Group items tagged

The objective of this study is to assess the effect of truck traffic on bridge performance by conducting the following: Collect quality truck traffic and loads data (volumes, classifications, size, weights, and other relevant data) by installing, maintaining, calibrating, and utilizing state of art instrumentation at selected bridge sites nationally, for the purpose of calibrating bridge specifications and quantifying load-induced deterioration of bridge elements and systems to establish bridge performance and serviceability criteria for improved long-term bridge performance, management and operations. This research requires the deployment of market-ready, low risk, state-of-practice technologies to monitor in-service bridges, collect bridge load and response data, and bridge component deterioration and establish correlations that are applicable to illustrate the impact of vehicular live loads on bridge component performance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3-People, Prosperity and the Planet Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. The P3 Award program was developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of improved quality of life, economic prosperity and protection of the planet -- people, prosperity, and the planet - the three pillars of sustainability. The EPA offers the P3 competition in order to respond to the technical needs of the world while moving towards the goal of sustainability. Please see the P3 website for more details about this program.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for transportation practitioners to improve and integrate pedestrian and bicycle safety considerations at alternative intersections and interchanges (AII) through planning, design, and operational treatments that (1) identifies and evaluates current practices, and emerging technologies and trends, in the U.S. and internationally; (2) describes current best practices for measuring the effectiveness of such AII treatments; (3) evaluates the safety and operational outcomes of specific AII treatments; and (4) identifies and ranks treatments for typical types of projects. The primary focus of the research is roadway functional classifications of collector and above.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for transportation practitioners to improve and integrate pedestrian and bicycle safety considerations at alternative intersections and interchanges (AII) through planning, design, and operational treatments that (1) identifies and evaluates current practices, and emerging technologies and trends, in the U.S. and internationally; (2) describes current best practices for measuring the effectiveness of such AII treatments; (3) evaluates the safety and operational outcomes of specific AII treatments; and (4) identifies and ranks treatments for typical types of projects. The primary focus of the research is roadway functional classifications of collector and above.

Developments in bridge design and analysis in recent years have created the need for improvements to cross-frame analysis and design for steel girder bridges. In the past, the configuration of cross-frame systems was generally based upon standard designs in which member sizes and layouts were dependent upon geometry and minimum member cross-section requirements. The opportunities for improvements to cross-frame analysis and design cover a variety of topics including: (1) improved definition of fatigue loading for cross frames in curved and/or severely skewed steel girder bridges analyzed using refined analysis methods; (2) implementation of stability bracing strength and stiffness requirements in the context of AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) bridge design; and (3) additional guidance for adjustment of the effective stiffness of cross-frame members in refined analysis models to reflect the influence of end connections on cross-frame member stiffness. Addressing these topics could result in a dramatic improvement in reliability and economy of cross frames for steel I-girder bridges.

Developments in bridge design and analysis in recent years have created the need for improvements to cross-frame analysis and design for steel girder bridges. In the past, the configuration of cross-frame systems was generally based upon standard designs in which member sizes and layouts were dependent upon geometry and minimum member cross-section requirements. The opportunities for improvements to cross-frame analysis and design cover a variety of topics including: (1) improved definition of fatigue loading for cross frames in curved and/or severely skewed steel girder bridges analyzed using refined analysis methods; (2) implementation of stability bracing strength and stiffness requirements in the context of AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) bridge design; and (3) additional guidance for adjustment of the effective stiffness of cross-frame members in refined analysis models to reflect the influence of end connections on cross-frame member stiffness. Addressing these topics could result in a dramatic improvement in reliability and economy of cross frames for steel I-girder bridges.  

The NSF/Intel Partnership on Computer Assisted Programming for Heterogeneous Architectures (CAPA) aims to address the problem of effective software development for diverse hardware architectures through groundbreaking university research that will lead to a significant, measurable leap in software development productivity by partially or fully automating software development tasks that are currently performed by humans. The main research objectives for CAPA include programmer effectiveness, performance portability, and performance predictability. In order to address these objectives, CAPA seeks research proposals that explore (1) programming abstractions and/or methodologies that separate performance-related aspects of program design from how they are implemented; (2) program synthesis and machine learning approaches for automatic software construction that are demonstrably correct; (3) advanced hardware-based cost models and abstractions to support multi-target code generation and performance predictability for specified heterogeneous hardware architectures; and (4) integration of research results into principled software development practices.

The GLCPC is seeking innovative proposals that fall into four categories: Scaling studies: The scaling of codes which will operate efficiently on large numbers of parallel processors presents a number of challenges.  Therefore, projects of particular interest include those that optimize and/or scale community codes to very large scales. Examples include scaling of multilevel parallel applications (MPI+OpenMP), accelerators (CUDA, OpenACC or OpenCL), I/O and Data intensive applications, or novel communication topologies.  Multi-GLCPC-institutional projects addressing focused scientific projects. An example might be a Great Lakes Ecosystems Modeling initiative (Digital Great Lakes). Proposals for applications well-suited for the BW system architecture. Proposals from non-traditional and underserved communities.  

