence in research in 2001.
Tim Townsend's solid and hazardous waste management research has made monumental impacts in local and national policymaking, with research funded by local and national government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and a host of Florida counties. Throughout his nearly 30-year tenure at UF, he received over $13 million in research awards.
He authored more than 270 refereed journal publications on a variety of environmental topics including bioreactor landfills, the challenge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), beneficial use of industrial byproducts, and the life-cycle impacts of waste management strategies.
In 2021, Townsend received the prestigious Richard I. Stessel Waste Management Award from the Air and Waste Management Association for his achievements in inventive approaches, treatment methodologies, recycling endeavors, reuse initiatives, and scientific expertise within the resource recovery engineering and waste processing management field.
As a recently appointed executive director of the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, he leads a state-funded center receiving $750,000 annually from the Florida Legislature.
USING TRUSTWORTHY AI
TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN HURRICANES AND WILDFIRES
By Reba Liddy
Climate-related evacuations consistently result in chaos. However, with the support of a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, Xilei Zhao, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, aims to utilize trustworthy AI to enhance emergency response modeling, training, and education. Her efforts are focused on improving evacuation procedures and reducing the uncertainty associated with climate disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.
“The findings from the research can be used right away to change how emergencies are handled. Imagine humans and AI working together in real-time during disasters,” Zhao said. “For instance, AI can help manage traffic during evacuations by using advanced behavioral models. This could completely transform how we handle evacuations, making them safer and more efficient.”
She describes the current gaps in existing behavioral models as bottlenecks for progress in emergency response situations. She explained her research, which starts May 1, will build a strong base for making AI models that predict human behavior during emergencies.
However, current research on these models is in the early stages, and it is not thoroughly considered trustworthy AI. To fill that gap, Zhao’s team is building theory-informed, high-accuracy AI-based behavioral models that are explainable and with minimized bias to inform decision-making in emergency management.
“To be trusted, an AI system must operate competently, interact appropriately with people, and meet pressing emergency management needs
in an ethical manner. These models will be accurate, easy to understand, and won’t be unfairly influenced by biases. They’ll help people make important decisions during disasters,” Zhao explained. “Plus, they’ll train experts who can use these tools to prepare for and handle climate-related disasters better in the future.”
Her team is looking to transform emergency management by enabling realtime human-AI teaming, revolutionizing traffic management, and advancing equitable resource allocation during disasters.
Research findings will improve communications and evacuation procedures. This will impact public outreach campaigns, protective action training protocols, and warning strategies to better prepare households for future events.
Zhao is part of UF’s Scientist in Every Florida School (SEFS) program that connects scientists with K-12 schools across Florida through classroom visits. The program incorporates research findings into an innovative education activity for high school students, and it leverages the education outputs to facilitate research development. She will work with the SEFS’s program coordinator to host a two-day workshop at UF, inviting teachers to view the research findings, co-develop a curriculum, and select the case study.
This research will act as a baseline case study, which will improve emergency management and evacuations in the nation and eventually, throughout the world. In addition to this research, her long-term goal is to expand and adapt the framework to tackle various aspects of trustworthy AI and human behavior modeling across different hazards and beyond.
JUTLA RECEIVES AGU UNION AWARD
FOR NATURAL-HUMAN SYSTEM RESEARCH
By Reba Liddy
Antarpreet S. Jutla, Ph.D., an associate professor, has received the Charles S. Falkenberg Award sponsored by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the Earth Science Information Partners. He was nominated for his groundbreaking interdisciplinary research on understanding transmission dynamics of infectious pathogens in humans and environmental systems.
This award was named after the computer scientist who became the first recipient posthumously in 2002, and whose research focused on using technology and data to bring Earth science to practical use. Each year, one scientist is selected by AGU for their accomplishments in enhancing the quality of life by leveraging and raising awareness
about innovative use of data to foster a deeper understanding of our planet. This is the highest honor for a geoscientist under 45 years old whose research has contributed to improving the way of life on Earth.
Jutla began at AGU as a graduate student in 2004. Throughout his nearly 20-year tenure in AGU, his involvement in the organization aided in his professional development in water resources, public health and natural-human system research.
His latest research examines the impact of extreme weather events on pathogenic bacteria exposure for coastal communities.
NATURALLY RESTORING OYSTER REEF ECOSYSTEMS WITH
$1M AWARD FROM USACE
By Reba Liddy
Oyster reef ecosystems are essential for marine life and have been known for being self-sustaining and keeping pace with sea level rise. Reefs provide nutrient regulation and also mitigate erosion by reducing the impact of waves. This wave mitigation benefits surrounding habitats like salt marshes. Because of these beneficial properties there has been a rise in reef restoration, but little is known about how sand and other sediments settle around rebuilt oyster reefs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded Alberto Canestrelli, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, a $1 million grant to explore and quantify restored oyster reef ecosystems’ sediment retention and impact on shoreline erosion.
the rates of longshore progradation and deposition and identify whether the shoreline is expanding or retreating in proximity to a restored reef.
“It is unclear which is the optimal geometry of a restored reef to maximize sediment retention and shore progradation. This funding enables us to explore the full space of parameters affecting deposition behind oyster reefs, such as reef geometry, distance from the coast, size of gaps between reefs, as well as characteristics of wave and tidal forcings,” Canestrelli said.
The results of this research will provide
To conceptualize what is happening with these ecosystems, Canestrelli will use a combination of physical experiments and high-resolution 3D numerical simulations to estimate how different geometries of reefs and shore affect the volume of sediments trapped between the reef and the shore. These sets of experiments will be used to improve parameterizations for sediment transport models that estimate
insight and guidelines for the design of tailored reef restoration projects. “Understanding sediment transport around oyster reefs is challenging due to the complex flow patterns they create. This knowledge gap is significant because it hinders our ability to design effective reef-based shoreline protection strategies,” Canestrelli said. “For a reef to be effective, it needs to maximize sediment deposition between them and the shore. Employing an optimal reef geometry can lead to more effective and sustainable restoration strategies, which ensures that oyster reefs provide both shoreline progradation and ecosystem benefits.”
Antarpreet S. Jutla, Ph.D.
Photo of oyster reef
ANNOUNCEMENTS Leadership
REFLECTING ON ANNABLE'S TENURE AS ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES DEPARTMENT HEAD
By Reba Liddy
After four years of serving as head of the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Michael Annable, Ph.D., concluded his role in May and will continue as a professor.
ESSIE and the department are grateful for his leadership through adverse times. Amid the semester of taking on this position, Annable had to navigate the world shutting down due to He guided the department through proper procedures to ensure a safe learning environment for students and faculty. He also led the department in adopting a unique cohort
model where faculty and students progress through the core classes together. Both groups will move through five semesters of integrated coursework, beginning with fundamentals and concluding in a design project. This model hasn’t been replicated in any other undergraduate program although many have expressed interest.
“Dr. Annable demonstrated total dedication to the EES faculty, staff and students throughout his four years as department head as we worked together to further the school’s goals,” said Kirk Hatfield, Ph.D., ESSIE director. “He guided the department through significant educational and research enhancements with innovative curriculum. His service is deeply appreciated.”
Since joining the department as an assistant professor in 1992, Annable has been there through his fair share of leadership changes. Because of this, he is happy to support his incumbent, Elliot Douglas, Ph.D.
“Helping guide our faculty through the COVID years, while challenging, was much easier given our faculty’s willingness to work together and support each other through the significant changes each semester,” Annable said.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING WELCOMES DOUGLAS AS DEPARTMENT HEAD
By Reba Liddy
ESSIE is proud to welcome Elliot P. Douglas, Ph.D., as head of the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences (EES).
Douglas has been with the university for more than 20 years. He served in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering before joining EES as an associate professor in 2017. He served as the undergraduate program coordinator for six years.
Douglas will continue to serve as a professor as he takes on this new role. He said he is excited to build on the department's strengths in research, teaching and service. His main goal for the department is to increase its visibility and share news nationally and internationally.
“Our faculty are conducting cutting-edge research, our Core undergraduate curriculum is unique, and our faculty are active in their professional societies at the highest levels,” he said.
Douglas said he sees a great opportunity to “build a research agenda for environmental engineering by linking our departmental vision to the Environmental Engineering Grand Challenges published by the National Academies in 2019.” The study outlined five key challenges and areas where advancements in the curriculum are needed to ensure the wellbeing of people and ecosystems.
The department is also advancing undergraduate education in environmental engineering with its curriculum encompassing an intersection among air, ecological engineering, sustainable materials management, and water. The curriculum uses a cohort model in which students work together with key faculty throughout their duration in the program. This was implemented in 2019, and the first cohort graduated this past May.
CIVIL
AND COASTAL ENGINEERING WELCOMES RIDING AS DEPARTMENT HEAD AND UFTI INTERIM DIRECTOR
By Reba Liddy
Kyle Riding, Ph.D, professor and recently named head of the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, is serving as interim director of the UFTI.
Kyle A. Riding, a professor in civil and coastal engineering, has been appointed department head. Riding has been at the University of Florida since 2016.
Acknowledging the significant contributions of his predecessor, Robert Thieke, Ph.D., Riding is prepared to build on a strong foundation as department head. “Dr. Thieke’s impact on the department can’t be understated. It starts with his example in the classroom and interactions with others. I heard from several alumni before and after I came to UF that he is the best teacher they have ever had,” he said. “He is methodical, thorough, and insightful in the way he approaches problems and leadership. He is always fair and wants what is best for our students and UF.
developing a proposal to the university to launch a new Bachelor of Science degree in Industrialized Construction Engineering. This exciting and first-of-its-kind degree will prepare students for engineering licensure in construction engineering and to be leaders in the new digitalized construction environment,” Riding added.
