ACI Foundation Holds Concrete Technology Forum in New Mexico

The ACI Foundation’s Concrete Innovative Council offered the Concrete Technology Forum in Santa Fe on May 14 - 16. NRMCA Executive Vice President, Engineering, Colin Lobo attended the event and summarized the following highlights of the Forum: 

• Development of an instant air meter based on response to acoustic waves – still in the development and evaluation phase to determine total air content and air quality (Creare, LLC)
• Innovations in structural design and construction of the SoFi Stadium (Kiewit Engineering)
• Condition assessment of concrete structures using images and artificial intelligence (AI) (Aren, Inc)
• Use of monitoring systems of fresh concrete on truck mixers for improved production practices and reducing variability of concrete for improved sustainability (Command Alkon and GCP Applied Technologies)
• Assessment of durability of in-place concrete using air permeability measurements (Materials Advanced Sevices)
• Development and adoption of ACI’s Low Carbon Concrete Code (ACI 323)
• An owner’s perspective of reducing embodied carbon in construction by design optimization and use of innovative materials (Prologis)
• Presentations on material-science and data-driven based approaches to predict performance and achieve innovation and sustainable infrastructure (Rice University and Giatec Scientific, Inc.)
• A designer’s perspective on reverse engineering with project stakeholders to optimize design and productivity in construction (Cary Koipczyski & Company)
• Use of Carbon Nanotubes for concrete performance and sustainability (CHASM Advanced Materials)
• A panel of innovative low carbon cementitious materials from Fortera (using reactive calcium carbonate forms); C-Crete (cement binder based on non-carbonate rocks); TerraCO2 (cementitious material based on silicate-based feedstock); Prometheus Materials (zero carbon cement based on micro-algae to mineralize calcium carbonate); Pathways (optimizing and expediting the process of developing EPDs for concrete in real time).
• Presentations on the need for innovation and updates on ACI Centers of Excellence – Carbon Neutral Concrete (NEU) and Advancing Productivity (PRO)

The Technology Forum was attended by Colin Lobo and about 50 other attendees who represented all aspects of the concrete industry. Presentations from the Forum will be uploaded and available here. The next Technology Forum is scheduled for August 12 - 14, 2025, at the Hotel Clio in Denver.

For more information, contact Colin Lobo at clobo@nrmca.org.