Federal Highway Administration’s Mobile Concrete Technology Center makes stop at ASEL
Published: Apr 11, 2024 11:30 AM
By Dustin Duncan
Future civil and environmental engineers had a chance to see the latest technology in action when the Federal Highway Administration’s Mobile Concrete Technology Center visited Auburn University on March 8.
Michael Praul, senior concrete engineer with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), gave a presentation during a lunch and learn event at the Brown-Kopel Center about the past, present and future of concrete technology. Then, students, faculty and industry professionals traveled to the Advanced Structural Engineering Laboratory to see what the Mobile Concrete Technology Center (MCTC) could offer.
The MCTC has state-of-the-art concrete technology in materials selection, mixture design, field and laboratory testing and pavement evaluation. The center makes several visits throughout the country to display this technology, usually to various state department of transportation sites working on projects requiring specialized equipment.
“This visit by the FHWA was the perfect opportunity for students planning for careers in concrete to see what is happening in the field right now,” said Anton Schindler, Mountain Spirit Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the director of the Highway Research Center.
Students who attended the event were treated to live demonstrations by FWHA personnel and a tour through the center to learn what technology is being used by concrete professionals today.
Auburn alumnus Jagan Gudimettla, ’02 civil and environmental engineering, also gave a presentation on new concrete testing technologies and led demonstrations at ASEL. Gudimettla is the project manager for the FWHA’s Mobile Concrete Technology Center.
The MCTC helps educate federal, state and local transportation staff on advanced concrete technology by:
- Conducting on-site field testing at construction sites to complement state highway agency testing and demonstrate new equipment and construction methods.
- Training agency personnel through practical experience with new technologies.
- Showcasing equipment and technology at industry events, conferences and agency facilities to introduce transportation staff to cutting-edge technology.
- Offering an equipment loan program where agency personnel can borrow equipment after training from MCTC staff to use in their projects.
“We are grateful to the FWHA for coming to ASEL, talking to our students about the future of concrete engineering and then taking the time to show off the latest technologies,” Schindler said. “It’s important for students to take what they are learning in the classroom and our laboratories and see how these new technologies are implemented in projects happening around the country.”
Media Contact: , dzd0065@auburn.edu, 334-844-2326
Auburn alumnus Jagan Gudimettla, ’02 civil and environmental engineering and project manager for the Federal Highway Administration’s Mobile Concrete Technology Center, leads a demonstration for students, faculty and industry professionals.