Riding emphasized the importance of reexamining the curriculum and research to incorporate the latest in technology and artificial intelligence. He referred to students as the raison d’être, the foundation of the department. He wants to make sure all students are important and valued.
I’m very fortunate to be associated
initiatives, Riding is determined
introducing a Bachelor of Science
increased graduate enrollment and collaborative projects. “We are currently
“My oldest daughter is currently a student at UF, and in every decision and meeting with students I try to consider if this were my daughter, how would I want her supported in this situation,” Riding said.
Riding wants to build on the experiential learning model, where students can learn through undergraduate research experiences and student organizations.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to work with such amazing students and colleagues in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering and look forward to working with them to grow our program and support our students in their educational quests,” Riding added.
Riding has also been appointed as interim director of the University of Florida Transportation Institute.
DR. THIEKE IS RETIRING AFTER 35 YEARS, THE BELOVED
By Reba Liddy
After over three decades at the University of Florida, Robert Thieke, Ph.D., will be making his final walk to his office in December as he officially retires. To say that he’ll be sorely missed would be an understatement.
To fully illustrate how much of an impact Thieke has had on ESSIE, let’s go back to the very beginning.
Thieke graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988 with his doctoral degree in Civil Engineering. Then, the following year, he began his career at UF as an assistant professor in 1989.
Over the past 35 years Thieke taught thousands of civil engineering students, making a lasting impact on their lives . Christopher Ferraro, Ph.D., a civil engineering associate professor, credits Thieke with influencing his decision to pursue graduate studies.
“After earning my bachelor's degree and working in the consulting industry, I visited him on campus. During
Additionally, he has led the Civil & Coastal Engineering Department as Department Head since the formation of ESSIE.
Reflecting on his time at UF, Thieke could not pinpoint a single accomplishment but rather a series of impactful contributions. It could be the time when he helped the department successfully navigate a four-year streak of budget cuts. He credited Kirk Hatfield, Ph.D., then department chair and current ESSIE director, for his leadership in navigating the department through tough times. Despite those challenges, last year, the department achieved top research productivity in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and second highest in the university.
It could be a time within the 17 years that he has served as undergraduate coordinator and academic advisor. Sophie Spratley, Ph.D., who served as an academic advisor under Thieke’s leadership, said she learned firsthand the challenges and rewards of academic leadership.
“Through Dr. Thieke’s mentorship, I learned how to best challenge and support students and colleagues, the importance of building community, and how to foster a commitment to growth,” she said. “His compassion, integrity and authenticity, coupled with his dedication has driven the success of the department for over 30 years. Dr. Thieke has empowered students and colleagues to engage in professional and personal development. His lasting impact in teaching and advising is evident, with students and alumni frequently stopping by the office to say hello and engage with him.”
Or it could be in one of those times when he taught his Hydrodynamics class, which he has done for over 100 semesters. Victoria Stevenson, a graduating senior in Environmental Engineering Sciences, is an undergraduate teaching assistant for Thieke.
It has been a long run and a great run for the past 35 years, but I want to retire while I am young enough to enjoy it.”
Robert Thieke, Ph.D. Past-Department Head
“The opportunity to become his teaching assistant has provided me space to grow as a student and leader where I strive to emulate his teaching style. I envision myself returning to academics in the future because of him, as he has clearly demonstrated how impactful teaching can be,” Stevenson said. “While I will miss him in hydro lab, I wish him the best in his well-earned retirement.”
Then there are the times he has served as a faculty advisor for the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Concrete Canoe Team. Under his mentorship, the team won four national titles in the past nine years. Danielle Kennedy, the past captain of the 2015 Concrete Canoe team, “ForeverGlades” said his support was a major factor in the team’s win.
“His knowledge of the competition and encouragement in our abilities gave us the confidence and motivation to win the national competition, for the first time in UF history,” Kennedy said. “After completing my undergrad, Dr. Thieke continued to encourage me and serve as a sounding board through my master's degree at UF. I have stayed in touch with him over the years, and he even came to my wedding last year. Dr. Thieke is a wonderful mentor, and I wish him the best in retirement.”
Thieke said his long-standing commitment to teaching Hydrodynamics, where he is known to memorize the roster of students, has been a cornerstone of his academic career.
“I have worked with superb colleagues, outstanding staff and some of the best students in the country,” Thieke said. “But when an organization as large as ESSIE becomes as successful as ESSIE has
become, you really have to look at the vision and leadership of the director, in this case, Dr. Kirk Hatfield. He charted the difficult course when our programs and faculty were shrinking and worked to get new hires and to attract several established faculty members from other leading programs. He created a culture that gave those new faculty members the support, resources and latitude to grow highly successful research programs. The main reason I have lasted 17 years as undergraduate coordinator and 13 years as department head is because it is great to work with Kirk Hatfield.”
Hatfield said, “There is no way we can fill the hole that Dr. Thieke is leaving us with. His contributions to our department have been extraordinary. His leadership and mentorship have shaped the careers of many students and faculty members. As he steps into retirement, we reflect on his achievements and the lasting influence he has had on the university. We are grateful for his service and will miss him dearly."
Thieke is looking forward to smooth sailing in his retirement, where he plans to spend time with his family and sharpen a few skills.
“I want to get back to some things that I have lost touch with in the past five to 10 years – playing golf, kayaking and reading books that are not necessarily technically focused. Or even write a book on fluid mechanics for civil engineering. That is something I always thought about doing but could never find the time.”
“It has been a long run and a great run for the past 35 years, but I want to retire while I am young enough to enjoy it. And it’s time to let someone else have all the fun here,” Thieke added.
AT THE UF TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE THE END OF AN ERA
By Ines Aviles-Spadoni
After a decade as the driving force behind the success of the UF Transportation Institute (UFTI), Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D., a distinguished professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering (CCE), is stepping down as its director. Kyle Riding, Ph.D, professor and head of the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, is serving as interim director of UFTI.
“I felt the time was right for me to pursue new challenges,” she said.
“UFTI has been growing steadily each year, and I am looking forward to working with the interim director to ensure a seamless transition
reducing congestion, securing over $26 million in funding, plus additional matching funds. She also served as the Council of University Transportation Centers president in 2017-2018.
One of Elefteriadou’s many achievements has been the creation of I-STREET, which stands for Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies.
I-STREET, a $2 million research hub, operates as a real-world “living laboratory” on the UF campus, surrounding roadway networks and throughout Florida. The living lab focuses on mobility and safety by advancing technologies such as autonomous vehicles and shuttles, smart devices, and sensors.
“I-STREET has been a wonderful opportunity to work with our partners in the public and private sectors and develop innovative transportation solutions with the potential to make a difference in people’s lives,” Elefteriadou said.
As part of the I-STREET initiative, Elefteriadou created an industry council comprised of transportation-related companies that provide financial support for student scholarships and fellowships, independent research, technology development, and innovation in transportation. This council will help create a solid foundation for UFTI’s future endeavors.
“Partnering with industry is an essential component of I-STREET for facilitating both development and deployment of advanced transportation technologies,” she said.
Elefteriadou’s lifelong achievements are too many to capture in a brief article, and they extend beyond UFTI. Still, they are a testament to her unforgettable impact on the field of transportation engineering, including her election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2022, her selection as a 2024 UF Florida Research Foundation Professor, and the publication of the second edition of her textbook, “An Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory.”
Riding, recently appointed as the Head of CCE, will manage and oversee the institute during this moment of transition while helping coordinate and support the search for a new director.
“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Elefteriadou and the tremendous progress she has made advancing transportation research in Florida,” Riding said. “I hope to set the foundation for the next director of UFTI to come in and make a significant impact on transportation research and practice like Dr. Elefteriadou made.”
ADVANCING INDUSTRIALIZED CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
By Reba Liddy
University of Florida faculty and students will help advance the field of industrialized construction engineering with $2.5 million in strategic funding from the office of the former UF President Ben Sasse.
Working together, UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP), and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering will seek to revolutionize how the world conceptualizes, designs, and builds affordable and resilient buildings and civil infrastructure.
“The construction and engineering industries are rapidly changing with advances in technology, and we need to adapt and evolve to keep up with that pace,” Sasse said. “The Industrialized Construction Engineering project will help UF’s experts use tools like artificial intelligence and robotic automation to transform the way we design and build.”
DCP will use its future 50,000-square-foot Bruno E. and Maritza F. Ramos Collaboratory to harness the power of AI, design automation, and robotic construction to enhance productivity, safety, and quality in residential and commercial construction.
“This funding gives us an excellent opportunity to partner with the College of Engineering to make UF the premier institution for industrialized construction,” said Chimay Anumba, Ph.D., DCP dean. “There will be huge societal benefits as we can tackle productivity, safety, quality, and resilience issues in the construction project delivery process.”
UF’s Center for Advanced Construction Information Modeling and the Smart Industrialized Design and Construction Lab will expand their educational offerings and research related to emerging technologies for the design, construction, and maintenance of civil infrastructure.
“The Industrialized Construction Engineering program represents a pioneering,
multidisciplinary initiative that will revolutionize the construction sector by reconceptualizing education, research, and industry outreach,” said Aladdin Alwisy, Ph.D., the director of the Smart Industrialized Design and Construction Lab.
Engineering and DCP also plan to create a first-of-its-kind undergraduate degree program in industrialized construction engineering, making UF a critical destination for researchers and students interested in the field. This tech-centered program will focus on environmental stewardship, as students research resilient construction practices and learn to use sustainable materials in their work.
“We are integrating AI, robotics, digital twins, and extended reality, which sets our program apart within the broader field of civil engineering,” said Eric Du, Ph.D., a civil engineering professor. “By employing digital twin technology, we create dynamic digital representations of physical assets, enabling real-time monitoring and simulation of built environments.”
