The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts
The Infrastructure Show consists of monthly podcasts in which some of the nation’s top infrastructure experts discuss with host Professor Joseph Schofer of Northwestern University the condition of our infrastructure today, and what can be done about it. While many subjects are addressed, including repairs, upgrades and new construction, there is an emphasis on the topics of preventive and predictive maintenance, as well as “structural health monitoring” – a special focus of the Northwestern Infrastructure Technology Institute, of which Dr. Schofer is Director.
- Update frequency
- every 30 days
- Average duration
- 24 minutes
- Episodes
- 33
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
The Eads Bridge at 150: A Story of Innovation in Design, Materials, and International Finance
The Eads Bridge, opened in 1874, is the oldest functioning bridge across the Mississippi River. This St. Louis crossing, named after its designer/builder, James Eads, pioneered the use of steel, then…
The Eads Bridge at 150: A Story of Innovation in Design, Materials, and International Finance
Saving Intercity Bus Terminals
Intercity bus terminals are key links in the national bus network. We’re losing some these terminals due to pressures for more lucrative land uses. The announced closing of Chicago’s downtown Greyhou…
Big Infrastructure for Big Science - The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment
Scientific research needs supporting infrastructure – some small, some big, but rarely simple. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment – DUNE – will study the neutrino, one of the smallest atomic pa…
Let Drones Do It – Taking on Bridge Inspection
Bridge inspectors like to get up close and personal to detect small defects that could grow into disasters. The configuration of bridges – their size, height, and locations – can make the job difficu…
The Global Positioning Satellite System – Fifty Years of Success
GPS, the Global Positioning System, is now half a century old. This extraordinary technological advance routinely guides planes, ships, trains, automobiles, bikers and pedestrians with high precision…
Locking the Door on Cyberattacks
Almost every major system we rely on seems to be vulnerable to cyberattacks from scammers, criminals, and nation states threatening our national security. Reports of cyberattacks disrupting and even …
Delivering Energy on Demand: Grid-Scale Storage
Energy from wind and solar sources is available when nature permits, but the demand for energy is based on the cyclical needs of people and their activities. To make renewable energy work, and to man…
When Permafrost isn’t Permanent – Building Infrastructure in Cold Regions
In very cold places, like Alaska, Northern parts of Canada and Europe, building infrastructure means building on permafrost, perennially frozen ground. Permafrost provides reliable foundations for bu…
The Bay Lights – Bridges as Art
Spectacular bridges can be focal points of their host cities, reminding us that unique infrastructure can also be unique art. Lighting those bridges can carry their aesthetic value into the night. In…
The Port of Duluth-Superior – Our Largest Freshwater Seaport
The Port of Duluth-Superior, located at the western end of Lake Superior, is a national and international cargo hub, serving the Great Lakes and, through the St. Lawrence Seaway, the rest of the worl…
Giving Streets Back to People – Tactical Urbanism in Atlanta
Some U.S. Cities are taking back streets from exclusive use by motor vehicles to protect and prioritize vulnerable road users – pedestrians and bicyclists – and to enhance neighborhood livability. Th…
Getting PFAS Out of Our Drinking Water (fixed)
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the forever chemicals, are commonly used as protective coatings because they resist heat, stains and water. Because PFAS do not normally degrade in the envi…