The challenge to the teams competing in Solar Decathlon 2015 is to safely and effectively design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive in less than 24 months. The Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an educational workforce development program designed to educate university-level students. The Solar Decathlon is also a public outreach demonstration designed to foster greater adoption of clean energy technologies and energy efficiency. 

The Board of Regents is seeking high quality, focused cooperative education and internship program proposals from Ohio institutions of higher education and their partners. This program has been funded  through one-time casino licensing fees; it is expected that the funds will be awarded to build systems to sustain co-ops and internships beyond the direct investment from the State and to ensure these workbased learning opportunities are relevant to the needs of students and businesses. Funds will be awarded to build the capability and capacity of programs to engage more students, more businesses,  and more faculty members in co-op and internship programs. The programs should address the talent needs of JobsOhio key industries.

The following programs have due dates that fall between October 1 - 25, 2013, and these dates are being revised due to the Federal  government shutdown. These revised dates apply whether the proposal is being submitted via the NSF FastLane System or  Grants.gov. Due to compressed proposal deadlines resulting from the shutdown, proposers are advised that they may experience a  delay when contacting IT Help Central with technical support questions. Frequently asked questions regarding these date changes  are available on the Resumption of Operations page on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/postshutdown.jsp. 

The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) is a national design award that recognizes transformative urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America's cities. Founded in 1986 by architect Simeon Bruner, the award promotes innovative thinking about the built environment by celebrating and sharing the stories of creative and inspiring urban development.

The Harvard University Graduate School of Design is accepting applications for the 2018 Richard Rogers Fellowship program. Based at Wimbledon House in London, which was designed by Lord Rogers in the late 1960s, the fellowship is intended to encourage in-depth, original forms of investigation as a way to expand architectural practice and scholarship. Open to accomplished practitioners and scholars working in fields related to the built environment, the fellowship supports research projects focused on topics that have been central to Lord Rogers's life and career, including questions of urbanism, sustainability, and how people use cities. Each of the six selected fellows will receive a three-month residency at Wimbledon House in London as well as round-trip travel expenses, a $10,000 cash stipend, and unique access to London's extraordinary institutions, libraries, practices, professionals, and other resources. The fellowship is open to applicants from anywhere in the world. However, applicants must demonstrate professional or research experience in a field related to the built environment and must propose new or ongoing research that would benefit from a residency in London. Applicants must have completed a graduate or professionally accredited degree. Preference will be given to practitioners and researchers with significant academic credentials or experience in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning or urban design, as well as applicants who propose ambitious research projects with the potential to make a significant impact on relevant fields of research or practice.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hereby requests applications for assistance to result in the award of a Cooperative Agreement (Agreement), entitled "Development and Deployment of Innovative Asphalt Pavement Technologies." The purpose of this proposed Agreement is to stimulate, facilitate, and expedite the deployment and rapid adoption of new and innovative technology relating to the design, production, testing, control, construction, and investigation of asphalt pavements. The proposed project is a cooperative effort between the FHWA and the Recipient to improve the quality and performance of asphalt pavements. Products shall include developing marketing/implementation plans, engaging subject matter experts to aid in conducting forensic investigations pertaining to deployment and in the refinement of specifications and practices, developing web-based training tools, marketing of case studies, data analysis, market analysis, specification tracking, compilation of findings, and supporting stakeholder engagement. This effort will leverage the unique technology capabilities and facilities of the Recipient with FHWA's mission.

The Knight Foundation believes that great public spaces can transform cities by fostering civic life, drawing people out of their homes and into the community, and encouraging neighbors to be together and interact.  To be eligible, candidates must have created or influenced the creation of a great public space or spaces that resulted in community transformation and possess the following attributes: a trackable performance record of exceptional public space work; a demonstrated commitment to the value of public spaces in advancing civic engagement and building stronger communities; and the potential to make significant new contributions to the use of public space in the community.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) announces its interest in receiving applications to explore of the suitability of various implementations of quantum computing hardware for science applications. This foundational research will facilitate the development of device architectures well-suited for scientific applications of quantum computing and improve our understanding of the advantages and limitations of various approaches to quantum computing for science applications. The purpose of this FOA is to invite applications for foundational research in the following two areas: 1. Exploring the relationship between device architecture and application performance 2. Developing meaningful metrics for evaluating the suitability of quantum computing hardware for science applications Applications may address one or both of these themes. Proposed research should focus on devices that are already available or that become available during the term of the award rather than large-scale, high-fidelity, fault-tolerant machines. Funded teams will be expected to collaborate externally with researchers working to develop applications and algorithms that can expand the frontiers of scientific discovery. Funded teams will also be expected to participate in community engagement activities that support the growth of an active, integrated research community committed to the common goal of developing quantum computing resources for advancing scientific discovery. Topics that are out of scope include: development and optimization of quantum algorithms; development of new candidate qubit systems; schemes based on qubits that have not yet demonstrated high-fidelity gates; schemes to improve the performance and functionality of qubits; quantum transduction; quantum communication, networking, and key distribution; cryptography and cryptanalysis; and logical qubits beyond considerations given to scaling to ~10 qubit devices.

