Prepared by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation This report presents a summary of some of the key characteristics of 27 leading construction industry technical approval/evaluation organizations in the world. The report is based on a survey of 37 different approval/evaluation organizations. A summary analysis for each organization includes tabular presentations showing key organization characteristics and two-page profiles. The discussion includes types of product or services, types of evaluation, reporting mechanisms, international relationships, responsibility/liability issues, and evaluation processes.

Prepared by the Environmental Technology Evaluation Center (EvTEC), a CERF Service Center. This report presents the findings from a June 1997 Environmental Technology Needs Survey conducted by EvTEC. The survey was developed to help EvTEC gain a better understanding of present practices and procedures in evaluating new products and determine how EvTEC could best respond to the needs of all stakeholders in the environmental community. The survey contained general information questions as well as specialized questions for three groups: users and regulators of environmental products; entrepreneurs who invent, develop, or market new technologies and products; and research institutes and testing labs that carry out product and technology evaluations.

Prepared by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC), a CERF Service Center. This report summarizes the results of a detailedØevaluation of Friction Pendulum Bearings,Ømanufactured by Earthquake Protection Systems, Inc. The report is part of a program to test the performance of 11 seismic isolators and dampers produced by several manufacturers. The devicesØwere tested for stability, response during earthquake simulations, and fatigue and weathering effects.

Prepared by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC), a CERF Service Center. This report summarizes the results of a detailedØevaluation of high-damping rubber bearings,Ømanufactured by Scougal Rubber Corporation. The report is part of a program to test the performance of 11 seismic isolators and dampers produced by several manufacturers. The devicesØwere tested for stability, response during earthquake simulations, and fatigue and weathering effects.

Prepared by CEITEC, a CERF innovation center serving the engineering and construction industries. This report describes an evaluation of Sewer Scanner and Evaluation Technology (SSET) designed to determine the basic capabilities and limitations of SSET for use as a technicallly viable technology for inspecting sewer pipes. The evaluation focused on the performance and in-service demonstration of SSET. The technology involves digital scanning to obtain a flat, "unfolded" image of the pipeline's interior. This evaluation includes field demonstrations performed at 13 municipal public works agencies throughout North America. Subsequent to this evaluation, SSET was modified to include a fisheye lens camera and fiber optic gyroscope, which replaced the rotating mechanical scanner and mechanical gyroscope. The evaluation confirmed the operability of SSET and its viability in data presentation. A degree of enhancement was recognized with additional features, most notably the ability to produce a digital report of the sewer pipe, to identify vertical deflection in pipes, and to deliver easily comprehensible and manageable results. The evaluation also revealed that SSET cannot reproduce all the features typically available from closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection. Such features include the ability to clearly see corrosion, infiltration rates, and ovality. The limitations in applicability were determined and an economic comparison of SSET and CCTV is provided.

Prepared by the Environmental Technology Evaluation Center (EvTEC), a CERF Innovation Center. This verification report describes a field evaluation of the installation of a silt fence using the Tommy? Silt Fence Static Slicing Method and compares this method to traditional trenching methods. The slicing method has been used extensively over the past few years but has not undergone a true field application test by a third party. State Departments of Transportation and federal, state, and local environmental regulatory agencies have expressed a desire and, in some cases, a need, for baseline environmental data providing a general picture of performance and feasibility of the Tommy Slicing Method for silt fence installation and erosion control.

Prepared by the Partnership for Building Innovation of CERF. Sponsored by CERF; National Institute of Standards and Technology; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This report presents the results of a planning effort to enhance the entry of building innovation into the marketplace and outlines an action plan for an enhanced national evaluation process. This enhanced evaluation process to identify new building technology should have these characteristics: uses the best expertise targeted to the specific technology being evaluated; evaluates technology to other than code requirements; is recognized by the international community; uses advanced information technology; is utilized by public and private building owners; and can evaluate all types of technologies and systems.