The Center for Urban Infrastructure is operated under the auspices of the Civil Engineering Department. The research focus of the Center is on New York City and its infrastructure, with special emphasis on renewal, rehabilitation, capacity expansion, and protection of the City’s urban systems.

The following major research projects are currently underway in the Center:

 Blast-resistant Materials and Systems

A comprehensive program for the development of blast-resistant materials and systems has resulted in three US patents and one Canadian patent which are presently in the commercialization phase:

• US Patent # 7,677,151, dated March 16, 2010, entitled “Protective Structure and Protective System” by Jameel Ahmad
•  US Patent # 7,562,613, dated July 21, 2009, entitled “Protective Structure and Protective System” by Jameel Ahmad
•  Canada Patent CA2544060, dated December 2, 2008, entitled “Protective Structure and Protective System” by Jameel Ahmad
• US Patent # 6,973,864, dated December 13, 2005, entitled “Protective Structure and Protective System” by Jameel Ahmad

Self-compacting Concretes

Development of self-compacting concretes (SCC) using certain classes of super-plasticizers is in progress in the Center with special applications in blast mitigation design. SCC also has broad application potential in road building and rehabilitation to prevent potholes or roadbed disintegration, thereby significantly prolonging the life of the system. A proprietary wire-mesh reinforcement system covered by the patents described above has the potential to make SCC concrete systems comparable to structural steel in strength and durability.

Asphalt Technology

An earlier R&D program in asphalt technology resulted in the following US patents:

• US Patent # 5,106,227 dated April 21, 1992 entitled "Reinforced Asphalt Concrete and Structure for Producing Same," by Jameel Ahmad and Joseph P. Valenza
• US Patent # 5,009,543 dated April 23, 1991 entitled "Reinforced Asphalt Concrete and Structure for Producing Same," by Jameel Ahmad and Joseph Valenza.

Dam-less Kinetic Hydropower Generation

Kinetic Hydropower generation from the flowing waters of rivers, canals, or tailraces is another major area of R&D in the Center. This research has resulted in the following US patent which was developed under a research contract with Verdant Power, a New York kinetic hydropower company:

• US Patent # 7,456,514, dated November 25, 2008, entitled “Kinetic Hydropower Generation from Slow-Moving Waters” by Jameel Ahmad

Ocean Wave Energy Generation

Generation of energy from ocean waves is another area of current research in the Center. A proof-of-concept laboratory project was conducted in the Hydraulics Lab of the Civil Engineering Department in 2010. Work is now underway on the design and deployment strategy for a pilot project off the coast of Long Island. The initial output of the project will be several hundred KW’s with a build-out potential in the MW range. A joint team of civil and mechanical engineering faculty and students are working on this project.