With this publication, HUD is making available up to $5,000,000 for Planning Grants, including Planning and Action Grants.1. Planning Grants are two-year grants that assist communities with severely distressed public or HUD-assisted housing in developing a successful neighborhood transformation plan and building the support necessary for that plan to be successfully implemented.2. Planning and Action Grants are three and a half year planning grants that pair planning with action. Experience shows that tangible actions taken early on help communities build momentum for further planning and the eventual transition from planning to implementation of that plan. These actions improve neighborhood confidence, which in turn sustains the community’s energy, attracts more engagement and resources, and helps convince skeptical stakeholders that positive change is possible. Under these grants, the planning process activities would take place during the first 24 months of the grant period. The planning process will identify Action Activities that will be carried out during the latter portion of the grant period. Action Activities must build upon the planning for the target housing and neighborhood.

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems are a vital means for collecting traffic data-critical input for pavement and bridge designs-used for making transportation and freight planning decisions and in highway safety investigations. There are, however, many potential sources of error in WIM measurements which make it difficult for data collectors to evaluate data accuracy and consistency. For over a decade, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program collected a massive amount of WIM data, along with information about the performance of WIM equipment. This includes the WIM validation and calibration data from 24 LTPP Specific Pavement Studies (SPS) test sites across North America. This and other data sets provide an opportunity to develop more advanced WIM tools to help state highway practitioners perform WIM site selection, sensor selection, maintenance, development of calibration procedures including frequency, and data quality acceptance. These tools could help improve WIM data accuracy and consistency by considering factors such as temperature and seasonal effects, vehicle speed, pavement condition, changes in truck population and configurations, data sampling frequencies, system age, and other factors.

Building America Industry Partnerships and Research Priorities for High Performance Housing Innovation - 2018 The mission of BTO's Residential Buildings Integration (RBI) Program is to accelerate energy performance improvements in existing and new residential buildings using an integrated building systems approach to achieve peak energy performance. The RBI Program's market outcome goal is to reduce, by 2025, the energy used for space conditioning and water heating in single-family homes by 40% from 2010 levels. RBI's focus on space conditioning and water heating offers the best opportunities for influencing residential energy use. With this FOA, RBI will select building science project teams in 2018 for the Building America Program to accelerate energy performance improvements in existing and new residential buildings using an integrated building systems approach, and achieve optimal home energy performance. These Building America teams will work with industry partners and real world homes to develop and validate technologies and practices that achieve optimal energy and cost performance while effectively managing related risks (e.g., indoor air quality and moisture durability).

This program seeks to accelerate fundamental, broad-based research on wireless-specific machine learning (ML) techniques, towards a new wireless system and architecture design, which can dynamically access shared spectrum, efficiently operate with limited radio and network resources, and scale to address the diverse and stringent quality-of-service requirements of future wireless applications. In parallel, this program also targets research on reliable distributed ML by addressing the challenge of computation over wireless edge networks to enable ML for wireless and future applications. Model-based approaches for designing the wireless network stack have proven quite efficient in delivering the networks in wide use today; research enabled by this program is expected to identify realistic problems that can be best solved by ML and to address fundamental questions about expected improvements from using ML over model-based methods.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is designed to support highly integrated research teams of three to six PD/PIs to address ambitious and challenging research questions that are important for the mission of NIGMS and are beyond the scope of an individual or a few investigators. Collaborative program teams are expected to accomplish goals that require considerable synergy and managed team interactions. Project goals should not be achievable with a collection of individual efforts or projects. Teams are encouraged to consider far-reaching objectives that will produce major advances in their fields. Applications that are mainly focused on the creation, expansion, and/or maintenance of community resources, creation of new technologies or infrastructure development are not appropriate for this FOA.

The Resident Opportunity & Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinator (SC) program funds eligible applicants to hire Service Coordinators to coordinate use of assistance under the Public Housing program with public and private resources, for supportive services and resident empowerment activities. Service Coordinators assess the needs of public and Indian housing residents and link them to supportive services that enable participants to increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. In the case of elderly/disabled residents, the Service Coordinator links participants to supportive services which enable them to age/remain in-place thereby avoiding costlier forms of care. Funds awarded to applicants may be used for (1)service coordinator functions, (2) training and travel related to professional and/or program development, (3) and administration cost.