The construction industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation driven by groundbreaking infrastructure projects that push the boundaries of engineering, materials science, and digital technology. While many discussions about construction innovation focus on tools and methods like Key Facts About How Are Drones Changing the industry, the projects themselves are where these technologies prove their value. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has designated 13 new Infrastructure Gamechangers projects and programs that represent the latest innovations in transportation, water, and energy infrastructure. These projects are reshaping how engineers plan, build, and adapt to the nation's infrastructure needs. This article explores these 13 gamechanging projects across four key areas: transportation, smart monitoring, sustainable energy, and water management.
Next-Generation Transportation Infrastructure Projects
Transportation infrastructure in the United States is receiving a much-needed upgrade through several projects that combine speed, safety, and operational efficiency. From faster trains to autonomous safety vehicles, these initiatives demonstrate how modern engineering is addressing long-standing challenges in moving people and goods.
Amtrak Acela Modernization
Amtrak has increased the speed of its new Acela trains by 10 miles per hour, reaching up to 160 mph. This improvement is expected to trim 15 minutes off travel time between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The new trains carry 380 passengers, representing a 25 percent increase over current fleets, while using 20 percent less energy. The USD 2.4 billion modernization effort continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, preserving critical jobs during the economic downturn.
Columbus Smart Circuit Autonomous Shuttle
In Columbus, Ohio, the Smart Circuit autonomous shuttle bus provides free public transit along two routes: the Scioto Mile downtown corridor and the Linden neighborhood route. The 15-passenger vehicle can serve up to 90 passengers per hour. The Scioto Mile route, launched in 2018, was one of the first autonomous shuttle services of its kind in the United States. The Linden Mile route extends this technology into a residential neighborhood environment, setting a precedent for future autonomous public transit deployments.
North Dakota Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has deployed an Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle to protect construction crews from drivers who may be distracted or have lost control of their vehicles. In 2019 alone, 234 work zone crashes occurred on North Dakota highways, resulting in 64 injuries and two fatalities. The autonomous vehicle is remotely controlled by a crew member from a safe distance, eliminating the need for a human driver inside the protection vehicle and reducing risk to personnel. Related technologies for construction site safety are explored in How Are Drones Changing the Construction Industry, where aerial monitoring provides additional layers of worksite protection.
Port of Los Angeles Port Optimizer
The Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the United States and one of the largest globally, has implemented the Port Optimizer program. This digital platform creates a single operational tool for all port stakeholders, including shipping lines, marine terminals, motor carriers, and railroads. By centralizing data, the platform enables operational improvements that are expected to boost productivity by 8 to 12 percent. Stakeholders gain an average of 14 days of advance visibility into cargo movements, improving predictability across the entire supply chain.
Smart Monitoring Systems Enhancing Infrastructure Safety
Data-driven monitoring systems are becoming essential tools for infrastructure management. These systems use sensors, weather radar, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms to provide real-time information that helps prevent disasters, optimize maintenance, and protect public safety.
Arizona I-10 Dust Detection and Dynamic Response System
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has installed a sophisticated dust detection system along the I-10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. Dust storms are a significant cause of crashes and fatalities in this region. The system combines short-range dust gauges with a long-range weather radar dish that can detect dust storms from over 40 miles away. When dust is detected, closed-circuit cameras verify the conditions, and ADOT can dynamically reduce speed limits and update electronic message boards to warn drivers in real time.
Cary, North Carolina Flood Prediction Monitoring System
The town of Cary, North Carolina, has partnered with SAS and Microsoft to create an advanced flood prediction system. Wireless sensors and rain gauges detect rising water levels in local water sources and transmit data to a central database. Officials can then model expected water level rises based on current conditions. The system uses an IoT platform to automatically send alerts to all relevant local departments, enabling rapid preparation and mitigation measures that save millions of dollars in potential flood damages.
Indiana Concrete Sensors for Long-Term Monitoring
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has deployed concrete sensors that remain embedded in structures for extended periods. Traditional concrete testing evaluates material at just 28 days of curing. By leaving sensors within the concrete, engineers can study the effectiveness of their work over much longer timelines and detect precisely when concrete needs replacement. This data-driven approach to infrastructure maintenance represents a significant advancement in asset management. For professionals involved in complex infrastructure projects, the principles of Bridge Construction and Heavy Civil Engineering Equipment Specialized machinery provide additional context on how monitoring technologies integrate with large-scale construction operations.
Michigan EMILY Bridge Scour Inspection Device
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has deployed EMILY, an autonomous boat-like device used to inspect bridge scour. Scour, the erosion of material around bridge foundations, is one of the leading causes of bridge failure. EMILY uses cameras and sonar technology to investigate conditions beyond what is possible during human dive inspections. MDOT partnered with a Great Lakes engineering firm to deploy this device, which determines whether a crew member needs to enter the water, thereby reducing risks to inspection personnel.
Clean Energy Projects and Sustainable Construction Materials
The transition to clean energy and sustainable materials is reshaping infrastructure projects across the United States. Four ASCE-recognized projects demonstrate how innovation in energy generation and construction materials can reduce carbon emissions while improving performance and cost-effectiveness.
