French Public Works Research Institute (LCPC)

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French Public WorksResearch Institute (LCPC)
CEDR TGR Meeting January 22nd, 2009, Bruxelles
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What is LCPC?

• French State-owned Institute under the authority
  of two ministries
• Ministry for Higher Education and Research
• MEEDDAT the Ministry for Ecology, Energy,
  Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning
• Recently created
• Merger of three older ministries

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Why a presentation of LCPC?

• Frances MEEDDAT covers several institutes
• LCPC
• INRETS (transport policy, ITS, RS)
• CERTU (urban issues including RS)
• Sétra (policy not research, but numerous shorter
  term projects on every topic eg design, RS,
  structures, ITS)
• MEEDDAT is reorganizing its research strategy
• Research department (DRI)
• Transport department (DGITM)
• Which includes Transport Infra department (DIT)
• Plus lets not forget
• The new National Research Agency (ANR)
• Private research (on materials, structures etc.)

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Research Projects

• Duration 3 to 5 years
• Evolution of specifications
• Annual follow-up for research target and
• Risk management
• Expertise and development included

• Basic research currently conducted in joint
  laboratories between LCPC and university
• Technology research achieved in LCPC
  laboratories
• Blue sky research

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5 thematic Priorities(Medium Term Plan 2006-2009)

• Attain an effective contribution of the
  infrastructure to road safety 20 of RD
• Develop materials and structures that spare non
  renewable natural resources 15 of RD
• Ensure the integration of the infrastructure into
  the environment, particularly in urban and
  suburban conditions (pollutions, natural
  hazards) 20 of RD
• Optimize existing civil engineering structures
  through diagnosis and maintenance 25 of RD
• Develop civil engineering tools and methods 20
  of RD

with 5 corresponding research programs
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1st thematic priority Research program
1 - Attain an effective contribution of the
infrastructure to road safety trough
diagnosis, management and maintenance Part
taken by the infrastructure in accidents
(simulations for ex.) Trucks (impact on
infrastructures and environment) Road
operating tools (visibility, conditions
influencing road state, usage and driver
perception) Traffic and trajectories
metrology design tools Visibility and road
safety (indicators based upon simulations)
Road skid resistance and vehicle
controllability Road Risk (warning indicators
for the drivers)
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2nd thematic priorityResearch program
2 - Develop materials and structures that will
save non renewable natural resources
Friendly on/off urban pavement (easy to remove
and reconstruct in case of works) NR2C - New
Road Construction Concept (road of the future
long term vision-25 years) Foundations and
soil-structure interactions Rationalizing
earthworks for sustainable structures
(site-generated materials, cost cut and
durability improvement) Performance-based and
probabilistic approach to the life cycle of
reinforced concrete structures Environment
friendly concretes Optimization of road
materials incorporating recycled components
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3rd thematic priorityResearch program
3 - Ensure the infrastructure integration into
the environment, particularly in urban and
suburban conditions (pollutions, natural
hazards) Two main axes Environmental
criteria and urban engineering Natural hazards
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3rd thematic priorityResearch program
3 - Infrastructure integration / Environmental
criteria and urban engineering Acoustic
propagation within a complex external
environment Global approach to the environment
within the roads environment Mitigation of
earth movements due to urban construction
Predicting noise in urban settings
Characterization and management of storm water
drainage residue Hydrology of urban areas for
purposes of water and soil pollution control
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3rd thematic priorityResearch program
3 - Infrastructure integration / Natural
hazards Rock-related risks (rock fall
prediction, trajectories, design of protection
devices) Hydraulic loading of transport
infrastructure embankments (prediction tools)
Seismic hazards and risks (numerical simulation,
vibration recording and analogical simulation by
centrifuge) Drought effects on buildings (soil
water content, modelling shrinkage and swelling
of sensitive soils)
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4th thematic priorityResearch program
4 - Optimise existing civil engineering
structures Two main purposes Infrastructure
diagnosis Infrastructure maintenance
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4th thematic priorityResearch program
4 - Optimize existing civil engineering
structures / Infrastructure diagnosis
Diagnostic assessment of inaccessible tensioned
cables Optical methods (guided, coherent,
incoherent, multispectral) to assess materials
and structures properties propose driving aids
(in fog for ex.) Diagnostic assessment of
structures by means of imaging techniques (aid
for infrastructure managers) Sensors and
information processing (optimizing
instrumentation design for monitoring large-scale
infrastructure)
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4th thematic priorityResearch program
4 - Optimize existing civil engineering
structures / Infrastructures maintenance
Pavement structural durability (fatigue,
cracking, behavior prediction models)
Prevention, modeling and repair of structures
affected by delayed ettringite formation
Durability of bonded composite repair and
strengthening Diagnosis and treatment of
structural pathologies / Management of
Structural risk Optimization of the pavement
maintenance (expectations of users, residents,
environment)
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5th thematic priorityResearch program
5 - Develop civil engineering tools and
methods Identification, control and inverse
problems Impact of concrete cracking on
mechanical behavior and the durability of
structures made of cement composites
CESAR-LCPC Improvement in the performance and
specialized developments of the software package
for numerical modeling Flow and casting of
concretes Geotechnical surveying techniques
and the modeling of geotechnical sites and
structures - Soil and rock rheology
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5th thematic priorityResearch program
5 - Develop civil engineering tools and
methods Advanced computation and design tools
for pavement structures Modeling and numerical
simulation of heterogeneous, discretely-structured
materials Physical bases of the mechanical
behaviour of materials in pavement structures
Physical chemistry of porous materials
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A new strategy being defined

