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The National Bridge Research Organization (NaBRO) at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is dedicated to developing,
collecting and disseminating the latest technologies for the
advancement of bridge design, construction, retrofit and maintenance.
This is accomplished through partnerships with industry, government
agencies and academia. NaBRO’s mission revolves around
three initiatives:
- research,
- education, and
- technology transfer
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1) Research:
The research mission of NaBRO is achieved through the following
initiatives:
- conducting research on bridge related topics, identified
by an advisory panel and NaBRO directors;
- establishing a network of affiliated faculty across
the nation and from institutions abroad, who assemble
in focus groups to solve bridge related problems;
- developing an exchange program to allow researchers
from different institutions, design offices and agencies
to collaborate and jointly solve challenging bridge
related problems.
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2) Education:
NaBRO is a university-based entity; therefore, development
of an intellectual atmosphere for fostering new and emerging
ideas is a major objective. The educational goals of NaBRO
are attained through the following initiatives:
- Developing and conducting continuing education
and short courses that benefit the bridge industry.
- Developing opportunities for practicing bridge engineers
at the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), affiliated
Departments of Transportation, and industry to obtain
advanced degrees in structural engineering.
- Developing internship programs for undergraduate
and graduate students in cooperation with the NDOR
- Bridge Division, affiliated Departments of Transportation,
and private industry for; a) providing students learning
opportunities for getting acquainted with practical
problems, and b) providing the bridge industry an
atmosphere for attracting qualified students to the
profession.
- Developing programs to support, encourage, motivate
and challenge minority students and other under-represented
groups to consider careers in the field of bridge
engineering.
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3) Technology Transfer:
NaBRO is dedicated to developing, collecting and disseminating
the acquired knowledge and latest information on bridge engineering
through traditional and contemporary means. Major initiatives
for transferring information to the bridge industry include:
- Organizing an annual bridge conference at the regional
level;
- Conducting periodical bridge related lectures;
- Maintaining a web page, summarizing the activities
of NaBRO and others around the world related to bridge
engineering;
- Publishing periodical newsletter.
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