The program will focus on robust and efficient construction methodologies to expedite rebuilding efforts, ensuring faster recovery for disaster-stricken areas.
“These technologies will open up new pathways to tackle some of society’s most vexing problems, such as the affordable housing crisis, jobsite labor shortages, and the impact of natural hazards on civil infrastructure and lifelines,” said Forrest Masters, Ph.D., interim engineering dean.
The curriculum includes hands-on learning opportunities through industry partnerships, enabling trials of leading technologies on construction sites. And the
program will include certificate programs tailored to construction robotics.
“Collaborating with the College of Design, Construction and Planning isn’t solely about advancing technology; it’s about advancing opportunities for students, the university, and communities that will be positively impacted,” said Kirk Hatfield, Ph.D., ESSIE director. “This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to creating a future where knowledge, innovation, and societal impact converge.”
Eric Du, Ph.D.
PUTTING LIGHT POLES TO THE TEST
By Reba Liddy
Following the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Ian in 2022, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reached out to University of Florida researchers to assess the downed street light poles that were toppled and damaged by high winds. The aluminum poles, which were designed to withstand high wind speeds, unexpectedly failed during these storms. Hurricane Irma damaged 40 light poles in Miami, and Hurricane Ian damaged over 20 poles in Central Florida. Led by Jennifer Bridge, Ph.D., a civil engineering associate professor, the research group is investigating these failures to improve the durability and safety of light poles against future hurricanes and other extreme wind events.
Downed and damaged light poles can crush vehicles and other utility infrastructure. During hurricane evacuations, fallen poles disrupt traffic and block roadways, hindering evacuees and emergency responders.
“We will conduct wind tunnel testing of scale models of light poles in the NHERI Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel,” Bridge said.
The UF wind tunnel is a state-of-the-art facility designed to simulate wind conditions for testing structural behaviors. It is one of seven facilities funded by the National Science Foundation around the nation, commonly called NHERI, an acronym for Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure. These shared-use facilities enable researchers from all over the U.S. to investigate methods to improve the performance of infrastructure during natural hazards. “These wind tunnel tests will allow us to validate the force coefficients required for design and ultimately determine the capacity these structures need to adequately resist hurricane-force wind loads,” she said.
Bridge is working with Flavia Da Cruz Gallo, Ph.D.,
a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, to understand the light pole failure modes and analyze how the current material selection and manufacturing processes influence their quality, properties, and reliability.
FDOT determines and selects the material used for light poles and other products related to traffic safety, based on standards and specifications, developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and American Society of Civil Engineering. The multidisciplinary team will test small-scale models of light poles to understand how much wind force they can withstand.
“Based on failure analysis and test outcomes, my role is to assess the need for new material selection, new qualification test reommendations or new processing steps for manufacturing, ensuring safety of the road users,” Da Cruz Gallo said.
With that information, the team will be able to provide FDOT with their findings.
Da Cruz Gallo said the group’s focus is on balancing appropriate improvements with the costs associated with implementing safer and more reliable solutions. The target solution will maintain a functional infrastructure during and after hurricanes, keeping transportation networks operational and facilitating emergency response and recovery efforts.
“Our recommendations will account for a range of wind loading conditions as well as possible deficiencies in the current approaches to the design and manufacture of aluminum light poles,” Bridge added. “As a result, future light pole designs in Florida will be able to perform better, with less susceptibility to wind-induced vibration, crack formation and resultant failure.”
DANGEROUS VIBRIO BACTERIA
STUDY POINTS TO CONCERNS OF IN FLORIDA’S
By Brittany Sylvestri
COASTAL WATERS FOLLOWING HURRICANE IAN
When Hurricane Ian struck Southwest Florida in September 2022, it unleashed a variety of Vibrio bacteria that can cause illness and death in humans, according to a new study published in the journal mBio.
The study, conducted in October 2022 by researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Maryland, was based on genome sequencing as well as satellite and environmental data collected off the coast of Lee County, where Hurricane Ian hit directly.
Researchers from UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and College of Medicine participated in the multidisciplinary study.
Collected water samples in the region revealed the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which thrive in warm saltwater and can proliferate during hurricanes and floods. It can cause illness or death for people who eat raw or undercooked seafood or go in the ocean with an open wound.
“We were a little surprised at the detection rates, meaning the ease of finding Vibrios in collected samples, since we were not expecting these pathogens weeks after the hurricane” said Antarpreet S. Jutla, Ph.D., an environmental engineering sciences associate professor. “We are even more curious about finding antimicrobial resistance genes in the water and Vibrios samples.”
Vibrio bacteria naturally occur in the ocean and live symbiotically with crustaceans, zooplankton, and bivalves, such as clams and oysters. When the bacteria come in contact with humans, some species can cause an infection known as vibriosis, but the side effects depend on the type of Vibrio and severity of the infection. Symptoms can range from gastroenteritis and wound infections to a bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis, which eats away at human flesh.
The findings coincide with a recent warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported an increase in Vibrio vulnificus bacteria in the eastern part of the U.S., with 150 to 200 cases reported annually. Most infections occur when the bacteria get into an open wound, but about 10% of cases are caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish. About 20% of people in the U.S. die after being infected, according to the warning.
“With Hurricane Ian, we saw an increase in necrotizing (flesh eating) skin and soft tissue infections among those exposed to storm surge in that region," said Dr. Norman Beatty, an assistant professor at UF’s College of Medicine. “The wound infection can rapidly evolve with pain, redness and swelling.”
Blood-filled fluid blisters typically develop at the site and require immediate medical attention, Beatty said. Without appropriate antibiotics, wound infections can quickly require surgery to remove infected tissue but early recognition of symptoms is key to preventing the need for surgical intervention or even amputation.
Several conditions during and after Hurricane Ian favored the growth of Vibrio bacteria, including the amount of rainfall, changes in sea surface temperature, and concentrations of chlorophyll in the ocean, which can indicate densities of phytoplankton and zooplankton in any given area. Plankton blooms are also associated with the bacteria.
“This study highlights how important it is to understand climate, weather, and environmental processes on the distribution of clinically relevant pathogens that impact humans,” Jutla said. “It is unlikely to result in an outbreak, but the public should be aware of what is in the water and food they eat.”
OUR WATERS SAFEGUARDING
Written by Reba Liddy
We spotlight three researchers who are at the forefront of water research, as they examine innovative solutions and pressing challenges to protect, preserve and restore our precious water resource.
PROTECTING WATER
WITH SENTINELS ON THE COAST
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was a historical, recording-breaking season, with an unprecedented number of storms forming and hitting landfall in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded an all-time high of 30 named storms, in which 11 made landfall in various areas in the nation.
Forrest J. Masters Ph.D., P.E., professor and interim dean at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, and Brian M. Phillips, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor in civil and coastal engineering, saw this as a missed opportunity to capture the worst wind and wave conditions, which could inform emergency management agencies, coastal communities, and the government, on properly preparing for and managing storm recovery. With the support of UF and industry sponsors, Masters, Phillips, and a team of researchers created the first design for a Sentinel, a weather station designed to be installed directly on the beach to monitor extreme coastal weather events.
With a National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation award that he and his team received in 2022, Phillips began looking into enhancing the design of Sentinels. Sentinels are advanced monitoring stations that collect data on wind, storm surge, waves, and water quality before, during and after a hurricane makes landfall. Sentinels stand 33 feet tall to collect unobstructed wind measurements and relay data back to UF in real-time. The stations are directly anchored into the beach using 20-foot-piles installed days before a hurricane makes landfall to ensure they capture the worst conditions. The NSF award supports the construction of additional Sentinel units and the addition of water quality sensors, among other new instruments, to support a variety of coastal research projects. The short-term goal is to build eight Sentinels to cover a wider swath of the impacted coastline.
“We are focusing on improving the foundation system for the new Sentinels, and we are exploring alternative pile designs for ease of installation in multiple soil and sand conditions,” Phillips said. “At the same time, we are improving the design of the mast instrumentation package and pier cap to reduce wave impact forces on the station and facilitate the addition of new
The team deployed with three Sentinels, in addition to four traditional mobile weather stations, for this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season. After this hurricane season, the Sentinels will contribute vital datasets to the community, one of which is measurements of water quality as storm surge rises and recedes. Untreated water, sediments, organic matter, and other pollutants enter waterways, reducing
Phillips' team installs Sentinels along the coast to monitor storm conditions, providing real-time data to help protect communities.
water quality and leading to environmental impacts such as massive algae blooms. They will assess water quality through metrics such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, phycoerythrin, chlorophyll, and UV fluorescence. During extreme coastal events, accurate monitoring of water quality is crucial for safeguarding public health. In addition, the wind and wave data collected will greatly enhance researchers' capacity to predict and mitigate coastal hazards more effectively.
Phillips added that these stations will advance research in other areas that are of pivotal importance to coastal communities, “Sentinel stations will support fundamental research spanning numerical weather prediction, coastal erosion dynamics, storm surge shallow wave modeling, and boundary layer meteorology,” he said.
He also emphasized that a better understanding of hydrodynamic loading of coastal structures is essential as we continue to build a sustainable and safer environment.
PREVENTING PFAS CONTAMINATION TO PRESERVE
FLORIDA’S WATERS
In recent years, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), a critical estuary encompassing 40% of Florida’s east coast, has experienced a decline in fish, manatees, dolphins and seagrass. Katherine Y. Deliz Quiñones, Ph.D., an assistant professor in environmental engineering, and her team have identified a high diversity and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the IRL, particularly near wastewater discharge zones. The discovery stands as a grim testament to the escalating threat of PFAS infiltration into Florida’s waterways, sounding the alarm for our cherished ecosystem.
Known as “forever chemicals”, PFAS are used in a variety of daily products—from non-stick cookware to cleaning products—that do not decompose in the environment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PFAS has been found in our food, blood and water. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to adverse health effects, including compromised immune systems in both humans and animals. In an effort to protect public health the EPA has recently designated two widely used PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund. While this new rule will help allocate funding to clean up contaminated sites, there is still much to do to protect communities and the environment from these pervasive contaminants.
In her new study, supported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Deliz will explore whether PFAS widespread occurrence in the Sate’s coastal areas have significant ecological and toxicological impacts on aquatic species. This research will help address public health concerns about PFAS contamination in the region.
“The community is uncertain about the safety of using the IRL for subsistence, for example consuming local fish from the IRL. We want to play a positive role in helping them find answers to their concerns,” she emphasized.
Results from the data will be used to develop new provisional screening levels to protect aquatic species. “Our research will provide insight into the biological effects of PFAS mixtures. These are critical toward developing risk assessments and regulatory guidance for PFAS, all of which are currently lacking in Florida,” Deliz remarked.
This is the first time a UF-led research project has been awarded a USGS WRRA Grant. Beyond establishing validated screening levels, Deliz and her team are pushing to enhance the extraction and analysis of PFA in environmental samples. Additionally, this project will be crucial to evaluate the impact of PFAS contamination on the expression of microbial genes involved in biochemical cycles vital for informing nutrient management strategies, thus offering further hope for cleaner Florida waterways.
Collecting and testing water samples, Deliz and her team are investigating PFAS in Florida's waterways.
ELIMINATING HARMFUL METALS TO RESTORE WATER’S PURITY
In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued updated drinking water health advisories prompted by reports of newly discovered health risks associated with ingesting forever chemicals and metal-contaminated waters at levels previously deemed safe. While water filtration systems are commonly believed to effectively remove most pollutants, some have been found to persist in the water even after purification. Additionally, certain residuals generated from the water treatment process, known as drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR), have peculiar physicochemical properties and could be used as sorbents in the remediation of contaminated sediments and soils.
Jean-Claude Bonzongo, Ph.D., a professor of water systems in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, has devoted his research to providing environmentally conscious techniques to safeguard and restore communities affected by toxic metals. His current research focuses on identifying practical methods to clean up polluted waterways using different sorbents including DWTR. Repurposing the DWTR not only reduces disposal costs but also holds the potential to lower expenses for consumers. Furthermore, capping metalcontaminated sediments aids in the rehabilitation and restoration of natural resources, such as Superfund sites, thereby reducing community exposure to harmful metals.
“My research primarily aims to eliminate people’s exposure to harmful pollutants in water. Whether we’re consuming drinking water or engaging in water-based activities such as swimming, we are at risk of metal exposure. When these pollutants enter our water, food, and other environmental matrices, they can lead to adverse health outcomes such as heart disease and various types of cancer,” warned Bonzongo. The EPA warns that high levels of metal intake can lead to acute and chronic toxicity, with detrimental effects on the liver, kidney, and intestines; increasing the risk of intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer.
“Our work encompasses expertise in water treatment, environmental biogeochemistry, remediation of contaminated soils and sediments, and ecotoxicology. It is crucial to find new solutions and adapt to a changing planet,” Bonzongo added.
Testing and analyzing water samples, Bonzongo is working to develop methods for protecting communities from harmful water contaminants.
Whether we’re consuming drinking water or engaging in water-based activities such as swimming, we are at risk of metal exposure.
Jean-Claude Bonzongo, Ph.D. Water Systems Professor
NOT LIKE US
STEEL BRIDGE COMPLETES HISTORIC FOUR-PEAT AT NATIONALS
By Reba Liddy
The University of Florida’s Eckhoff Steel Bridge team has made history. For the fourth year in a row, the team has won at the American Institute of Steel Construction’s 2024 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals.
No other team has won national championships for three consecutive years, let alone four. The UF team claimed its latest championship in June at Louisiana Tech University, squaring off against 46 other teams, which were narrowed down at regional competitions from nearly 200 teams.
“The bridge assembly team has set the standard for the competition with first-place economy scores—bridge construction speed with the number of builders—in each of the last four years,” said Taylor Rawlinson, Ph.D., the team's faculty advisor.
He has been with the team since 2016, became faculty advisor in 2019, and said this is hopefully just the beginning of a historical run. He credits the team’s growth and culture for their success. Members, he said, dedicate significant time to design, fabrication, and professional development by running workshops and encouraging students to get involved with an emphasis on team continuity every year.
The design team has achieved unparalleled success, claiming six national titles: 1997, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The team also achieved four second place finishes in 1995, 2005, 2008 and 2019, and two third place finishes in 2003 and 2016.
Led by student project managers Donald Stowell-Moore and Anthony Perez Ortegon, the team placed first overall. In addition to placing first in the economy, they also earned first place in lightness, with the bridge weighing 206 pounds, and fourth place in stiffness. These two category scores resulted in a second-place efficiency placement that considers the effectiveness of the bridge in carrying 2,500 pounds of added weight.
“Planning the assembly portion of the competition started back in fall with the design of the bridge,” Stowell-Moore said. “During design, we focused on balancing stiffness with assembly speed. We adjusted the stiffness to make the assembly quicker and easier by strategically
using fewer pieces. We also aimed to keep our design ‘flexible’ enough to give us many options for assembly, allowing us to adapt to a twoperson build.”
The team wanted to tighten up a few things after they competed —and won —in regionals. Stowell-Moore mentioned that two of the key focus areas were cutting down the assembly time and fabrication process.
Damian Blanco, a civil engineering junior and the team’s fabrication manager and upcoming project manager, worked with Stowell-Moore on the two-person build that presented unique challenges with the fabrication techniques and assembly time.
“Unseen challenges come up every year with fabrication,” said Blanco. “This year, we focused on cleaning up our techniques and reducing the small errors that often pile up into one large one. The best way I found to overcome these errors was through discussions with the team, brainstorming and executing solutions together.”
Stowell-Moore and Blanco credit the team for its consistency in practice.
“Damian and I spent six to eight hours each day practicing, including a rest day or two, during the week leading up to the national competition, including the time we spent practicing for the regional competition,” Stowell-Moore said.
“Practicing that much was only possible due in part to the work of the rest of the team, as they would disassemble the bridge and reset the pieces in the staging yard for another run while Damian and I rested. This allowed us to keep our energy high, even with a two-man build.”
Blanco knows he has big shoes to fill as he plans to share the future role as project manager with fellow student Emma Robert next year. He enjoyed the team’s introduction to workshops and innovative ideas from members and plans to incorporate that into next year’s preparation.
“Everyone on the team truly has a substantial impact on some part of the bridge, and I hope to preserve this practice going into the future by involving new members in discussions, listening, and using their ideas
while problem solving,” he said. “I feel that seeing your ideas being brought to life is such a strong motivator, and we hope to use this to encourage new members to participate and feel welcomed to the team.”
“The most challenging part of the competition has to be the decision making,” Perez Ortegon said. “As engineers, part of our job is to be the one responsible for making the right decisions using our engineering judgement. However, most schooling and classes are set up such that there is only one acceptable answer. In contrast, practical engineering has many solutions you can choose from. Learning to choose one, how to justify and defend your position, and then follow through is the greatest benefit and challenge of participating in this competition. It teaches you to respect other people’s ideas, to keep an open mind, and that it’s OK to concede your position because we want to find the most efficient solution.”
In the competition, students must balance material costs, design efficiency, and construction speed to create the most cost-efficient bridge, Perez Ortegon described. This year, the bridges were at least 20 feet in length. The goal is to create a lightweight bridge that bends minimally and assembles quickly while meeting specific load and size requirements. The construction site includes obstacles like rivers and transportation zones, adding to the challenge. Failing to meet the design and construction requirements incurs penalties.
Each member of the steel bridge team played an intricate role in its success. The design team members are Perez Ortegon (project manager), Stowell-Moore (project manager/assembly team), Blanco (fabrication manager/assembly team), Robert (fabrication manager), Artem Egorov (design lead), Josh Lucero (design lead), Victor Levin (design intern), Maxwell Fletcher (administrative lead), Scherezada Lozada (finance lead/safety steward), John Willetts (technician), Saharah Alamgir (technician), Thomas Mackle (technician), Joseph “Brock” Sullivan (graduate advisor), Fletcher D’Arcy (graduate advisor) and Rawlinson (faculty advisor).
“I came to UF to be part of this team. Ever since I joined, it’s been a place that enabled me to devote myself to whatever I am passionate about,” Perez Ortegon said. “Whether it was learning how to use tools, developing the team’s infrastructure, or designing and planning the fabrication of this year’s bridge—I’ve always been welcomed. All I can hope is that this team continues to be a place that allows students to learn and encourages people to follow their passions for structural engineering, project engineering and personal development. Not to mention, this is a team where you make great friends!”
As the team celebrates its fourth consecutive title and looks ahead to next year’s ideas, Stowell-Moore contends Rawlinson does not get enough credit for the team’s success.
“We’re lucky to have Dr. Rawlinson who motivates us to work hard, and a team culture that is dedicated to keeping the steel bridge team the best team in the nation. We are a tight-knit group of engineering students that share a passion for innovation, and the comradery of this team is one of the key attractors for new students,” Stowell-Moore said.
STUDENT
UF CONCRETE CANOE TEAM WINS NATIONALS
By Dave Schlenker
Just call The Pit in Weil Hall “Title Town.”
Over the summer in Provo, Utah, the University of Florida’s concrete canoe team claimed its fourth national title at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Engineering Championships.
The win comes several weeks after UF’s Eckhoff Steel Bridge team made history by claiming its fourth consecutive title at Louisiana Tech University – a record, according to the American Institute of Steel Construction. The civil engineering teams (concrete canoe and steel bridge) share workspace in The Pit, a large industrial space in Weil Hall where much of the magic happens for both teams.
