Best Professor Joseph Schofer Podcasts (2024)

1
Saving Intercity Bus Terminals 19:20

13d ago19:20

19:20

Intercity bus terminals are key links in the national bus network. We’re losing some these terminals due to pressures for more lucrative land uses. The announced closing of Chicago’s downtown Greyhound station will be impactful because about half a million passengers pass through it annually. How important are these terminals, not just locally, but…

151
Big Infrastructure for Big Science - The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment 26:59

2M ago26:59

26:59

Scientific research needs supporting infrastructure – some small, some big, but rarely simple. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment – DUNE – will study the neutrino, one of the smallest atomic particles that is a fundamental building block of the universe. DUNE will send neutrinos generated at the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility near Chicago 80…

1
Let Drones Do It – Taking on Bridge Inspection 18:53

3M ago18:53

18:53

Bridge inspectors like to get up close and personal to detect small defects that could grow into disasters. The configuration of bridges – their size, height, and locations – can make the job difficult and dangerous. But rapid advances in aerial drones are making it possible to inspect difficult-to-access areas of bridges quickly and safely, reduci…

1
The Global Positioning Satellite System – Fifty Years of Success 23:30

4M ago23:30

23:30

GPS, the Global Positioning System, is now half a century old. This extraordinary technological advance routinely guides planes, ships, trains, automobiles, bikers and pedestrians with high precision. A Defense Department technology, GPS became widely available to the public in 1990. It has displaced and replaced some older navigation systems and b…

1
Locking the Door on Cyberattacks 24:35

5M ago24:35

24:35

Almost every major system we rely on seems to be vulnerable to cyberattacks from scammers, criminals, and nation states threatening our national security. Reports of cyberattacks disrupting and even destroying critical infrastructure systems are increasingly common. To understand the cyber risks that threaten our essential service systems and how w…

1
Delivering Energy on Demand: Grid-Scale Storage 20:56

6M ago20:56

20:56

Energy from wind and solar sources is available when nature permits, but the demand for energy is based on the cyclical needs of people and their activities. To make renewable energy work, and to manage the normal daily mismatches between supply and demand, we need to shift energy in time from when it is available to when it is needed. That calls f…

1
When Permafrost isn’t Permanent – Building Infrastructure in Cold Regions 17:42

7M ago17:42

17:42

In very cold places, like Alaska, Northern parts of Canada and Europe, building infrastructure means building on permafrost, perennially frozen ground. Permafrost provides reliable foundations for buildings and highways as long as it remains frozen. But warming temperatures driven by climate change may threaten existing and new infrastructure found…

1
The Bay Lights – Bridges as Art 20:35

8M ago20:35

20:35

Spectacular bridges can be focal points of their host cities, reminding us that unique infrastructure can also be unique art. Lighting those bridges can carry their aesthetic value into the night. In 2013, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was illuminated with a 25,000-LED dynamic display called The Bay Lights, and its public appeal kept it ligh…

1
The Port of Duluth-Superior – Our Largest Freshwater Seaport 22:07

9M ago22:07

22:07

The Port of Duluth-Superior, located at the western end of Lake Superior, is a national and international cargo hub, serving the Great Lakes and, through the St. Lawrence Seaway, the rest of the world. It supports flows of bulk cargoes such as grain, iron ore and coal, and project cargo – large construction equipment. To learn about its unique role…

1
Giving Streets Back to People – Tactical Urbanism in Atlanta 22:11

10M ago22:11

22:11

Some U.S. Cities are taking back streets from exclusive use by motor vehicles to protect and prioritize vulnerable road users – pedestrians and bicyclists – and to enhance neighborhood livability. This process is advanced under the banner of Complete Streets, streets designed and operated for all users. Atlanta, Georgia’s variation is called Tactic…

1
Getting PFAS Out of Our Drinking Water (fixed) 20:33

11M ago20:33

20:33

PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the forever chemicals, are commonly used as protective coatings because they resist heat, stains and water. Because PFAS do not normally degrade in the environment, when products containing them are discarded, they become nearly ubiquitous pollutants in our water supply. Can they be removed? If so, how can…

1
PennDOT Rebuilds I-95 with Recycled Bottles in 12 Days 24:22

12M ago24:22

24:22

On June 11, 2023, a gasoline truck caught fire under I-95 in Philadelphia, essentially melting a major section of the primary roadway through the center of the Northeast Corridor. Facing what looked like a months-long reconstruction process, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation assembled a quick action team to implement an extraordinary re…