Hillsboro In-Pipe Hydroelectric Project
Hillsboro, Oregon, has installed the first renewable energy project featuring In-PRV smart water technology. The system converts excess water pressure in pipes into carbon-free electricity. It is expected to generate between 185,000 and 200,000 kWh of electricity per year, which will power electric vehicle charging stations and a local recreation center. The installation will reduce more than 162,000 pounds of carbon annually, equivalent to taking 240,000 driven miles off the road each year.
Long Ridge Energy Terminal Hydrogen Power Plant
Long Ridge Energy Terminal in Hannibal, Ohio, has become the first hydrogen-burning power plant in the United States. The facility blends hydrogen into its natural gas stream, allowing it to burn 15 to 20 percent hydrogen initially and transition to 100 percent green hydrogen over the next decade. Long Ridge partnered with GE Power on the USD 588 million project, using an H-class gas turbine. This is the first facility in the world to blend hydrogen in a gas turbine for power generation, setting a precedent for the decarbonization of power plants.
Massachusetts Clean Peak Energy Standard
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources created the nation's first Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPES). This policy provides incentives for utilities to deploy clean energy technologies that supply electricity or reduce demand during seasonal peak periods. The Energy Storage Association estimates that the reduction in infrastructure costs will save ratepayers USD 710 million over the next decade while cutting carbon emissions by 560,000 metric tons in the first 10 years.
Neo Recycled Plastic Road Substance
California-based TechniSoil Industrial has developed Neo, a recycled road substance that blends recycled plastics with reclaimed asphalt pavement. The process mills the existing roadway, mixes a polymer-infused substance with the reclaimed pavement, and immediately repaves the recycled material back onto the road. Each lane mile of Neo uses 150,000 plastic bottles and achieves a 90 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional methods. The process eliminates 84 truckloads per mile of hauling waste asphalt out and new asphalt in, and roads can reopen to traffic the same day. Neo roadways are expected to last three times longer than asphalt and are approximately five times as strong as traditional materials.
Waterway Remediation and Flood Resilience Solutions
Water infrastructure challenges, from debris pollution to flood management, are being addressed through innovative technologies that combine robotics, data analytics, and IoT platforms. These solutions demonstrate how interdisciplinary approaches can solve complex environmental and infrastructure problems.
RanMarine WasteShark Autonomous Water Drone
Atlanta-based startup RanMarine has developed the WasteShark, an autonomous drone that travels through waterways to collect litter, biomass, microplastics, and other debris using a basket underneath the device. Beyond waste removal, the WasteShark also collects valuable data on water conditions. Its sensors analyze water temperature, pH levels, depth, green algae concentration, and hydrocarbons in oil. This dual function of cleanup and monitoring makes the WasteShark a versatile tool for municipalities managing urban waterways.
Infrastructure Project Comparison Table
| Project Name | Location | Category | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Acela Modernization | Northeast Corridor | Transportation | 160 mph, 25% more capacity, 20% less energy |
| ADOT I-10 Dust Detection | Arizona | Monitoring | 40-mile dust detection, dynamic speed control |
| WasteShark Drone | Atlanta, Georgia | Water | Debris collection plus water quality monitoring |
| Cary Flood Prediction | North Carolina | Monitoring | IoT flood alerts, millions in damage prevention |
| Columbus Smart Circuit | Ohio | Transportation | Autonomous shuttle, 90 passengers/hour |
| Hillsboro In-Pipe Hydro | Oregon | Energy | 200,000 kWh/year carbon-free electricity |
| INDOT Concrete Sensors | Indiana | Monitoring | Long-term concrete curing analysis |
| Long Ridge Hydrogen Plant | Ohio | Energy | First US hydrogen-burning power plant |
| Massachusetts CPES | Massachusetts | Energy | USD 710M savings, 560K metric ton CO2 reduction |
| MDOT EMILY Device | Michigan | Monitoring | Sonar bridge scour inspection |
| Neo Recycled Road | California | Materials | 90% GHG reduction, 3x longer lifespan |
| NDDOT Autonomous Vehicle | North Dakota | Transportation | Remote-controlled work zone protection |
| Port of LA Optimizer | California | Transportation | 8-12% productivity increase, 14-day visibility |
As these 13 projects demonstrate, infrastructure innovation in the United States is happening across multiple fronts simultaneously. The projects recognized by ASCE as Infrastructure Gamechangers share common characteristics: they leverage innovative technologies, employ creative funding mechanisms, set new standards for their industries, and rely on unique collaborations between agencies, private firms, and research institutions.
The need for such innovation is underscored by ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, which assigned the nation's infrastructure a cumulative GPA of C-minus. While this represents a modest improvement from the D-plus grade given in 2017, significant work remains. The 13 projects profiled here provide a blueprint for how the construction industry can address these challenges through practical, scalable innovation.
Successful infrastructure delivery also depends on skilled project leadership. The principles covered in Comprehensive Guide to Professional Construction Management and Its benefits are directly applicable to executing complex projects like those featured in ASCE's Gamechangers list. From the Port Optimizer's data integration to Long Ridge's hydrogen turbine technology, each project required coordinated management across multiple disciplines and stakeholders. As the industry continues to evolve, the combination of innovative technology and professional construction management will be essential for delivering infrastructure that meets the nation's needs in the 21st century.