CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION IN PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE. THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY PROGRAM

This 2 volume report was prepared for the Federal Infrastructure Strategy Initiative to explore the development of an integrated federal infrastructure strategy. Volume 1 is based on findings from an extensive literature search and Volume 2 comprises the proceedings of a workshop, Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in the Public Works Infrastructure. This report focuses on four critical areas of concern. First, it examines barriers to infrastructure innovations and innovation adoption processes. Second, a model for a national strategy on infrastructure research and development (R&D) and technology transfer, the IRRT model, is proposed. Third, based on short term recommendations extracted from the IRRT model, the process of technology dissemination is examined. Fourth, a mechanism for the transfer of currently available innovative approaches by incorporating and expanding three technology transfer models, Rogers, Shaffer and NASA models, is recommended.