It Providing a Path from Research to Practice Promoting Use of Environmentally Friendly Cement and Concrete in Construction

Developments in IT are rapidly changing the ways in which we communicate research results to provide timely technology transfer to the construction industry. This paper presents a computer database and a Web-based information system that were developed to disseminate the results of a long-term CANMET and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies on the durability of marine concrete incorporating supplementary cementations materials. These information systems provide tools to visualize the results of extensive field studies and support an informed decision-making on the choice of environmentally friendly concrete for marine projects. The paper discusses some issues associated with the design and maintenance of concrete durability information systems and the need to develop a Web portal for Sustainable Development of Cement and Concrete that would provide collaborative environment for concrete researchers all over the world to share information on concrete durability, provide on-line training materials for construction companies, and offer professional services.