(San Juan, PR) 4th June 2024 - In partnership with the University of Puerto Rico and Metropistas, the Abertis Foundation held the eleventh edition of the Abertis Chair Awards, in which Dr. Geoffrey J. Vega Rosado and Eng. María de los Ángeles Rosario Guzmán, two graduates of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, were winners in the doctorate and master's degree categories, respectively, for their sustainable mobility and infrastructure management research projects.
This renowned international award seeks to reward innovation and efforts oriented at promoting more efficient, safe and sustainable mobility, furthering university-industry partnerships, and strengthening the comprehensive training of graduate students in mobility and transport management. The 11th edition of these awards was attended by the director of the Abertis Foundation, Georgina Flamme, the director of the Abertis Chair in Puerto Rico, Dr. Alberto Figueroa Medina of the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Eileen Vélez Vega, as well as senior officials from the University of Puerto Rico, the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, the Ana G. Méndez University, executives from Metropistas and past awardees.
"At Abertis, we bring the academic and business worlds together to advance socially and economically through the International Network of Abertis Chairs, which promotes training and research. This island is a solid, competent territory, a benchmark in innovating its road management by embracing new technologies. Everyone at the Group is delighted to keep on contributing and impacting education and road safety in the country," said the director of the Abertis Foundation, Georgina Flamme.
"For the past eleven years, we have witnessed the Abertis Chair Awards in Puerto Rico evolving through our students' research. Every year, the award winners have demonstrated how they contribute in different areas of sustainable mobility, transport, road safety and infrastructure management. At Metropistas, we are proud to be part of the development and modernisation of the island's infrastructure and we will keep on supporting the academy and encouraging this pool of talent to remain on the island as professionals who contribute day by day with their knowledge and innovation," added Julián Hernández Rodes, Metropistas' CEO.
The 7-person jury in charge of assessing the research projects was formed by professors and civil engineering professionals from the University of Puerto Rico, Ana G. Méndez University, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, DTOP, the Association of General Contractors - Puerto Rico Chapter and Metropistas.
"As the director of the Abertis Chair in Puerto Rico, my goal is to encourage research in sustainable mobility among engineering, planning and science professionals, supported by the initiative of Abertis and its foundation. I am grateful for the excellent work done by the members of the jury, who were given the important task of assessing and selecting the best master's and doctoral theses on the sustainable mobility-related topics and I congratulate the two winners, who represent the spirit of this award and are committed to helping improving mobility and infrastructure in Puerto Rico," said Dr. Alberto Figueroa Medina.
About the winners:
María de los Ángeles Rosario Guzmán - Winner in the Master's Category, Graduate Programme in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Surveying, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
Research Project: Wind-induced buckling failures in traffic signs supported by U-shaped poles.
Geoffrey J. Vega Rosado - Winner in the Doctoral Category, Graduate Programme in Civil Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Environmental Engineering and Surveying, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
Research Project: Comprehensive analysis of failures in cantilever type B-1 traffic signals in Puerto Rico due to the impact of Hurricane Maria and recommendations to improve their resilience to extreme wind events.
Every year, the Chair recognises the work of civil engineering doctoral and master's degree students related to the development of transportation infrastructure and road safety. The Chair is taught in Puerto Rico in collaboration between the Abertis Foundation, the University of Puerto Rico and Metropistas, which manages the operation of highways PR-5, PR-20, PR-22, PR-52, PR-53, PR-66 and the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.