• LCPCs new DG has launched a comprehensive
  internal SWOT analysis
• For a new 10-year plan
• For our next 4-year contract with the ministries
• Main ideas
• LCPC has to adapt to society demands
• Through developing a new set of skills
• While maintaining our traditional (and still very
  much necessary!) competences
• Extensive partnerships (CSTB)

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Reasons behind this proposal

• Opportunities
• Reshaping research policy
• A likely jump-start of major works programmes
• Improved coordination between EU and
  national-level requests
• Threats
• Considered outdated (the conventional image of
  interurban road networks)
• Financing sources solely from potential
  applications and disconnected from fundamental
  research

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SWOT analysis topics

• City and regional planning, including
  geotechnical issues, wastewater/drainage,
  pollution, etc.
• Risks and adaptation to climate change, including
  road safety and natural hazards
• Energy concerns and reduction in greenhouse gas
  emissions
• Mobility and infrastructure, including pavements,
  earthworks, engineering structures, railways
• Scientific and technological discontinuities,
  eco-friendly technologies, conservation of
  natural resources,new materials
• Systemic approach, comprehensive and
  multidisciplinary methods for addressing
  sustainable development
• Support for businesses, competitiveness,
  international exposure, expertise, standardisation

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LCPC history

• Paris (1949)
• Head office, 6 units and some of our large test
  facilities
• Nantes (1975)
• 6 units with the majority of our large test
  facilities
• Marne-la-Vallée (since 1992)
• 1 Joint Research Unit (JRU)
• 3 laboratories merged into the UMR-Navier 
• Satory-Versailles (1999)
• 1 Joint Research Unit (JRU)
• INRETS-LCPC
• Grenoble (2003)
• Participation to a JRU
• CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier

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LCPC fields of activity
Roads Design, construction, maintenance and
operation of highways, intelligent roads.
Geotechnical engineering and natural
hazards Environmental issues
Engineering structures Design,
construction, maintenance
Urban engineering
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LCPCs missions

• Conduct methodological researches and studies
• Carry on surveys and provide consultancy services
• Orientate and supervise the research activity of
  the Scientific Regional Network of the Ministry
  in charge of Public Works
• Ensure the co-ordination with international
  research and promote French techniques abroad
• Disseminate new knowledge, regulations and
  standard

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Objectives indicators
Types of activities Ref. 2005 Obj. 2009
R D 58 60
Development and Implementation Expertise 17 20
Management support 25 20
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LCPC productions and beneficiaries

• Beneficiaries all stakeholders
• Public authorities
• Infrastructure owners and managers (public and
  private)
• Engineering companies
• Construction companies
• Materials and equipment producers
• Productions
• Knowledge
• Methods
• Software
• Measurement and trial devices

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LCPC in State Organization
Prime Minister
MEEDDAT (1)
Min. Higher Education Research


4 year contract
.
Dir. of Roads
Dir. of Research
Dir. of Research

CETE
CETE
CETE

25 of resources for research in civil
engineering in France
LCPC
LRPC
LRPC
LRPC
LRPC
LRPC
LRPC
Research Units
Support Units
(1) MEEDDAT Ministry for Ecology and
Sustainable Development (2) CETE Public Works
Regional Engineering Offices(8) (3) LRPC Public
Works Regional Laboratories (17)
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Technical Directions and Research Divisions
Technical Directions
DTISR Transport Infrastructure and Road Safety
DTGEO Geotechnical Engineering
DTOA Engineering Structures
Research Divisions
ESAR Road Maintenance, Safety Acoustics
SMIT Transport Materials Infrastructures
ESE Road Operation, Signalling Lighting
DDGC Sustainable Approaches in Civil Engineering
FDOA Structures Behaviour Durability
MACOA Metals, Reinforcements and Cables in
Structures
BCC Concrete and Cement Composites
PCM Material Physicochemistry
MSRGI Soil and Rock Mechanics Engineering
Geology
RMS Soil Mechanics Site Survey
E E Water Environment
MI Metrology Instrumentation
SERVICES
JOINT LABORATORIES
LIVIC Laboratory for Vehicle Infrastructure-Drive
r Interactions
DPRMN Service for Numerical Models
UMR Navier
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LCPC is a leader of the Technical Networkof the
Ecology, Energy,Sustainable Development and
Spatial Planning (MEEDDAT)
8 Public Works Regional Engineering Offices
(CETE) 17 Public Public Works Regional
Laboratories (LR) 2 Prototype Engineering
Divisions (CECP) design, production and
promotion of test and control equipments
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The Scientific and Technical Networkof the
Ministry
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LCPCs Central Office PARIS
UMR Navier Marne-la-Vallée
Implantations
LCPC Nantes Bouguenais
LIVIC Satory-Versailles
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An annual budget of about 54 M
REVENUES
State budget Own income Local authorities and
international organizations
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Human resources

