The University of Missouri-Rolla’s National University Transportation Center (NTC) will receive $1.5 million in federal funds for transportation research.

The research center was one of 10 in the nation to receive “national” status under last year’s federal highway bill, which was authored by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond as chair of the Senate Environment and Public Work’s Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

“The university is most appreciative of this re-authorization grant that will enable us to continue the center, which was established in 1998 to build on the campus’ transportation-related engineering programs,” says Dr. Antonio Nanni, the Vernon and Maralee Jones Professor of Civil Engineering at UMR and an expert in advanced materials. “It was with great satisfaction that we were promoted from a university transportation center to a national transportation center in recognition of the type of work we have conducted. This investment by the federal government will allow us to expand our research and education activities to include transportation fuel and other issues that are at the forefront of society and the national agenda.”

Researchers at UMR’s NUTC conduct research into non-destructive testing technologies and advanced materials for strengthening bridges, roads and buildings. The NUTC is closely aligned with another research initiative at the campus: the UMR Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies, which provides research expertise in the areas of building and civil infrastructure, such as roads and bridges; power infrastructure, such as electric power; and infrastructure management.

Both the CIES and the NUTC are under the direction of Nanni.