Sustainability

Mortenson Center innovations delivering clean water to more than 16 million worldwide

Susan Glairon — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 23:00:23 +0000

Mortenson Center innovations delivering clean water to more than 16 million worldwide Susan Glairon Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:00

缅北禁地's Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience is transforming global water access by treating clean water as a long-term service鈥攏ot just a one-time infrastructure project.

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Pipe dreams

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:30:18 +0000

Pipe dreams Hanna Nordwall Fri, 06/06/2025 - 11:30

Susan Glairon

Lab establishes worldwide standards for repairing inaccessible, leaking pipelines

Millions of miles of aging water, wastewater and natural gas pipelines across the nation are at growing risk of failure, posing significant environmental, safety and financial challenges.

Repairing these urban pipelines is often complicated and expensive due to their location beneath buildings and roads, but new repair solutions that significantly cut pipeline repair costs are emerging.

"We developed unique testing capabilities that don鈥檛 exist anywhere else.鈥�

Brad Wham

缅北禁地鈥檚 Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST) is at the forefront, pioneering testing procedures for these innovative solutions.

Led by Assistant Research Professor Brad Wham, CIEST played a key role in establishing a new standard for internal replacement pipe testing through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

鈥淕etting an ASTM standard to vote is a big deal,鈥� Wham said. 鈥淲e designed these methods for various industries and future pipe replacement solutions. We developed unique testing capabilities that don鈥檛 exist anywhere else.鈥�

The work was made possible by a $7.8 million Department of Energy ARPA-E grant, which CIEST shared with Cornell University, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and the Gas Technologies Institute.

This advancement paves the way for cutting-edge pipe repair technologies, such as using robots or other methods to install internal replacement pipes that line aging pipelines, reinforcing their walls and extending their service life.

The tests carried out in the CIEST lab demonstrated that many of the internal replacement pipes effectively sealed holes, cracks and gaps, providing a lasting seal of 50 to 100 years at a cost of less than $1 million per mile 鈥� much lower than the approximately $10 million per mile to dig up and replace pipes in urban centers.

In addition to a 90 percent drop in cost, the repairs will help reduce methane emissions from natural gas lines and prevent leaking water lines from wasting significant quantities of treated water.

The USQ team used CIEST鈥檚 data to develop a publicly available app that lets users input specifications and site details to design and assess internal replacement pipe technologies.

Natural gas and water utilities have been cautious about adopting new technologies, due to strict regulations and high risks in the event of failure, Wham said. To address these concerns, the project involved major gas utilities and global experts to guide testing development.

鈥淎s an unbiased third party, we鈥檙e building confidence in these technologies and fostering industry competition, which helps reduce costs,鈥� he said.

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Paving the way

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:44:58 +0000

Paving the way Hanna Nordwall Fri, 06/06/2025 - 10:44

Researcher proposes using satellite data to find and repair rough roads

Everyone benefits from driving on a smooth, well-paved road. It means better gas mileage, more efficient travel and less upkeep on a vehicle.

Of course, the more traffic on a road, the quicker it breaks down. Add in weather elements such as snow, ice and rain and this leads to issues such as potholes, cracked asphalt and wheel ruts.

Cristina Torres-Machi

Cristina Torres-Machi, an assistant professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, knows better than most why sustainable infrastructure is so critical.

鈥淢y interest in road conditions and maintenance started when I got my bachelor鈥檚 degree as a civil engineer,鈥� Torres-Machi said. 鈥淚 realized that there鈥檚 so much infrastructure that鈥檚 already been built that we need to maintain. We don鈥檛 do a very good job at that, just as we don鈥檛 necessarily do a good job with our annual health check-ups. It鈥檚 not only about building infrastructure, it鈥檚 about maintaining it.鈥�

鈥淲e can get a feeling of whether the condition is good, very bad or good enough.鈥�

Torres-Machi has been a member of the 缅北禁地 faculty since 2017, leading her Innovation for Resilient Infrastructure research group. They seek to develop cost-effective and data-driven methods for decision-making in infrastructure management.

The group鈥檚 research projects include the life-cycle cost analysis of pavement rehabilitation alternatives and the value of satellite-based inspections to inform transport asset management decisions.

Torres-Machi believes that local, state and federal governmental systems prefer building new roads and bridges because people do not directly see the benefits of maintaining existing infrastructure.

鈥淲e notice when things like roads and bridges aren鈥檛 well maintained, and we see when things are brand new, because those get a lot of attention,鈥� she said.

