Smart infrastructure research receives funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sriram Narasimhan, Canada Research Chair in Smart Infrastructure and professor cross-appointed to the departments of civil and environmental engineering and mechanical and mechatronics engineering, is the recipient of $100,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). 

Sriram Narasimhan

With the funds, Narasimhan will establish an experimental laboratory space to remotely assess infrastructure and conduct better research in the field. Emphasis will be placed on connecting areas of research within smart infrastructure; such as structural system identification, health monitoring and structural control. By combining these areas, Narasimhan aims to address the technical challenges involved in early detection of infrastructure failures – using sensors and smart data acquisition technology for automatic detection of issues.

These advanced monitoring and assessment technologies will evaluate and predict better, and ultimately help us avoid catastrophic failures caused by natural and man-made hazards.

The award comes through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, a fund developed to help universities attract and retain top research talent.

CFI news release: "Minister Holder announces investment in university infrastructure"

University of Waterloo news release: " Waterloo research to make structures safer receives funding"