The proposed technology is a methodology to assess alternative infrastructure management strategies based on project cost, system performance and estimates of greenhouse emissions. The supporting methods include stochastic analysis, life cycle assessment and Monte Carlo simulation based approaches. The technology is designed to address the problems of reducing life cycle emissions of civil infrastructure systems, helping agencies provide a consistent level of service, while optimally using available resources for construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. This is particularly significant given the twin challenges of climate change, and ongoing shortfalls in state and federal budget appropriations for public works. Finally, the underlying theory and methods are mathematically sophisticated and data intensive, and not easy for decision-makers to implement without significant training. The proposed technology promises efficient implementation by providing an innovative product/service that is reliable and intuitive, and has a friendly and easy to use interface.
Civil infrastructure systems are critical to socioeconomic success. Services such as access to clean drinking water, efficient sewer and waste management, easy mobility and access to multiple modes of transportation provide the backbone for multiple supply chains, besides supporting a healthy standard of living. Challenges due to climate change, aging infrastructure, and the impact of the economic crisis on local and state budgets are hurting the efficient delivery of these services. By providing support to decision-makers the proposed technology is likely to have a significant impact on maintaining and managing infrastructure sustainably.
The I-Corps project went towards supporting the starting of a company commercrializing previous research completed by the PI. Intellectual Merits: The experience of starting Life Cycle Solutions, LLC - a startup, that deals with public data and provides technology based solutions to empower the public and decision-makers, through greater transparency - while not unique, is part of a social entrepreneurial space that is growing. As a startup that is geared towards improving public infrastructure services, and is not based off "product" (app, or experience, or bio-device) sales, companies like Life Cycle Solutions get limited attention from venture capitalists, and therefore remains relatively less examined. Hence, this experience may contribute to a better understanding of this space. The outcomes in the area of civil infrastructure management are as follows: 1. The first major product released by the company, Life Cycle Solutions is the website: www.iriexplorer.com - It is critical to empowering decision-makers at the DOT level, academic researchers and engineers in consulting firms to directly access long term pavement performance data and visualize and run statitical comparisons on. This can support prioritization of network maintenance to deliver smoother pavements, which in turn can reduce the fuel consumption of trucks and passenger vehicles. 2. Life Cycle Solutions has also engaged municipal clients, developing pipe infrastructure deterioration models, to support maintenance scheduling decisions to improve infrastructure management and promote better usage of public funds. Broader Societal Impacts: Outcomes from the services provided by Life Cycle Solutions will help improve level of service, and reduce the environmental impact of infrastructue systems and services. The following may also be considered as impacts to society: 1. Economic gains due to starting Life Cycle Solutions, LLC: 2-4 jobs have been created in the IT/Engineering sector in Houghton, MI. 2. The services provided by Life Cycle Solutions aim to improve the delivery of social infrastructure systems.
