Research in the Classroom: Teaching Modules for Multi-modal Transportation Infrastructure Systems

This book is created as part of the Center for Integrated Asset Management for Multi-modal Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CIAMTIS): Region 3 University Transportation Center's "Research in the Classroom: Teaching Modules for Multi-modal Transportation Infrastructure Systems" project.

Background

The purpose of this proposal is to develop educational content related to research projects supported by the CIAMTIS UTC at George Mason University. Throughout the duration of the UTC, Drs. Miller-Hooks, Gifford, and Lattanzi have worked together and independently to develop and evaluate advanced methods of infrastructure asset management and finance. Their work has spanned a variety of domains ranging from artificial intelligence to Public-Private Partnership (P3) models to network-scale analysis of transportation systems [Ghyabi et. al. 2022, McCarthy et. al. 2020, Zhou et. al 2022].

While their projects have demonstrated technical value and viability, many of the fundamental skills necessary to employ their works are not taught in the relevant engineering and public policy curriculum. Advancements in the state of art for asset management require complimentary educational outreach to students that supports their understanding and trust in advanced technologies and management models [McKnight et. al. 2011].

This CIAMTIS educational project is designed to bring the PIs’ prior CIAMTIS work into the classroom. The PIs will work together to identify the courses and curricula most appropriate for integration with CIAMTIS project findings. The PIs will then develop learning modules for these existing course offerings. The modules will cover the breadth of their expertise and research efforts, and will be designed for a variety of students and student interests. These learning modules will include both fundamental technical training exercises designed to introduce students to advanced research topics, as well as case studies from CIAMTIS projects that can contextualize student learning.

Significance and Impact on Practice

This project will result in a variety of educational and training resources designed to inform engineers and public policy students about advances in infrastructure assessment and management. The resources created through this project will be piloted at George Mason University, but will be shared through dissemination at conferences, and resources will be openly shared with other institutions, as appropriate. Overall, this educational project will translate CIAMTIS project results into workforce development initiatives designed to train the next generation of infrastructure engineers and managers.

Supplemental Educational Content

As part of Task 4 of the project, three subpages have been created to address the requirement for supplemental educational content:

1) Bridge Design: Novel Methods for Condition Assessment, David Lattanzi, George Mason University

2) Engineering Systems: Network Models for Maintenance Optimization, Elise Miller-Hooks, George Mason University

3) Transportation Funding and Finance: Innovative Finance & Public-Private-Partnerships (P3s), Jonathan Gifford, George Mason University