Rutgers Goes Into BEAST Mode
Did you know that New Jersey has one of the most advanced transportation research facilities in the country? That’s right, the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation is one of five National University Transportation Centers in the country and they are conducting cutting edge transportation research right here in the Garden State.
One of their newest research tools is a building-sized contraption affectionately known as the BEAST (Bridge Evaluation and Accelerated Testing). With the BEAST, CAIT researchers can simulate 15-20 years of wear-and-tear on a bridge in just a few months, enabling them to test the durability of new materials and construction techniques before they are used in the field. The BEAST will help engineers design safer, more durable, and more cost-efficient bridges. In more than one way, this is a big deal, and we’re proud to have the BEAST in New Jersey.