The traditional way to find out what condition a particular road is in is to go out and drive on it, which can be time-consuming and expensive. This limits road inspections to primary ones, leaving those less-traveled also less monitored.

Torres-Machi and her fellow researchers are using funding from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to explore the potential of using satellite data to look into pavement conditions.

鈥淲e can get a feeling of whether the condition is good, very bad or good enough,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he data is not going to give us a lot of details, but it can give us a feeling of how bad the condition may be, so we can go back and do a more detailed inspection of these roads.鈥�

The lifespan of a well-maintained road is about 25 years, Torres-Machi said.

She compared identifying cracks or other potential road risks early on to going to the dentist regularly.

鈥淚f you take a proactive approach to dental care, that鈥檚 going to prevent major problems from developing down the line that will likely be more expensive to deal with and also more painful,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 similar thing happens with roads: If we delay maintenance and consider treatments when roads are in poor condition, maintenance costs are 10 times larger than applying preventive treatments. This is the reason why timely maintenance and frequent inspections are so important. Our research using satellite images to inspect pavement conditions can help local, state and federal agencies in identifying maintenance needs.鈥�

Cristina Torres-Machi, an assistant professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, leads her Innovation for Resilient Infrastructure research group to develop cost-effective and data-driven methods for decision-making in infrastructure management.

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As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions

Susan Glairon — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 22:31:53 +0000

As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions Susan Glairon Fri, 04/18/2025 - 16:31

Kyri Baker, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, and her colleague, Bri-Mathias Hodge, professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering, suggest that if future data centers are placed in the right location and equipped with energy storage technologies, they can run on 100 percent clean energy.

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Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:03:49 +0000

Xiao earns prestigious membership in the National Academy of Inventors Alexander Jame鈥� Fri, 03/14/2025 - 11:03

Associate Professor Jianliang Xiao is a 鈥渕echanics of materials鈥� expert launching innovations in soft materials and flexible electronics who has been selected as a senior member in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The program recognizes rising innovators who have had success securing patents, licensing and commercialization for developed technologies that showcase real impact on the welfare of society.

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鈥婲ew technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:46:47 +0000

鈥婲ew technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit Alexander Jame鈥� Tue, 02/18/2025 - 11:46

Assistant Professor Longji Cui and his team in the Cui Research Group have developed a new technology to turn thermal radiation into electricity in a way that literally teases the basic law of thermal physics. The group says their research has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing industries by increasing power generation without the need for high temperature heat sources or expensive materials.

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5 缅北禁地 startups to watch in 2025

Michelle Wiese — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:12:41 +0000

5 缅北禁地 startups to watch in 2025 Michelle Wiese Mon, 02/03/2025 - 10:12

From July 2023 to June 2024, 缅北禁地 helped to launch 35 new companies based on research at the university. The new businesses are embracing technologies from the worlds of healthcare, agriculture, clean energy and more. Here鈥檚 a look at how engineers and scientists, with the help of the university鈥檚 commercialization arm Venture Partners, seek to use discoveries from the lab to make a difference in peoples鈥� lives.

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缅北禁地 among top colleges for Indigenous students

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:34:04 +0000

缅北禁地 among top colleges for Indigenous students Charles Ferrer Wed, 11/13/2024 - 13:34

Charles Ferrer

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has recognized 缅北禁地 as one of the top 200 colleges for Indigenous students in its 2024-2025 national rankings.

缅北禁地's AISES chapter attends the 2024 national AISES Conference in San Antonio.

AISES, a national organization dedicated to increasing Indigenous representation in STEM fields, evaluated schools based on the strength of their support programs for Native students, as well as undergraduate enrollment and graduation rates.

The AISES chapter at 缅北禁地 serves as a community for Indigenous students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and across campus, connecting those interested in STEM and supporting them academically and professionally. This recognition reflects 缅北禁地鈥檚 commitment to fostering an environment where Indigenous students can thrive in STEM鈥攁 commitment embodied by the leaders of its AISES chapter.

Noelle Bagola, the chapter鈥檚 treasurer, said her journey with AISES has empowered her professionally and personally.

鈥淏eing part of AISES allowed me to grow as a leader,鈥� she said.

Through her involvement, Bagola developed skills in areas she once found challenging, like connecting with professionals at conferences and building strong peer relationships.

鈥淣ow, I feel confident communicating with people and stepping up to help others. Becoming a leader has been my biggest accomplishment with AISES.鈥�

For Shellene Redhorse, AISES chapter president and a third-year aerospace engineering student, the chapter鈥檚 impact extends beyond 缅北禁地鈥檚 campus.

