Office of Materials and Infrastructure
Anhdan Le | Chief
The Office of Materials and Infrastructure (OM&I) focuses on transportation research to support the Divisions of Construction, Design, Engineering Services, Environmental Analysis, and Maintenance, in addition to Caltrans’ Headquarters and its twelve Districts. Through partnerships with academia, industry, and both internal and external stakeholders, our research delivers practical results that enable new, safe, innovative, and cost-effective solutions for our customers. This is achieved by enhancing design, specifications, materials, construction methods, best management practices, testing procedures, maintenance strategies, policies, and guidance documents.
Research focus areas:
- Earthquake Engineering
- Engineering Seismology
- Environmental Impact Mitigation
- Foundation Engineering
- Geotechnical Applications
- Infrastructure Research Planning and Coordination
- Maintenance Applications
- Pavement
- Structures And Materials Analysis
- Construction
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING SEISMOLOGY
KyungTae (KT) Kim | Senior Materials and Research Engineer (Specialist)
This goal of this research area is to provide reliable models and tools for seismic hazard assessment and to develop effective countermeasures to mitigate seismic demands and strengthen the resilience of Caltrans bridge and roadway systems.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Updating the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) models and comprehensive databases of ground motions recorded worldwide
- Developing on-fault and off-fault displacement hazard models
- Updating near-fault adjustment factors for use in bridge design
- Developing mitigation methods for seismic hazards
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
Simon Bisrat | Senior Environmental Planner (Specialist)
The overarching goal of our research is to support sustainable transportation system for California by developing ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental impacts of transportation projects. We specifically develop and implement new data, models, and techniques for mitigating environmental impacts using various research methods that include laboratory experiments, modeling, and field studies and bring the benefits of environmental research to Caltrans personnel.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Developing engineering solutions for wildlife crossings and fish passage structures
- Developing new and advanced methods to reduce wildlife-vehicle collision
- Developing new methods to analyze air and noise impact of transportation projects
- Developing improved and cost-effective best management practices for stormwater management
- Identifying rare species using new, advanced, and cost-effective methods such as environmental DNA
- Analyzing road impact to sensitive species using new advanced techniques such as landscape genomics
- Developing methods to reduce greenhouse gasses and climate change adaptations
- Applying geospatial data research approach and spatial data in environmental research efforts
FOUNDATION ENGINEERING AND GEOTECHNICAL APPLICATIONS
David (TM) Liao | Senior Materials and Research Engineer (Specialist)
The goal of our research is to assess and mitigate the risks and effects of geotechnical hazards on Caltrans built infrastructure and operations. We develop and implement more cost-effective geotechnical design methods for transportation projects.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Evaluating current design methods for geotechnical resistance and settlement of bridge foundations
- Developing a general performance-based multi-hazard engineering framework for single and/or multiple hazards
- Evaluating foundation performance under the effects of geotechnical hazards
- Updating liquefaction triggering models utilizing the Next Generation Liquefaction dataset
PAVEMENT
Somayeh Mafi | Senior Materials and Research Engineer (Specialist)
We are responsible for ensuring the efficiency and longevity of California's roadway infrastructure. To enhance decision-making, we continuously improve the Pavement Management System (PMS) using data and performance models. We also advance innovative approaches in pavement design and construction.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Maintenance operations and improvements
- Non-destructive testing
- Highway durability
- Pavement management
- Sustainability practices
- Pavement recycling
- Improved pavement structure design
- Performance-related specifications
STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS ANALYSIS
Sharon Yen | Senior Materials and Research Engineer (Specialist)
In collaboration with the Division of Engineering Services (DES), our research program investigates geotechnical and structural issues to meet project delivery and address the needs of our stakeholders. Our program aims to improve geotechnical and bridge engineering guidance and standards through advance research and innovative technology, facilitate research finding implementation, and promote collaboration through engineers, academia, and industry partnerships.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Ground motion/hazard/extreme events
- Improving design, analysis, and detailing of structures
- Innovative products and materials
- Improving maintenance, sustainability, and preservation of structures
- Geotechnical design and innovation
- Geotechnical and structures field instrumentation
- Improving construction methods for structures
- Accelerated bridge construction
- Performance based engineering
- Engineering information and data management
CONSTRUCTION
Colman Cronin | Senior Materials and Research Engineer (Specialist)
Our research is broadly focused on opportunities to enhance and strengthen statewide construction policy related to materials, methods of construction and safety. Research topics will typically include areas that advance the current state of practice, enable technology transfer and introduce innovative tools or technologies that improve productivity and highway work zone safety.
ROADWAY AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTEGRATION BRANCH
Mohey El-Mously | Senior Transportation Engineer (Branch Chief)
Our branch is dedicated to enhancing the quality, resilience, and sustainability of California's roadway infrastructure. Our research is carried out in partnership with academia, industry, and a wide range of customers, leading to implementable and innovative products, techniques, tools, and best management practices. Our multidisciplinary research encompasses diverse fields such as pavement, construction, engineering seismology, structures, and environmental, along with their interdisciplinary innovations.
Our primary focus areas include:
- Pavement quality and maintenance
- Innovative pavement design, material application, and construction methodologies
- Application of advanced technology and material testing in roadway construction
- Advancing bridge resilience under seismic hazards
- Stewardship in developing and implementing specifications