1
Low Water on the Mississippi Blocks Farm Trade 18:42

1y ago18:42

18:42

Fluctuations in water levels on our inland waterways system can affect the movement of bulk freight, particularly agricultural products. Low waters, as occurred in the fall of 2022 on the lower Mississippi River, limited the flow of freight and increased shipper costs. To learn more about the causes, consequences, and responses to such disruptions,…

1
The New Frederick Douglass Tunnel – Improving Amtrak Services 19:20

1y ago19:20

19:20

The 150-year-old Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, Amtrak’s oldest, carries traffic for Amtrak, the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Service, as well as Norfolk Southern freight operations. This tunnel is a major bottleneck for Northeast corridor rail traffic, and Amtrak is rebuilding it and adding a new, passenger-only tunnel named after abolitionis…

1
Causes and Prevention of Train Derailments 22:47

1y ago22:47

22:47

US railroads are highly efficient at moving freight. Indeed, our freight rail system is the envy of the world, but sometimes accidents occur. When train derailments occur, the outcome is usually minor, but occasionally more serious problems arise. To understand the causes and prevention of train derailments, we’re talking with Dr. Allan Zarembski, …

1
Mass Timber Buildings – New Ways to Build with an Old Material 20:48

1+ y ago20:48

20:48

Wood has been perhaps the most common material for buildings for millennia, but innovations in its application are bringing new opportunities and advantages for working with this sustainable material. Structural applications of mass timber are proliferating in types and scales. Factory assembly of wood components can produce stronger elements in de…

1
Insuring Infrastructure Against Climate Change 24:06

1+ y ago24:06

24:06

Changing climate brings new risks to infrastructure, and commonly these risks are shared with insurance companies. To control their risks, insurers need to understand and anticipate both the sources and characteristics of natural threats, and to collaborate with their clients – infrastructure owners and operators – to mitigate the risks of natural …

1
Transforming Commuter Rail Services for a Post-COVID Market 24:39

1+ y ago24:39

24:39

COVID-19 has robbed public transit of riders as many have changed workplaces, shifted schedules, and chosen new ways to travel to avoid crowds. Transit operators around the world are working to attract commuters back, adjusting services and fares to accommodate changing markets, secure reliable revenue sources, and redefine their roles in the city.…

1
Rural Transit Meets Big Challenges 25:57

1+ y ago25:57

25:57

Mobility is essential for the well-being of people wherever they live. The automobile is king of the mobility market across the US, but public transit supports mobility for those who cannot, or chose not to, travel by car. The need for alternatives to automobility in smaller communities and rural areas is substantial but not especially visible. To …

1
Overheated Infrastructure 24:26

1+ y ago24:26

24:26

A hotter climate brings new challenges to the built infrastructure, stressing service systems – power generation and distribution and transportation systems – as well as structures. Are we prepared for these problems? How can infrastructure adapt to higher temperatures? To understand both the problems and options, we talk with Mikhail Chester, Asso…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Professor Joseph Schofer Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Infrastructure Show - Podcasts

Professor Joseph Schofer, Thomas Herman, and Marion Sours

1
Saving Intercity Bus Terminals 19:20

151
Big Infrastructure for Big Science - The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment 26:59

1
Let Drones Do It – Taking on Bridge Inspection 18:53

1
The Global Positioning Satellite System – Fifty Years of Success 23:30

1
Locking the Door on Cyberattacks 24:35

1
Delivering Energy on Demand: Grid-Scale Storage 20:56

1
When Permafrost isn’t Permanent – Building Infrastructure in Cold Regions 17:42

1
The Bay Lights – Bridges as Art 20:35

1
The Port of Duluth-Superior – Our Largest Freshwater Seaport 22:07

1
Giving Streets Back to People – Tactical Urbanism in Atlanta 22:11

1
Getting PFAS Out of Our Drinking Water (fixed) 20:33

1
PennDOT Rebuilds I-95 with Recycled Bottles in 12 Days 24:22

1
Low Water on the Mississippi Blocks Farm Trade 18:42

1
The New Frederick Douglass Tunnel – Improving Amtrak Services 19:20

1
Causes and Prevention of Train Derailments 22:47

1
Mass Timber Buildings – New Ways to Build with an Old Material 20:48

1
Insuring Infrastructure Against Climate Change 24:06

1
Transforming Commuter Rail Services for a Post-COVID Market 24:39

1
Rural Transit Meets Big Challenges 25:57

1
Overheated Infrastructure 24:26

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