Purdue University

Sensor tech that allows concrete to “talk” is now being tested on a stretch of I-35 in Hillsboro—and if the test is successful, it could change testing methods the construction industry has used for over 100 years. A team led by Purdue researcher Luna Lu has developed the tech since 2017. When it's embedded into a concrete pour, the sensor can send data about the concrete’s strength and potential repair needs more accurately than methods that are now being used, "accelerating the construction schedule to about 30 to 35%," Lu says.