Driving innovative solutions for advancing use of ‘plastic’ roads

In partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), researchers from the Mizzou Asphalt Pavement and Innovation Lab (MAPIL) recently created a real-world test road using recycled materials like scrap tires and plastic waste along a portion of Interstate 155 in the Missouri Bootheel.

Mizzou Engineer develops method to break down PFAS left on water treatment filters

In a recent study, Feng “Frank” Xiao and colleagues at the University of Missouri demonstrate an innovative method using thermal induction heating to rapidly break down PFAS left on the surface of two solid materials — granular activated carbon and anion exchange resins — after these materials have been used to filter PFAS from municipal water systems.

Civil Engineering team develops realistic artificial data set for road safety studies

A Mizzou Engineering team is hoping artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to prevent vehicle crashes in the future. To that end, they’ve developed realistic artificial data sets (RAD) that can be used to train machines to predict the factors that cause wrecks. These data sets are now available through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The three-year $1.1M project was supported by the US DOT’s Exploratory Advance Research Program.

Graduate student to use environmental engineering, data analysis skills at NASA

He grew up in a water-strapped village in Afghanistan, worked as a water engineer who helped similar communities and wants to continue to conduct research around environmental problems while teaching future generations. In the meantime, Jaweed Nazary will spend his summer working at NASA.

Pioneer in degradation of ‘forever chemicals’ brings research to Mizzou

Before most of his peers knew them as “forever chemicals,” Feng “Frank” Xiao knew they were a problem. It was the early 2010s, and he was reviewing Centers for Disease Control data when he noticed a disturbing trend. Pre- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) — compounds mass marketed since the 1940s — were showing up in more than 95% of blood samples, and they appeared to be wreaking havoc on human health.

Giraldo-Londoño stresses importance of emerging design tools during keynote

Mizzou Engineer is demonstrating that simulation-drive technologies can be used to design efficient structures that can withstand variable loads.

Civil Engineers assessing effectiveness of J-turn intersections in Missouri

A Mizzou Engineering team has been tasked with assessing the effectiveness of J-turn intersection designs across Missouri’s state highway system.

Missouri Water Center works to monitor water quality, quantities; train students

When it comes to water, there are a lot of stakeholders. Not only do we all need access to clean water—including fish and wildlife—but local economies rely on lakes and rivers for agriculture and tourism. When there’s not enough, droughts can destroy a year’s worth of crops. Too much can cause flooding that devastates communities. With those factors in mind, Mizzou established the Missouri Water Center a year ago, merging two former centers.

Engineering team develops autonomous alarm system for work zone vehicles

A Mizzou Engineering team has developed an innovative alert system that tells drivers when they’re in danger of colliding with a mobile work zone vehicle.

Engineers assess self-driving vehicles to reduce mobile work zone injuries

Using a self-driving truck to follow a manned vehicle has the potential to reduce worker injuries in mobile work zones, a Mizzou Engineering team has concluded. Henry Brown, a research engineer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is presenting the findings to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).