Missouri S&T is one of 35 universities to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a University Transportation Center (UTC). Missouri S&T received a $1.4 million UTC “tier 1” grant to develop robotic tools to inspect and maintain bridges and portions of highway from the air or from the side of the structure.

Dr. Genda Chen, the Robert W. Abbett Distinguished Chair in Civil Engineering, is director of the new center. Dr. Suzanna Long, interim chair and associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, is associate director of the center. Other faculty involved in the project include:

• Dr. Mohamed Elgawady, associate professor of civil engineering
• Dr. Hongyan Ma, assistant professor of civil engineering
• Dr. John Myers, professor of civil engineering and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing
• Dr. Ruwen Qin, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering
• Dr. Lesley Sneed, associate professor of civil engineering and Stirrat Faculty Scholar
• Dr. Zhaozheng Yin, assistant professor of computer science
• Dr. Reza Zoughi, the Schlumberger Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering