ORITE Research Projects
From bridges to roadways to stormwater runoff, advanced civil engineering techniques improve the infrastructure and resources we depend on every day. At the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment, we develop transportation infrastructure and environmental engineering solutions.
ORITE develops transportation infrastructure and environmental engineering solutions by monitoring and evaluating the health of bridges, pipes and pavement; characterizing and evaluating the performance of materials; monitoring foundations and retaining walls; examining highway safety and winter maintenance; studying noise abatement for highways; performing subsurface characterization and exploration; and inventing solutions for the remediation of highway storm water runoff and acid mine drainage. ORITE was selected by the Ohio Department of Transportation to research the design and construction of "perpetual pavement" with double the lifespan of typical pavements.
Student Research Opportunities
Through our affiliation with the Russ College Department of Civil Engineering, we offer both undergraduate and graduate students the chance to experience engineering in real-world applications in the field and in the laboratory. For more information about current research opportunities, contact ORITE at 740.597.2543.
Our Research Projects
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Test RoadsOur test road projects have taken place in Ohio and New York.
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Perpetual PavementPerpetual Pavement is defined as an asphalt concrete pavement that is built to last for 50 years or longer without any maintenance other than occasional replacement of the thin but durable wearing course.
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On-Site Civil Infrastructure StudiesThe Ohio University Mobile Civil Infrastructure Laboratory (OUMCIL) is a mobile facility housed in a semi truck equipped with state of the art equipment.
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Pavement Load StudiesThe Accelerated Pavement Load Facility (APLF) at Ohio University in Lancaster is operated by the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment (ORITE).
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Advanced Asphalt ResearchThe Advanced Asphalt Research Laboratory (AARL) is a world-class asphalt research center located on Ohio University’s Lancaster campus.
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Materials Development and CharacterizationORITE is also fully equipped to test materials besides asphalt. These materials include soils, rock, aggregate, Portland cement concrete (PCC), water, and thermoplastics such as those used in drainage pipes.
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Center for Pipes and Underground StructuresThe Center for Pipe and Underground Structures helps solve the major challenges presented to the pipe industry, including federal and state environmental regulations, aging infrastructures, and expanding global markets.
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Safety and Human FactorsThe Safety and Human Factors area conducts studies using the DriveSafety DS-600cd Research Simulator, Seeing Machines faceLAB5 system, video data extraction equipment and other field equipment.
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Traffic Noise Propagation and AbatementORITE researchers are studying the noise levels generated by tires on various kinds of pavement to find quieter road surfaces. ORITE is also investigating the design and effectiveness of abatement methods.
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Acid Mine DrainageResearchers are studying promising strategies for remediating acid mine drainage, including compounds found in AMD that can be extracted for use in paint and used in artworks.
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Mitigation of Stormwater PollutionORITE maintains a fully equipped water quality laboratory that is can detect various pollutants in water specimens collected from streams, drainage structures, or off highways.
Patents
Innovation is second nature to the work as ORITE works toward developing modern infrastructure and environmental solutions. Patents and pending applications credited to ORITE researchers:
- Mitchell, Gayle F. and Sargand, Shad M., Exfiltration Apparatus, No. 60/869,308; Filing Date 12/08/2006
- Su, Yuming, and Mitchell, G.F., U.S. Patent #7,238,281 and #7,527,731; Storm Water Runoff Treatment System
- Sargand, S. and Mitchell, G. F. Security System for Underground Conduit, No. 14/006,517 9/20/13
- Walsh, K. K., Resetting Semi-Passive Stiffness Damper and Methods of use Thereof, No. 14469824, 12/14/2013.
Primary Research Activity
ORITE has conducted research primarily in the following areas:
- Accelerated pavement load testing
- Acid mine abatement/reclamation
- Applications of numerical methods in geo-environmental problems
- Assessment, monitoring, and modeling of pavement structure
- Assessment, monitoring, modeling, and treatment of aqueous pollutants
- Bridges
- Deep and shallow foundations
- Driver simulation
- Erosion and sediment control
- Highway safety
- Human factors
- Landfill components
- Materials’ characterization
- Monitoring infrastructure health
- Noise abatement
- Pavements
- Physical modeling
- Pipes/culverts
- Pollution prevention
- Sensors and data acquisition
- Stormwater runoff
- Surface and subsurface investigation
- Winter maintenance of highways