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PODCAST

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts

Professor Joseph Schofer, Thomas Herman, and Marion Sours

The Infrastructure Show consists of monthly podcasts in which some of the nation’s top infrastructure experts discuss with host Professor Joseph Schofer of Northwestern University the condition of our infrastructure today, and what can be done about it. While many subjects are addressed, including repairs, upgrades and new construction, there is an emphasis on the topics of preventive and predictive maintenance, as well as “structural health monitoring” – a special focus of the Northwestern

All Episodes

33:19

Fast-Growing Cities Need Rapid Water System Upgrades...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/09/01

Irving, Texas, a city of about 255,000 people near Dallas, is growing fast, and its water supply and wastewater systems must be upgraded to support rapidly increasing demands. To do this, Irving has created a multi-year, citywide program to maintain and expand its water management systems. To learn more about this large-scale municipal infrastructure program,

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33:19

Fast-Growing Cities Need Rapid Water System Upgrades...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/08/29

Irving, Texas, a city of about 255,000 people near Dallas, is growing fast, and its water supply and wastewater systems must be upgraded to support rapidly increasing demands. To do this, Irving has created a multi-year, citywide program to maintain and expand its water management systems. To learn more about this large-scale municipal infrastructure program, we talk with Walt Thomas, City Engineer for Irving. Walt earned a BS in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and an MS in Public

en-us

24:22

Removing Dams on the Klamath River – Why and How

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/07/30

Four dams were removed from the Klamath River in 2023-24 to bring it back to its natural, wild state. These dams provided water and power to the region but blocked spawning salmon, and they were declared economically inefficient by their owner. This was the largest dam removal effort in U.S., leading to the restoration of the river, its environment, and services to Native American communities. To explain the motivations, methods, and outcomes of this project, we talk with Brian Graber, Senior

en-us

24:22

Removing Dams on the Klamath River – Why and How

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/07/30

Four dams were removed from the Klamath River in 2023-24 to bring it back to its natural, wild state. These dams provided water and power to the region but blocked spawning salmon, and they were declared economically inefficient by their owner. This was the largest dam removal effort in U.S., leading to the restoration of the river, its environment, and services to Native American communities. To explain the motivations, methods, and outcomes of this project, we talk with Brian Graber, Senior

en-us

22:20

Rebooting Three Mile Island

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/07/02

In 1979, one of two nuclear reactors at the Three Mile Island power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown. The second reactor was shut down 40 years later for economic reasons. Now, work is underway to restart that second reactor to produce electricity for a single customer, Microsoft. To learn what it takes to restart and ensure the safety of a nuclear power plant, and to explore the role of nuclear energy in a mix of renewable resources, we’ve invited back Dr. Elmer

en-us

22:20

Rebooting Three Mile Island

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/07/02

In 1979, one of two nuclear reactors at the Three Mile Island power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown. The second reactor was shut down 40 years later for economic reasons. Now, work is underway to restart that second reactor to produce electricity for a single customer, Microsoft. To learn what it takes to restart and ensure the safety of a nuclear power plant, and to explore the role of nuclear energy in a mix of renewable resources, we’ve invited back Dr. Elmer

en-us

34:19

Financing Transportation Through...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/06/01

Public-private partnerships (P3s) can be important strategies for financing transportation and other large infrastructure projects. Advancing public infrastructure projects with P3s requires careful analysis of the associated costs and the sharing of risks and rewards.To learn about trends in P3 financing, we speak with Professor Jonathan Gifford of the Schlar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership

en-us

34:19

Financing Transportation Through...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/06/01

Public-private partnerships (P3s) can be important strategies for financing transportation and other large infrastructure projects. Advancing public infrastructure projects with P3s requires careful analysis of the associated costs and the sharing of risks and rewards.To learn about trends in P3 financing, we speak with Professor Jonathan Gifford of the Schlar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy

en-us

20:02

The TVA After Nine Decades

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/05/01

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is the largest public power company in the United States. It also controls flooding, assures navigability and recreation, and protects the environment across seven states on the Tennessee River System. Established in 1933 to combat the depression, TVA is in its ninth decade as a self-sustaining entity.To understand the TVA as an enduring infrastructure project, we talk with Pat Ezzell, senior program manager and resident historian for TVA. Pat has authored a

en-us

20:02

The TVA After Nine Decades

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/05/01

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is the largest public power company in the United States. It also controls flooding, assures navigability and recreation, and protects the environment across seven states on the Tennessee River System. Established in 1933 to combat the depression, TVA is in its ninth decade as a self-sustaining entity.To understand the TVA as an enduring infrastructure project, we talk with Pat Ezzell, senior program manager and resident historian for TVA. Pat has authored a

en-us

32:24

Ship Collisions with Bridges – the Risks and...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/04/01

