Presents findings of an international symposium hosted by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation in Washington, DC, on February 4-8, 1996. This report identifies follow-up actions designed to strengthen international collaborative efforts to accelerate the introduction on innovative technologies and systems.

Presented at Engineering and Construction for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century, held in Washington, D.C., February 4-8, 1996. Sponsored by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation. This report presents 38 prospectuses developed by industry experts from more than 25 countries as part of an international collaborative agenda for the construction industry to advance innovation in support of sustainable development. The prospectuses, or proposed collaborative projects, identify challenges facing the engineering and construction industry and the problems associated with implementing innovative technologies. The prospectuses also recommend solutions to these challenges; detail the benefits of these solutions; identify proposed collaborative partners; and estimate the cost and schedule associated with implementing these projects.

Prepared by the Partnership for Building Innovation of CERF. Sponsored by CERF; National Institute of Standards and Technology; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This report presents the results of a planning effort to enhance the entry of building innovation into the marketplace and outlines an action plan for an enhanced national evaluation process. This enhanced evaluation process to identify new building technology should have these characteristics: uses the best expertise targeted to the specific technology being evaluated; evaluates technology to other than code requirements; is recognized by the international community; uses advanced information technology; is utilized by public and private building owners; and can evaluate all types of technologies and systems.

Prepared by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation This report presents a summary of some of the key characteristics of 27 leading construction industry technical approval/evaluation organizations in the world. The report is based on a survey of 37 different approval/evaluation organizations. A summary analysis for each organization includes tabular presentations showing key organization characteristics and two-page profiles. The discussion includes types of product or services, types of evaluation, reporting mechanisms, international relationships, responsibility/liability issues, and evaluation processes.

This book advises the federal government on a national infrastructure research agenda. It takes the position that the traditional disciplinary and institutional divisions among infrastructure modes and professions are largely historical artifacts that impose barriers to the development of new technology and encourages the government to embrace a more interdisciplinary approach. In order to be practical, the study focuses on infrastructure technologies that can be incorporated into or overlay current systems, allow for alternative future alternative future urban development, and are likely to have value cutting across the distinct functional modes of infrastructure. Finally, the report is organized according to seven broad cross-cutting areas that should promote interdisciplinary approaches to infrastructure problems: systems life-cycle management, analysis and decision tools, information management, condition assessment and monitoring technology, the science of materials performance and deterioration, construction equipment and procedures, and technology management.

Prepared by the Partnership for Building Innovation project, which is sponsored by CERF;ØNational Institute of Standards and Technology; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This report documents the efforts of the Partnership for Building Innovation to lay the foundation for developing a national strategy for public?private sector partnerships in implementing technology and systems innovation in the buildings sector. The project also explores the problems inherent in the current approaches to introducing building innovation and investigates the needs and perspectives of key stakeholders. This report suggests a preliminary framework for implementing innovation, centered around an enhanced evaluation process with participation from the technical, building owner, and insurance communities.