The 12-member concrete canoe team and its Springseeker canoe led the top five in Utah, followed by Universite Laval (Quebec), California Polytechnic State University San Luis
Obispo, Virginia Tech and Western Kentucky University. Twenty-five teams consisting of 250 students competed in the competition, according to ASCE.
UF’s concrete canoe team also won ASCE’s virtual competition nationals in 2021 with Polligator. UF’s canoe Foreverglades took top honors in 2015, while the Tom Petty-themed Free Floatin’ won the title in 2019; those two champs hang from the ceiling of The Pit.
“We are the only school in the U.S. to win both
steel bridge and concrete canoe in the same year, and we’ve done it three times (2015, 2021 and 2024) which speaks volumes about the quality of our students and the program,” said Taylor Rawlinson, Ph.D., the team’s laboratory manager with faculty advisor Robert Thieke, Ph.D.
Since 2019, there have been 10 bridge and canoe national competitions. UF has seven national championships, one second place, and one third place in that timeframe.
In addition to best overall at the Utah competition, the UF team won second place in the Women’s Slalom, second in the Men’s Slalom, fifth in the Women’s Sprint, second in the Men’s Sprint, third in the Co-Ed Sprint, third in Best Technical Proposal, third in Best Technical Presentation and third in Best Final Product.
“We knew that we put our all into Springseeker,” said Sydney Sutherland, a co-project manager for UF’s team, in an article posted on ASCE’s website. “The Fountain of Youth is a folk tale that is prominent in Florida history and culture. So the design of our canoe is a physical manifestation of what we believe the Fountain of Youth is. It represents discovery and exploration, specifically in the field of engineering – how we strive to go forward as engineers.”
“I am so proud of our team,” fellow co-project manager Abigail Fronk told ASCE. “It’s so fulfilling. But it’s also such an honor to be first place. It’s just an incredible feeling.”
The canoes are made from thin layers of concrete and carbon fiber. The team must balance the weight of construction materials with performance in the water and turning agility.
Known as America’s Cup of Civil Engineering, the ASCE competition combines precise engineering, hydrodynamic design and racing technique. America’s Cup also hosts several other engineering events, but the concrete canoes are the flagship competitions.
The UF concrete canoe team members who competed in Utah are Sutherland, Fronk, Payton Carter, Margaret Deaderick, Luke Gutierrez, Brennan Kade, Aiden Kittelson,
Taylor Nestel, Thomas Raffenberg, Keegan Wittke, Alicia Demicco and Maya Patel.
“One thing to note,” Rawlinson added, “is how meaningful this win is for the concrete canoe program and ESSIE. Dr. Thieke is retiring in the fall, and this is his last year as the faculty advisor. His mentorship, devotion, and the kindness he has shown the student design teams and all students that have come through our program in the last 30 years are immeasurable. He will truly be missed.”
STUDENTS WIN FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE TIME AT THE ITE COLLEGIATE TRAFFIC BOWL
by Ines Aviles-Spadoni
At the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Leadership Summit held in early February at the University of Florida, the GatorITE student chapter secured yet another win during the Florida-Puerto Rico (ITE FL-PR) District Traffic Bowl Competition.
“It has been a huge honor to carry the torch for GatorITE in the Traffic Bowl the last three years,” Bryce Grame said. Grame is a transportation engineering doctoral student.
The UF team, which included Grame, Jonathan Crosby, a master’s student in transportation engineering; Jacob York, a master’s student in urban and regional planning; and Garrett Walker, an undergraduate student in civil engineering, faced off against students from Florida International University (FIU), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Central Florida. The competition was intense and tough, with each team hoping to win the district championship.
able to knock out a 500-point unscramble question in which I was able to decipher ‘actuated signal’ from a jumble of letters,” Crosby said. “I would say a pivotal moment for our team and the competition as a whole was when FIU got their daily double incorrect which resulted in them losing 1000 points, to further cement our lead.”
With this victory, GatorITE has now won the ITE FL-PR District six years in a row and qualifies to compete for the Grand Championship, which was held in July at the ITE International Annual Meeting and Exhibit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“We have been blessed with continued success at the district level, and competing against all the brilliant students from all the other schools in the district has really prepared us for the Grand Championship,” Grame said. “We hope to represent the chapter well this summer in the International competition.”
“The most pivotal moment for me personally was when I was
POST DOCTORAL SPOTLIGHT: SANGUNG PARK
by Ines Aviles-Spadoni
Yuqiang Ning, a doctoral student in the UF Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, envisions a future where electrified transportation is affordable and accessible to everyone. He also imagines a future where travel times will be reduced for all users through intelligent transportation systems. Ning’s research area focuses on creating transportation systems that are robust, resilient, efficient, and equitable.
As an intern at the AI Learning and Intelligent Systems group within the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Denver, CO., Ning is currently concentrating his efforts on equity in transportation electrification.
“I am using machine learning, optimization, and distributed computing to model and enhance the affordability of EVs and the accessibility of charging infrastructure,” he said. “I want to make sure that advancements in transportation electrification are equitable and beneficial across all societal segments.”
Working under the tutelage of Lili Du, Ph.D., a civil professor, Ning’s dissertation work at UF focuses on “Robust and Resilient
Distributed Coordinated Route Navigation Systems for Traffic Congestion Mitigation in Unstable and Malicious Cyber
(Left to right): Bryce Grame, Jonathan Crosby, and Jacob York at District Traffic Bowl Competition. Not pictured: Garrett Walker.
STUDENT Excellence
ELIANA DUARTE
• NAMED A RONALD E. MCNAIR SCHOLAR
ARTEM EGOROV
• RECEIVED THE AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE'S FOUNDATION FUTURE CONCRETE INDUSTRY LEADER FELLOWSHIP
TEAGAN FRAZIER
RECEIVED THIRD PLACE IN STUDENT POSTER COMPETITION AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BEACH PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY
MALENA GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ
• RECEIVED THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER SCHOLARSHIP
RECEIVED THE 2023 WILLIAM V. STORCH STUDENT AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION FLORIDA SECTION
ADAM HYMEL
ACCEPTED INTO THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION'S GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
JASON MCGEE
MILITARY ENERGY RESILIENCE CATALYST 2023 COHORT GRADUATE
• SUCCESSFULLY PASSED FLORIDA PE EXAM (MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND FLUID SYSTEMS)
MATTHEW MAPA
NAMED A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AI SCHOLAR
FABIOLA Y. RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ
NAMED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY GEM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
NAMED THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S WATER INSTITUTE WATER SCHOLAR
SANNERI SANTIAGO BORRES
• ACCEPTED INTO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S DOE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
RECEIVED THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S WATER INSTITUTE RESEARCH AWARD
• RECEIVED THE 2023 WILLIAM V. STORCH STUDENT AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION FLORIDA SECTION
• RECEIVED THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S WATER INSTITUTE TRAVEL AWARD
ADRIAN SAKR
RECEIVED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S OAK RIDGE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
YVANNA SERRA
• PLACED FIRST IN THE ESSIE POSTER SYMPOSIUM
AMANDA SILLS
• RECEIVED THE GEORGE L. KIRKLAND FELLOWSHIP
ACCEPTED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S BOARD OF EDUCATION SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
MILEISHA L. VELÁZQUEZ LÓPEZ
NAMED A 2024-2025 GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH FELLOW FOR THE SOUTHEAST CLIMATE ADAPTATION SCIENCE CENTER
RECEIVED THE 2024 WILLIAM V. STORCH STUDENT AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION FLORIDA SECTION
RECEIVED THE 2023 SALLY AND WILLIAM GLICK GRADUATE RESEARCH ENDOWMENT
BRANDON WHITEHEAD
• AWARDED THE 2024 ROBERT G. RASKIN SCHOLARSHIP BY THE EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION PARTNERS
ALVIN WONG
• NAMED A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR
TACKLING FLORIDA’S WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
By Reba Liddy
Scientists in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences are investigating Florida’s waste management system to quantify the amount of garbage and recycling produced in Florida and evaluate the capacity of existing infrastructure to manage the state’s various waste streams. Hannah Sackles, a doctoral student in environmental engineering sciences, is a part of the research team that received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help evaluate Florida’s solid waste management system and identify opportunities to improve resource recovery.
The research goal is to improve the handling of materials after they are discarded, aiming to promote a Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials Management. Circular Economy finds clever ways to reuse items instead of just throwing them away, which reduces the amount of waste produced and extends the useful life of products. The research also aims to move closer to achieving the National Recycling Goal, and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. The findings will equip the state’s local government officials and facility owners with valuable information for solid waste planning and infrastructure development. Sackles said, “the data gathered during this research will allow policymakers to effectively manage solid waste in the state and identify new opportunities for waste reduction, reuse and recycling.”
The research focuses on measuring various types of waste streams, like household trash and construction debris, produced in Florida. It also looks at the state’s ability to manage this waste, including the capacity of processing and disposal facilities, and aims to identify additional places to recover valuable materials from the waste stream.
Waste and Recycling Study to evaluate waste generation by tourists, and an update to WasteCalc to incorporate life cycle assessment measures.
By extending the useful life of products and optimizing material use, Florida can improve the management of solid waste, identify opportunities for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, and work toward achieving national recycling and food waste reduction goals by 2030. The EPA’s National Recycling Goal aims to reach a 50% recycling rate across the nation by 2030, while the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal targets a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030.
The research is part of EPA grant-funded initiatives and encompasses a Waste Management System Capacity Study to assess existing infrastructure and identify areas for improvement, Away from Home
“The research we’re conducting has implications that are relevant not only at the state level but includes principles that can be applied at the national and even international levels too,” Sackles said.
With collaborators from Florida Polytechnic University and Florida Atlantic University, the team is in the initial stages of research. The team reviewed solid waste management and infrastructure studies, and developed methods, quality assurance protocol, and connections with industry professionals. The team plans to begin data collection in the summer and conduct research over the next two-and-a-half years.
“I am really passionate about understanding the environmental, economic, and social impacts of solid waste management, so it’s exciting to work on a project of this nature, which aims to produce a holistic understanding of solid waste management throughout the state of Florida. I find it very inspiring to be a part of such a diverse group of researchers and industry professionals who are working toward a common goal.” Sackles said.
Sackles conducted a waste composition study during her summer internship last year.
SEA OTTERS’ HOMECOMING TO A CALIFORNIA ESTUARY SHOWS PAYOFF IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS
By Karen Dooley
In a groundbreaking study published January 2024 in Nature, scientists reveal that the return of sea otters to their former habitat in a Central California estuary has slowed erosion of the area’s creekbanks and marsh edges on average by 69%.
The resurgence of these charismatic marine mammals — also some of the habitat’s top predators — to the saltmarsh-dominated Elkhorn Slough in Monterey County sparks hope in those dedicated to improving the health of our coastal ecosystems and marks a significant ecological success story.
“This is a solutions-oriented paper that tells us there are manageable actions we can take to produce positive results,” said Christine Angelini, Ph.D., one of the study’s authors and director of the Center for Coastal Solutions at the University of Florida. “In this instance, restoring the otter population was achievable without significant effort, and as a result, we are now unlocking several decades of benefits from that one act of conservation.”
Findings show that the erosion of creekbanks and marsh edges in areas with large otter populations has slowed, mainly because of the sea otters’ insatiable appetite for plant-eating marsh crabs and at a time when rising sea levels, elevated nutrients, and stronger tidal currents should be causing the opposite effect.
“It would cost tens of millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these creekbanks and restore these marshes. The sea otters are stabilizing them for free in exchange for an all-you-caneat crab feast,” said senior author Brian Silliman, Ph.D., Rachel Carson Distinguished Professor of Marine Conservation Biology at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
By documenting for the first time that reintroducing top predators to their former habitat can bring stability to a collapsing ecosystem, researchers raise the question: Could similar results be
achieved in ecosystems worldwide?
“Reintroducing the sea otters didn’t reverse the losses, but it did slow them to a point that these systems could restabilize despite all the other pressures they are subject to,” said the study’s lead author Brent Hughes, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at Sonoma State University. “That suggests this could be a very effective and affordable new tool for our conservation toolkit.”
Angelini said that tool is an encouraging sign for her and colleagues as they confront similar threats to Florida’s coastlines from sea level rise, intense storms, and excess nutrients spilling into coastal waters.
“All these challenges can feel unsurmountable,” said Angelini, an associate professor in UF’s Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. “This study indicates to us that, if we truly understand the ecosystem and know what levers to pull, we can see significant benefits to the health and stability of these systems."
To understand the impact the sea otters were having on the landscape, researchers conducted large-scale surveys across 13 tidal creeks, as well as small-scale field experiments at five locations around the estuary over a six-year period. Otters were excluded from some test sites but allowed to recolonize others, using a caging system designed
“As a graduate student in biology at UF, I had been setting up these types of cages and manipulating access to predators and their prey in salt marshes all over the Southeastern U.S., so I had the skill set,” Angelini said. “I’ll never forget building all the cages in the parking lot of the estuary out in California. And all these years later, we now see these amazing results.
“It’s an uplifting story about the benefits of conservation and persistent, long-term research.”
TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER SYSTEMS SAVING TIME AND MONEY
By Megan Sam
Florida has over 2.7 million septic systems and it’s estimated that cleaning them up will cost billions. A new tool developed by scientists at the Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) is saving counties in Florida time and money to convert septic systems to sewer networks, while reducing environmental impacts that result when septic systems fail. The Septic to Sewer Optimization Tool uses artificial intelligence to rapidly identify the most cost-efficient projects to connect homes with existing septic systems to sewer networks.
“There are a lot of aging systems and systems that are vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea level rise, and these systems pose a problem for water quality,” said Associate Research Scientist Ron Fick, Ph.D. who co-led the development of the tool. “From a computer science perspective, this is an optimization problem—what’s the most efficient way of expanding the current sewer network to reach homes not currently serviced at minimal cost.”
Research shows that there is significant risk of surface water pollution from septic systems and that climate change impacts can contribute to inundated and failed systems. Failed septic systems pose a public and environmental hazard —untreated wastewater, including the bacteria and pollutants in it, can be released to the ground surface, resulting in a very unpleasant front yard and potential negative health risks.
Florida’s sandy and porous soil, coupled with its low-lying, flat geography creates an environment where residents are highly vulnerable to sea level rise, groundwater rise and increased precipitation, which are factors that contribute to and exacerbate the impacts of septic system failure.
Compared to septic systems, sewer systems are less susceptible to flooding, and can handle greater volumes of wastewater and stormwater runoff. In contrast, septic systems rely heavily on the soil for wastewater filtration.
The CCS Septic to Sewer Optimization Tool accelerates project analysis and development by using algorithms to identify and group potential conversion projects for a given region —within hours instead of months.
It prioritizes projects for decision makers like utility companies, counties and regional planners, based on cost-effectiveness, access to existing networks, funding sources and environmental benefits.
“For utilities or local governments to make these septic to sewer conversion projects, it requires a lot of capital input and getting that level of funding is really hard for a local government to do on its own,” said Tricia Kyzar, Ph.D., researcher and co-developer of the tool.
“The Septic to Sewer Optimization Tool can give supporting data to municipalities or utilities who can use that data to move forward with a grant application.”
The tool uses sewer network data from utility companies and data from the Florida Water Management Inventory (FLWMI) to inform decision makers which projects have the greatest cost efficiency for conversion.
The tool identifies inaccurate sewer and parcel-level wastewater data, which is critical for timely infrastructure updates, and to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, who requires the FLWMI to be fully updated with geographic information on wastewater treatment methods by July 1, 2025.
“What we’re striving for as a whole is capitalizing on expertise to deliver unbiased, data-driven and integrated solutions for environmental health,” said Christine Angelini, Ph.D., associate professor and CCS director. “We work very hard to empower our decision makers who have tough decisions to make about where to invest in infrastructure, management actions or policy changes and we empower them with tools to understand, predict and adapt to rapidly changing conditions in coastal areas.”
A PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION IS IMPROVING
PREDICTIONS OF HURRICANE IMPACTS ON COASTAL COMMUNITIES
By Megan Sam
The United States has experienced 23 extreme weather events in 2023 the year up until the end of September, including hurricanes, that each carry losses exceeding $1 billion, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. In response, experts from industry, government and academia are collaborating to produce forecasts of hurricane damage before they make landfall.
“In Florida, hurricanes are one of the main coastal hazards,” said Maitane Olabarrieta, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering. Olabarrieta is working on one of 10 interdisciplinary teams funded by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts project through the Office of Naval Research.
The teams integrate their expertise to develop and maintain models of land, water and submerged land, incorporate atmospheric predictions and satellite imagery of the coastline impacted by landfalling hurricanes, measure the waves and water levels during the hurricane and simulate the behavior of the ocean.
The project team led by Olabarrieta predicts the impacts from flooding, coastal erosion, infrastructure damage and breaching. Breaching occurs when a barrier island that has low and narrow dunes is eroded by waves and coastal currents, creating a new opening through which water rushes in and potentially damages infrastructure, habitats and threatens the safety of people living in the area. The ability to predict breaches is thus critical to protecting communities and ecosystems.
“This year, we have seen extreme sea surface temperature fields and that is very dangerous because it increases the probability of rapid intensification of hurricanes,” said Olabarrieta. “What we have seen in the last year is our hurricanes are bigger and they are stronger, and they have a lot of rain as well. The hazards associated with tropical cyclones are increasing and we need to have better tools to predict what is going to be the impact on our infrastructure.”
Much of the uncertainty in predicting hurricane impacts comes from uncertainty in atmospheric predictions (such as hurricane track, intensity, and size), but factors such as vegetation coverage and
effects of the built environment are also important. This large-scale, collaborative research effort seeks to reduce these uncertainties by comparing atmospheric and ocean forecasts made before a hurricane hits to measurements taken during and after a storm. Researchers can then identify how well the models perform and how they can be improved.
Olabarrieta’s team focuses specifically on forecasting the waves, surge, sediment transport and damage to structures from the hurricane. Her team includes Assistant Professor Arthriya Subgranon, Ph.D., from the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, and Ph.D. student Steven Klepac, who are using artificial intelligence to determine the impact of storms on residential communities and buildings. Other collaborators on Olabarrieta’s team include scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Louisiana State University (LSU) and Fathom Science.
Olabarrieta’s team aims to provide a daily forecast of hurricane-related coastal impacts beginning five days before a hurricane makes landfall and to do so for three hurricanes each season, from 2022 to 2024. Their forecasting system integrates multiple models to be able to provide more efficient and accurate warning systems.
The growing intensity and frequency of weather events points to an urgent need for being able to quantify the uncertainties associated with predictions for extreme weather events, allowing modelers to make more accurate forecasts and improve emergency response in affected areas. Uncertainties can include slight variations in the predicted track of the hurricane, for example. These slight variations have significant impacts on the time frame window for the team’s work, from deploying sensors in the ocean before the hurricane arrives to the level of resolution they can generate for forecasting.
DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY THAN LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATERSHED RUNOFF HAS GREATER IMPACT ON
By Megan Sam
A new study examining whether the timing of Lake Okeechobee releases could be adjusted to improve the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary’s (CRE) water quality found that while releases from Lake Okeechobee had an impact on water quality, nutrient concentrations in the CRE were more strongly related to flows from the surrounding C-43 basin.
