Award Data

To address the DOT’s need for a new system to detect excavation damage and notify pipeline operators, Intellisense Systems, Inc., (Intellisense) proposes a new Fiber-Optic Excavation Monitoring Sensor (FOCOS) system based on phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (-OTDR), machine learning (ML) algorithms, and Internet of Things (IoT) communication. Specifically, the innovative impl ...

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is actively involved in the safe transportation of energy and hazardous material that are vital to daily lives. This also includes underground natural gas storage (UNGS) maintenance and safe operation which are critical to nation's energy infrastructure. Enhancing leak detection and identifying smart ways to prevent potential well blow ...

This SBIR effort proposes using live and continuous monitoring of metal tanks, pressure vessels, and pipelines using carbon nanomaterial-based sensing skins to detect excessive physical strains, cracks, and to inspect impact damage. The proposed research and development work leverages 15+ years of fundamental research. The key objective is to advance the TRL level and the scalability of carbon nan ...

This project investigates an innovative modular steel bridge deck system of a “sandwich” design for achieving the necessary stiffness in orthogonal directions employing two steel plates separated by a steel stiffening core.Such a layered composite deck could become an ideal solution for the next generation of bridge applications.With the appropriate choice of the core profile, the transverse s ...

Assured CA/AV Navigation is a network of receiver-detectors with the ability to communicate reliable and accurate vehicle positioning integrity information for safe operations to individual users. The network approach provides density and sensitivity to rapidly detect and communicate relevant information to impacted vehicles. The solution will develop a highly capable and cost-effective network of ...

To improve the safety of passenger train exterior side doors, this SBIR project develops a low-cost Wireless Sensing and Warning System (WS2), a mesh network of advanced magnetic door position sensors that provides continuous monitoring and issues real-time warning to the train operator when a door is not properly closed.WS2 aims at retrofitting legacy passenger trains that do not possess a door s ...

The danger posed to bus passengers crossing a roadway, especially in low light or visibility conditions continues to be a significant and non-trivial challenge. The project proposes to develop a system to illuminate a virtual crosswalk onto the roadway to provide for a uniform and predictable safe walking pathway for the crossing passenger along with alerting the passenger when it is either safe o ...

In CMV operations, impaired alertness from driver fatigue contributes to a significant number of collisions and safety critical events. This project (through Phase II) will achieve a system to deliver an objective quantifiable measure of driver alertness based on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT). This system will alert drivers when assessments indicate alertness deficits and support the timely ...

In-place resurfacing of asphalt-based wear layers is an increasingly common method of roadway rehabilitation. With the addition of waste microplastics to bitumen binders as performance improvers, the grinding of asphalt during in-place resurfacing potentially brings microplastic particulate pollution to every community in the US. In addition, the wear of roadway surfaces is a known major source of ...

This project intends to develop a sensor system that allows in-situ measurement of concrete’s pore solution resistivity, to supplement existing procedures for durability assessment. The innovation includes one or more sensors that are embedded inside concrete and a mobile measuring device to interrogate the sensor.Phase I project will explore candidate body materials for the sensor, manufacturin ...