鈥淎 lot of what AISES does is about supporting our members and the Indigenous community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Indigenous community at 缅北禁地 may be small, and the STEM students within that community are even more rare, but we are here.鈥�

One of her proudest achievements was taking students to this year鈥檚 national AISES conference in San Antonio, where they connected with other Native scientists. Redhorse also highlighted the chapter鈥檚 outreach to Indigenous students in Denver, where they host hands-on STEM activities, including rocketry demonstrations at Lake Middle School.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to inspire middle-schoolers by showing them what a future in STEM could look like,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hen I was in school, I didn鈥檛 think a STEM career was possible for me until I got to work on hands-on projects. I know many Native students don鈥檛 have those opportunities, so we鈥檙e working to change that.鈥�

Looking forward, AISES aims to establish a more permanent support network for Native students in Denver, opening more pathways into STEM fields.

Indigenous Knowledge and STEM

AISES participated in the 2023 First Nations Launch as the 鈥楥U Trailblazers鈥�, sweeping first place in all their categories and a grand prize trip to the Kennedy Space Center.

Both Bagola and Redhorse draw from Indigenous knowledge to inform their approach to STEM.

Redhorse, who is of Navajo (Din茅) and Chickasaw descent, described how her cultural heritage shapes her engineering perspective.

鈥淚n our culture, we observe nature closely鈥攈ow animals act, how weather patterns shift, even how the stars guide us. Our ancestors used this knowledge for everything from growing crops to building structures,鈥� she said.

Inspired by these traditions, she incorporates Indigenous wisdom into school projects.

鈥淚 remember building a small rover in sixth grade based on how a beetle moved away from light. It鈥檚 that respect for nature and deep observation that really inspires me.鈥�

Redhorse often reflects on Navajo understandings of stars and space, which she sees as especially relevant to her studies in aerospace. She also appreciates Indigenous approaches to sustainability, noting how Native architecture adapts to harsh climates in environmentally mindful ways.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 the way water moves around structures or how a hogan鈥攁 traditional dwelling and ceremonial structure鈥攔etains heat, these hold incredible value in my engineering work.鈥�

Bagola, an integrative physiology student and a member of the Navajo (Din茅) and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, finds similar connections in her field.

鈥淔or us, health is not just physical鈥攊t鈥檚 about mind, spirit, and experience,鈥� she explained.

鈥淚ndigenous medicine, like using sweat lodges, plays an important role in healing. Staying connected with your spirit is essential to being truly healthy.鈥�

Community and Advice for Indigenous STEM Students

鈥淎ISES is a really welcoming community for Native students here at CU,鈥� Redhorse said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a safe space where we can connect, share and rejuvenate. Our meetings are open to anyone, you don鈥檛 have to be Native. We welcome anyone who wants to learn about our culture and support us.鈥�

Campus Organizations and Community Resources

Like Bagola, Redhorse also said her involvement with AISES has helped her grow as a leader. Recently, she was invited to welcome the keynote speakers at 缅北禁地鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples鈥� Day plenary event鈥攁 role she could not have imagined for herself as a first-year student.

Chantal Baca, academic services manager for the BOLD Center, has served as the AISES faculty advisor for the past academic year. She noted the inclusive community for Indigenous students and credits AISES鈥� executive student board and members over the last five years.

鈥淭he AISES chapter is a remarkable group of student leaders who embody the vision, achievement and STEM student success,鈥� said Baca. 鈥淭heir membership has made a significant impact in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.鈥�

Student leaders offer heartfelt advice to Indigenous students interested in STEM.

鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to feel alone sometimes, but find your community, and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help,鈥� said Bagola. 鈥淛oining AISES helped me step out of my comfort zone, gain confidence and start reaching out to my professors and others in my field.鈥�

鈥淚n engineering, there were five women in a room of 50 students鈥攁nd being Native added another layer,鈥� said Redhorse. 鈥淏ut, I鈥檇 tell anyone in that position: keep going.鈥�

鈥淥ur people are resilient, and if you push through and find your community, you鈥檒l thrive.鈥�

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society has recognized 缅北禁地 as a top college for Indigenous students in its 2024-2025 national rankings.

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Architectural engineering receives DOE Zero Energy Design Designation

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:00:58 +0000

Architectural engineering receives DOE Zero Energy Design Designation Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/03/2022 - 11:00

The new DOE designation, awarded to 17 educational programs nationwide, honors post-secondary academic programs that require students to apply the best practices of zero energy design in their projects.

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