“This suggests that strategies solely focused on managing the lake’s releases are not enough to significantly improve water quality,” lead author and data scientist at Natrx, a technology platform that provides practical, sustainable, and landscape-scale resilience solutions. “The main takeaway is that effective pollution reduction can only be achieved by considering the management of both the lake and the surrounding lands.”
Historically, Lake Okeechobee served as the main source of freshwater to the Florida Everglades, but following two catastrophic floods in the 1920s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began managing the lake in the 1930s. To prevent flooding, the USACE releases water from the lake to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries when the water levels are too high. However, this can transport water quality problems like harmful algal blooms into the estuaries.
“We wanted to know two things,” said David Kaplan, Ph.D., professor in the UF Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences and associate director of the UF Center for Coastal Solutions. “First, how Lake O and watershed inputs to the CRE have varied over time. Second, if there were better or worse times to release Lake Okeechobee water based on the relationships between flows and nutrient levels.”
Researchers found that the total amount of water discharged from Lake Okeechobee into the CRE has increased since the 1970s. Currently, the CRE receives roughly equal amounts of water from the lake and watershed over the year. During the dry season from October through May, the lake is the main source of water flow to the CRE. From June through September, or during the wet season, the watershed is the
main source.
Analyses of flows and nutrient levels showed that nitrogen concentrations varied with the season and source of water, while phosphorus concentrations did not. Changes to the timing of water releases from Lake Okeechobee could mitigate consequences of nitrogen loading but would likely not affect downstream phosphorus concentrations. These findings suggest that releases could be scheduled during March through May, or September through November, to mitigate downstream concentrations of ammonia and nitrates, respectively.
Unfortunately, these windows of time for suggested releases are small and do not overlap, underlining the complexity of water management scheduling. Prior research demonstrates a connection between high nitrogen concentrations and red tide blooms, so a decrease in nitrogen delivery from Lake Okeechobee could conceivably mitigate severe red tides in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary.
“Lake Okeechobee’s water quality problems are understandably a concern to those who live in Central and South Florida, as is the potential for its water quality challenges to be exported to treasured downstream estuaries,” said Natalie Nelson, Ph.D., associate professor at the North Carolina State University Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department. “While Lake Okeechobee has an effect on nutrient concentrations in the estuary, the C-43 watershed has a greater effect, meaning that restoration actions in the watershed may lead to greater prevention of elevated nutrient concentrations in the Caloosahatchee than modifying the way Lake Okeechobee is managed. Having data-informed insights on the primary drivers of water quality impacts is key to developing the right solutions.”
WORD ON THE Street
University of Florida Transportation Institute revolutionizes transportation technology through its $2 Million I-STREET™ Living Lab
By Ines Aviles-Spadoni
The University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI) held the grand opening of its I-STREET™ Living Lab. Guests from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the city of Gainesville (COG) Transportation Department, and key industry partners joined UF leaders in commemorating the opening.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an engaging video presentation, and a tour of the $2 million, 4,300-square-foot, state-ofthe-art facility.
I-STREET™ stands for Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies. As a living lab on the UF campus, it connects surrounding roadway networks on the UF campus, the COG, and across the state using various cutting-edge technologies.
I-STREET™ technologies include connected vehicle infrastructure (roadside units that communicate through direct radio communication with onboard units installed inside selected vehicles), sensors, cameras, lidars and radars, autonomous vehicles/shuttles, driving simulators, eye-tracking devices, bike sensors, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and pedestrian safety devices such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), passive pedestrian detection devices (PPDs), and the Travel Safely app. Additional features of the living lab include:
A 2,000-square-foot student village workspace and traffic monitoring area
• A 1,140-square-foot three-bay vehicle lab and garage
• A 500-square-foot traffic and signals lab
Speakers at the event included Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D., professor and former director of UFTI and the I-STREET™ Living Lab; Alina Zare, Ph.D., professor and associate dean for research and facilities at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering; Trey Tillander, PE, executive director of transportation technology at FDOT, and Jesus Gomez, M.S., director of transportation at the COG.
“We are very excited to have this new facility available for testing and evaluating advanced transportation technologies,” Elefteriadou said. “The facility will help us develop and deploy state-of-the-art technologies and allow us to co-locate students from several departments across campus working on interdisciplinary solutions to transportation problems.”
The Florida legislature recently acknowledged the pivotal role of I-STREET™ in transportation research and development. With the passage of Senate Bill 64 and House Bill 425, I-STREET™ has been designated as a resource to the state. It will facilitate research related to innovative transportation mobility and safety technology. The Living Lab will serve as a strategic partner with the state and the FDOT in driving transportation research, education, and workforce development. It will collaborate with other universities on transportation-related research to create synergy and leverage toward securing federal and private-sector funding, further enhancing transportation innovation and progress.
“The opening of the I-STREET™ facility will play a significant role in UF and FDOT’s long-term transportation technology partnership and further the department’s mission of providing a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods throughout Florida,” Tillander said. “The expanded I-STREET™ research and testing capabilities for professors and students will provide effective collaboration with industry partners as we seek to solve some of transportation’s toughest safety and mobility challenges.”
As a collaborative initiative between UFTI, FDOT, and the COG, I-STREET™ serves as a platform where research findings are transformed into practical solutions to help enhance the safety and mobility of all vehicles and users, including bicycles and pedestrians, e-scooters, conventional vehicle drivers, and emerging technologies such as autonomous and connected vehicles.
“The unique collaboration between the city and UF through I-STREET™ advances the city of Gainesville’s Vision Zero goals by helping develop and test cutting-edge technology seeking to enhance the overall safety and efficiency of the transportation system,” Gomez said.
I-STREET™ was also created to help transportation technology companies develop, test, and deploy innovative products. In this regard, I-STREET™ plays a definitive role in catalyzing the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies, helping fuel a vibrant transportation tech ecosystem. I-STREET™ has $10 million invested in research, education, and outreach activities, creating partnerships with more than 75 leading transportation industry partners. Currently, technology
companies such as Yunex, Applied Information, Bosch, UrbanSDK, and Beep are actively testing their technology, leveraging the infrastructure of the I-STREET™ network.
“The lab’s unique ‘living lab’ concept, which includes open-road testing in collaboration with FDOT and the city of Gainesville, allows for real-world evaluation of advanced transportation technologies,” said Pruthvi Manjunatha, a research assistant professor and manager of the I-STREET™ Laboratory. “I-STREET™ is without a doubt a leader in the field.”
UFTI aims to advance transportation, disseminate research results, and provide educational opportunities related to transportation. It brings together faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds to offer solutions to various transportation problems.
“UFTI and I-STREET™ provide a distinctive platform where research and innovation intersect with transportation technology and policy. This includes advancements in autonomous vehicles, smart traffic management systems, and sustainable transportation options,” said Forrest Masters, interim dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. “The Living Lab serves as a real-world environment for students and transportation experts to collaborate on solutions to address transportation challenges and enhance residents’ quality of life.”
UFTI PARTNERS WITH URBAN SDK
TO EXPAND I-STREET PROGRAM
By Ines Aviles-Spadoni and Jonathan Bass
The University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI) has formed a strategic partnership with leading traffic solutions software company, Urban SDK to expand its I-STREET™ program to enhance collaboration with local governments and technology startups. This initiative lets local governments improve transportation, mobility, safety, and infrastructure with unprecedented access to cutting-edge transportation technology, research, and solution validation.
The I-STREET™ Program’s mission is to expand local government transportation and engineering professional peer communities. With this new strategic alliance, members can now access technology pilot opportunities and grant pursuits, as well as UFTI-validated case studies that use proven technology deployment methodologies. By harnessing the expertise of UFTI, Urban SDK, and a counsel of vetted industry solutions and startups, participating local governments gain invaluable resources to propel their transportation systems into the future with less risk. This partnership empowers local governments and technology startups, offering them a unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation.
“At UFTI, we are committed to driving innovation and advancing sustainable transportation solutions,” said Lily Elefteriadou, professor and former director of the UFTI. “Through the I-STREET™ Program, we are excited to partner with Urban SDK to equip local governments with cutting-edge technology. This collaboration aims to create safer, more efficient transportation networks for citizens, aligning with our mission to drive sustainable transportation solutions.”
I-STREET™, which stands for Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies, was launched in 2017 in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation and the city of Gainesville.
“We are excited to collaborate with the University of Florida Transportation Institute in expanding the I-STREET™ Program,” said Justin Dennis, COO and Co-Founder of Urban SDK. “By combining our expertise in geospatial and big data technology with UFTI’s renowned research capabilities, we can harness the right tools and gain valuable insights together with our municipality participants to better navigate the complexities of modern transportation and infrastructure.”
The joint partnership offers a diverse range of technological solutions, from smart traffic management systems to autonomous transit and logistics. Urban SDK’s real-time data analytics will connect safety and asset management.
UFTI’S T2 CENTER DRIVES INNOVATION THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING
REMOTE-CONTROLLED TRUCKS TO PROTECT ROAD RANGER SERVICE PATROLS
By Charles Brown
If you’re on the side of a Florida Interstate with no gas, a flat tire, or something more serious, you might see a Road Ranger Service Patrol truck pulling in behind you to provide aid. The Road Ranger Service Patrol (RRSP) is a program of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in which Road Rangers patrol Florida highways to provide rapid response to roadway incidents. Road Rangers can provide minor assistance, which is all that most sidelined motorists need, but they can also provide traffic control to help prevent secondary incidents and call for additional resources to resolve the incident as quickly and safely as possible.