• 550 permanent employees
• 90 doctoral students
• - A network contributing to research with the
  equivalent of some 150 more persons

• 60 short term research staff
• - 100 Trainees (3 months)

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Outstanding testing facilities
Paris Structures laboratory Nantes some
examples Cable fatigue testing bench
Geotechnical centrifuge seism simulator
Pavement fatigue carrousel Reference track for
characterization of pavement surfaces
Pavement material mixing test facility
Semi-anechoic room Marne-la-Vallée Magnetic
Resonance Imaging device (MRI)
The structures laboratory
The geotechnical centrifuge
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Research organisation

• Research at LCPC combines theory, models,
  laboratory experiences and on site measurements.
• Research and development represent 75 of the
  activity of our research units (excluding general
  management)
• 40 new materials and new technologies
• 15 specifically urban works
• 50 to several transport modes.
• We aim at 5 of non programmed research
• Programmed research is organised in operations
  characterised by
• A specific problem and its issues
• Scientific questions
• Outputs aimed at
• Partnerships and means
• Duration
• A leader

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Partnerships

• LCPC has concluded partnerships with
• Research organizations
• Universities and leading institutions for
  education
• Industries (100 active contracts)
• Public communities
• Research and higher education poles (PRES)
• Competitivity clusters
• In France
• Partnerships with CNRS, ENPC and INRETS by
  pooling teams and resources
• Participation in the national research and
  development programs
• In Europe
• The LCPC is an active member of the association
  of Europes National Highway Research Centres
  (FEHRL)
• The LCPC joins in the European Research and
  Development Framework Programs (now FP7)

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LCPC and Europes RD Programmes

• 6th RD Framework Programme FP6
• 19 European projects, 1 ESF project, 4 COST
  Actions
• 7th RD Framework Programme FP7
• First calls (2007) 5 projects DIRECT-MAT,
  REROAD, TYROSAFE, HAVE-IT, ISTIMES, 1 DG-TREN
  study
• Second calls (2008) PERSUADE, SERIES
• Still waiting results for 13 project
  submissions!
• Member of ECTP- European Construction
  Technology Platform
• Co-leader of Focus Area Networks
• Member of ERTRAC European Road transport
  Research Advisory Council

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Partnerships abroad

• International collaborations with
• Europe
• Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, the Czech
  Republic, Spain, Portugal, Greece
• North America
• US, Canada
• South America
• Mexico, Brazil, Chile
• Asia
• Japan, Korea, Taïwan, India
• Australia

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Bringing out the value of research

• Registration of patents
• 150 patents in France and abroad
• 40 inventions
• Developments of innovative materials
• Promotion of the mlpc equipments
• Twofold dissemination of software
• Industry dedicated software sold by a private
  company
• Research dedicated software available on-line
  on our Website
• Standardization
• Measurements, testing, expertises

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Disseminate our knowledge

• LCPC editions
• Some 1300 publications
• Articles in A rank publications an objective of
  140 articles a year in French and foreign
  publications
• On-line free publication of BLPC (in French and
  English), Studies and research, Technical guides,
  Methods, Proceedings of colloquia, PhDs
• The LCPC participates in higher education
• in average more than 4000 hours of classes given
• Education by research and training of doctoral
  students
• in average gt 30 PhD defended, 90 underway
• Organization of scientific events, including an
  average of three international conferences per
  year

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A firm commitment to quality management

• LCPC has a ISO 9001 2000 certification since
  2002 for its RD, studies, expertise
  certification and testing activities in
• Paris and Nantes
• LCPC has a COFRAC accreditation for product
  testing and certification
• Evaluation
• First global evaluation in 2004
• Research unit evaluation every four year by
  the Scientific Council
• Staff evaluation by specialised committees of
  the ministry

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LCPC in some figures

• Public scientific and technological
  organisation since June 1st, 1998
• 25 of French civil engineering research
• A 51,8 M budget, including 84 subvention from
  the Ministry
• 550 staff
• 300 researchers, engineers and students (with
  CETEs)
• 14 research units, including joint units with
  CNRS, ENPC, INRETS and Universities
• 30 PhDs per year

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LCPC in some figures

• 14 outstanding research equipments
• 100 research contracts with the industry
• 30 patents, 10 of which licensed 10 available
  software 50 testing and measurement equipments
  sold by licensed companies
• 600 publications in our catalogue
• 360 publications and communications in 2005
• 5 spots Paris, Nantes, Marne-la-Vallée,
  Satory, Grenoble
• 1 reference a four year framework contract with
  the State for the period 2006-2009

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Website
www.lcpc.fr