Ships hit bridges much more often than people realize, and while most of the outcomes are minor, such events can present big risks to bridge users, ship operators, and infrastructure. Bridge design standards that address such risks are issued and updated periodically by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, but they do not mandate adding protection to existing bridges. Yet the size of ocean-going cargo has grown substantially in the past 30 years, amplifying the

en-us

32:24

Ship Collisions with Bridges – the Risks and...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/04/01

Ships hit bridges much more often than people realize, and while most of the outcomes are minor, such events can present big risks to bridge users, ship operators, and infrastructure. Bridge design standards that address such risks are issued and updated periodically by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, but they do not mandate adding protection to existing bridges. Yet the size of ocean-going cargo has grown substantially in the past 30 years, amplifying the

en-us

20:01

Transformers – Their Vital Role in Ensuring Electric...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/03/01

Transformers step-down voltage from high levels most efficient for long distance transmission to lower levels for safe distribution to homes and businesses. Having enough transformers for replacement and to support expansion of the electrical grid is essential for ensuring reliability of the power system, but currently there is a shortage of transformers.A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a U.S. Department of Energy lab, assessed the factors affecting demand for

en-us

20:01

Transformers – Their Vital Role in Ensuring Electric...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/03/01

Transformers step-down voltage from high levels most efficient for long distance transmission to lower levels for safe distribution to homes and businesses. Having enough transformers for replacement and to support expansion of the electrical grid is essential for ensuring reliability of the power system, but currently there is a shortage of transformers.A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a U.S. Department of Energy lab, assessed the factors affecting demand for distribution

en-us

21:33

Rebuilding Chicago Transit Authority’s Red and Purple...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/02/01

The Chicago Transit Authority’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line Modernization Project (RPM) is rebuilding a 5.6-mile elevated rail rapid transit structure and four stations, ensuring structural integrity, expanding capacity, and improving ride quality along a corridor on the North Side of Chicago. Included in this six-year project is removal of a failing embankment and returning land to the community.Here to talk with us about this project is Grace Ohs, Chicago Transit Authority RPM vice

en-us

21:33

Rebuilding Chicago Transit Authority’s Red and Purple...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/02/01

The Chicago Transit Authority’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line Modernization Project (RPM) is rebuilding a 5.6-mile elevated rail rapid transit structure and four stations, ensuring structural integrity, expanding capacity, and improving ride quality along a corridor on the North Side of Chicago. Included in this six-year project is removal of a failing embankment and returning land to the community.Here to talk with us about this project is Grace Ohs, Chicago Transit Authority RPM vice president

en-us

28:23

Tsunami Evacuation Towers – Reaching for the Sky to...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/01/01

Earthquakes can generate massive tsunamis that pose severe risks to coastal communities. The 2004 earthquake off Sumatra spawned a tsunami that killed an estimates 228,000 people. Facing its own tsunami risk, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe built an evacuation tower serving the coastal community of Tokeland, Washington. This tower can hold more than 400 people, and it is a model for vertical towers that might be constructed in other tsunami hazard zones.Here to describe this project is Maximilian

en-us

28:23

Tsunami Evacuation Towers – Reaching for the Sky to...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2025/01/01

Earthquakes can generate massive tsunamis that pose severe risks to coastal communities. The 2004 earthquake off Sumatra spawned a tsunami that killed an estimates 228,000 people. Facing its own tsunami risk, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe built an evacuation tower serving the coastal community of Tokeland, Washington. This tower can hold more than 400 people, and it is a model for vertical towers that might be constructed in other tsunami hazard zones.Here to describe this project is Maximilian

en-us

26:18

Digital Twins – Modeling Infrastructure Systems for...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2024/12/01

Digital twins are virtual representations of real systems used to test designs and operating policies in safe environments prior to implementation or offline. Applications include a variety of public and private facilities, notably airports and operating systems such as water supply and manufacturing processes. Much of the work is centered in architectural and engineering firms, with its foundation in Building Information Modeling (BIM).To understand digital twins and their infrastructure

en-us

26:18

Digital Twins – Modeling Infrastructure Systems for...

The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts ·

2024/12/01

Digital twins are virtual representations of real systems used to test designs and operating policies in safe environments prior to implementation or offline. Applications include a variety of public and private facilities, notably airports and operating systems such as water supply and manufacturing processes. Much of the work is centered in architectural and engineering firms, with its foundation in Building Information Modeling (BIM).To understand digital twins and their infrastructure

en-us

49 results