Unfortunately, this places the RRSP vehicle in a vulnerable position, and RRSP personnel and vehicles are regularly struck by inattentive or distracted motorists, often with serious consequences all around. When possible, another truck carrying a special crash-absorbing device called an attenuator is deployed to the incident scene and parked behind the RRSP vehicle. However, this transfers the risk to the driver of the attenuator truck, and—same story—these drivers can be injured or killed when their vehicle is struck by another vehicle that is heavier or travelling faster than the attenuator can absorb.
The University of Florida Transportation Institute’s Florida Technology Transfer Center (T2) is working with FDOT to make the work of Road Rangers safer by using an exciting new technology: remotely controlled trucks. These trucks carry a crash attenuator, and when fully developed, there will be no driver. This could provide the protection needed by Road Rangers while not endangering another driver.
To develop this technology, T2 is working with Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, specifically, its division in Fort Walton Beach. Kratos has worked with T2 and FDOT before on a similar concept, an attenuator truck that autonomously follows a maintenance truck to a work site to protect road workers and maintenance vehicles. In the new application to protect Road Rangers, a similar technology is used, but the attenuator truck is driven to the incident scene by a remote driver at a control center.
While the two cases are similar, there are also many differences. FDOT, T2, and Kratos worked closely to develop detailed specifications for every aspect of the new system, dubbed the remote-control truckmounted attenuator, or RCTMA, including how it would be structured, connected, and function.
ENHANCING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY
THROUGH THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES
By Ines Aviles-Spadoni
As self-driving vehicles (also known as connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) become increasingly common, it is vital that their movements are seamlessly coordinated so they can drive safely and efficiently on our highways and roads. Among those coordinated driving maneuvers such as car-following and lane change, vehicle platooning, a group of vehicles traveling in close proximity to one another, present promising benefits for enhancing driving safety and efficiency while reducing energy consumption.
A study led by Lili Du, Ph.D., a professor in UF’s Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, and her research team has developed two control algorithms respectively using Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Complex SMD (Spring Mass Damper) control, both intelligent control approaches of sorts, which show great potential in synchronizing the movements of two self-driving vehicles to form a short platoon, and then sequentially growing the platoon size as more CAVs join in and the traffic condition permits.
So, how can this new synchronization model be used? Imagine that, through this new model, CAV trucks would be able to sync up to reduce the amount of air resistance or aerodynamic drag, thus improving fuel efficiency by forming a platoon. Other potential benefits include reducing congestion on highways through the optimal synchronization
of speeds and movements.
The researchers also foresee utilizing this technology for autonomous police patrolling, where two CAVs are deployed—one representing the police vehicle and the other the target vehicle. Separated in a mixed traffic flow alongside human-driven vehicles, the police vehicle would approach the target by synchronizing their movements efficiently, with the least disruption to surrounding traffic safety and efficiency.
When Du and her team reviewed the literature on synchronization models, they noticed that the research community has not yet been able to find a concrete way to coordinate CAVs in a manner that generates stability in a mixed-traffic environment. These two studies aimed to fill this gap in the literature.
So where is the innovation in this study? The innovation can be found in the MINLP-MPC method that Du and her team created, which considers certain factors such as traffic flow and coordination between CAVs. This is what would ensure that CAVs remain sync.
This study contributes significantly to the field of transportation engineering. In a future where CAVs will become more prevalent, ensuring they move safely and harmoniously is a number one priority.
UNDER 40
EVERY YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY HONORS ALUMNI WITH THE “40 UNDER 40” AWARDS. THESE INDIVIDUALS EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP, MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.
Carlos Palacious (MS Coastal & Oceanographic Engineering ’10)
Meet Carlos Palacious — engineer by training, environmentalist by nature, entrepreneur at heart and executive by profession. He was the first Bahamian coastal engineer and is a licensed professional engineer in The Bahamas, Canada, and the U.S. He also holds a global certification as a project management professional (PMP) and is a licensed real estate salesperson in The Bahamas. Palacious is the founder and managing principal of several engineering and technical-related businesses, including Bron Ltd. (development consulting), Eeden Farms (climateresilient farming), and BluTerra (sustainable manufacturing). In 2021, Project Y Bahamas recognized Palacious as one of the top 48 millennials for his work in the environment, media, service, business, and as a change-maker. In 2018, he was named on the top 40 under 40 list by Professional Services Bahamas. In addition to his professional achievements, Palacious holds numerous leadership roles in professional, civic, and religious organizations. He is a regular presenter at national and regional forums on hurricane preparedness and response, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.
JEREMY WAISOME
Jeremy A. Magruder Waisome (BSCE ’10, MECE ’12, Ph.D. ’17 )
Jeremy A. Magruder Waisome, Ph.D., is the Thomas O. Hunter Rising Star Assistant Professor in the UF Department of Engineering Education. She is a triple Gator, with a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in civil engineering. During her studies, she became passionate about issues of equity, access and inclusion in engineering and computing, transitioning from microstructural materials analysis to developing evidence-based programs and activities to support diverse students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computing (STEM+C). Waisome leads the PRISEM Lab where her research focuses on broadening participation through critical mentorship. Her research interest involves understanding how mentorship impacts student trajectories. Her work is supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the UF Hall of Fame, Florida Blue Key and the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. She is the recipient of several awards including the National Society of Black Engineers’ 2018 Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year Award. Waisome serves on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Roundtable on Mentoring, Well-Being, and Professional Development and is an expert for the NASEM Transforming Trajectories of Women of Color in Tech Initiative. From 2020-21, she served as co-host of Unstoppable Minds, a podcast aimed at uncovering the challenges and triumphs that come with a life in academia and research.
THE GATOR100
THE WORLD’S FASTEST-GROWING GATOR BUSINESSES
Alumni from the University of Florida have created and guided some of the most innovative and profitable businesses in the nation and the world. Each year, the UF Alumni Association, in partnership with the UF Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center recognizes these amazing entrepreneurs with the Gator100 Awards.
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CARLOS PALACIOUS
HONORING A FATHER SUPPORTING GATOR ENGINEERS
By Barbara Drake
Bryant Marshall (BSCE ’71) followed in his father’s footsteps. Literally.
RESEARCHER
wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Supporting up to four deserving students annually, the Addison Marshall Scholarship now boasts more than 75 alumni who’ve gone on to build successful careers in Florida, throughout the United States and internationally.
SET TO CREATE PEER MENTORING PREPARATION PROGRAM FOR NATIONWIDE USAGE
As a boy, Bryant tromped after his dad, Addison Marshall (BS ’27), through fields and ditches as the lauded city engineer for Tallahassee built roads and infrastructure. Watching the heavy equipment dig deep for new sewer lines, young Bryant was always amazed by what the ground under the surface looked like. Deep reds. Greyish or yellow browns. Swathes of pale sand or crumbling clay.
“That got me interested in my ultimate career path,” Bryant said about his specialty of geotechnical engineering, which concerns soil and rock mechanics. “I always looked up to my dad and the miraculous things he was doing and building.”
Addison Marshall stressed to his three sons that his engineering studies at the the University of Florida had made those great things possible, so when Bryant and brother A. Franklin (Frank) Marshall Jr. (BSCE ’58, MSE ‘60), headed to college, they too became Gators, both graduating with bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and later master’s degrees, Bryant’s from the University of Texas at Austin.
Bryant’s expertise initially took him around the world supporting oil companies as they laid the foundations for offshore drilling rigs.
“Then in 1981, I got homesick for Florida and moved to Orlando, where I lived until I retired in 2004,” he said recently from his home in Panama City, Florida.
In 2013, his family’s philanthropy expanded to impact thousands of Gator engineers, thanks to Bryant’s generous support of the UF General Civil Engineering Fund and the UF student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The latter fosters professional skills through symposiums and hands-on experiences in design and construction, most notably through the competitive UF Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams.
ASCE did not sponsor design competitions when Bryant belonged to the UF chapter 50 years ago, but he recognized a struggle in common with today’s members: the need to raise funds. Unlike other universities’ ASCE student chapters, the ASCE Gators do not receive departmental funding and must do all their own fundraising every year, relying on cash and material donations.
Imagine the expenses involved in transporting a full-size concrete canoe, metal bridge components and up to 20 team members across the country for competitions, and you can see why, 10 years ago, this big-hearted Gator was inspired to found the Bryant P. Marshall ASCE Student Endowment, funding his passion through charitable IRA rollover gifts and a planned bequest.
In his late 30s, Bryant proudly began supporting his alma mater. After his father’s death in 1984, Bryant, his mother, Eloise, and his two brothers, Frank and Dallas, established the Addison Franklin Marshall Scholarship in Civil Engineering, now one of the largest endowed scholarships at UF’s Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering (CCE).
“My brothers and I wanted to recognize that my father is a 1927 graduate of the University of Florida and that he raised two other sons to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “We’re just forever grateful that he encouraged us to go to college after high school. Without him, we
“I figured if the ASCE students didn’t have to spend all their time fundraising, they could dedicate that time more constructively to honing their skills and winning competitions,” he explained.
And, boy, has that support boosted the ASCE Gators. Students appreciate that Bryant and the Marshall family have their backs, and they’ve thanked their benefactors with a string of regional and national wins (the latter garnering them scholarship money and attention from potential future employers).
“With the accomplishments of the UF Steel Bridge and UF Concrete Canoe teams combined, we have had seven national titles since 2015,”said Robert Thieke, Ph.D., former CCE department head. “No other civil engineering program in the country can touch that.”
“Quite simply, the Marshall family’s support has been absolutely invaluable,” he stated.
Bryant says giving back feels right, like passing on a torch handed to him by his dad and UF engineering.
Bryant, left, with his brother Frank.
Addison Marshall (BS ’27), a proud Gator and city engineer for Tallahassee, inspired future generations through his dedication to building roads and infrastructure.