Letter from the NOVA Award Founding Chair

The CIF is pleased to publish the hundreds of nominations for the NOVA Award received since 1989, in a searchable database. This compilation provides a foundation of innovation on which all of us can build.

The innovations originated in more than 20 countries (see NOVA Winners in red on world map), and cover all facets of construction, including design, fabrication, construction, rehabilitation, labor, management, equipment, and materials. From simple tools to complex systems, innovation makes construction of higher quality that is less expensive, safer, more beautiful, less environmentally intrusive, and better understood and accepted. It helps preserve and renew the old and makes the new more enduring. It provides much of the spirit and challenge that excites and drives this great industry.

The CIF encourages construction innovation by publicizing its successes. Nominations are short, so NOVA Awards are accessible to busy people. The Jury screens nominations and selects some innovations for in-depth, confidential investigation. Based on this investigation, the Jury selects NOVA Award winners.

Descriptions of NOVA Award winners come from these in-depth investigations, as well as the original nominations. Descriptions of innovations not receiving the NOVA Award are based solely on the nominations. A contact is provided for each nomination so readers can obtain additional information.

The CIF does not endorse these innovations individually, but it emphatically endorses their strong overall impact on our built environment. The CIF is proud to present this compelling evidence of the breadth, excitement, and success of innovation in world construction. We thank those whose participation and support allow us to bring these short stories of innovation to you. We thank those who made the nominations to recognize and reward industry progress. We give our most special thanks to the construction innovators: not just those who win the NOVA Award, but those whose work is recognized in these nominations, and the thousands of others around the world whose innovations advance construction every day.

Robert I. Carr, Ph.D., P.E.
NOVA Award Founding Chair

2007
Cable Stayed Bridge Cradle
Ultra-High Performance Ductile Concrete
Rocky Flate Closure Project
Liquid Flow Control Valve Insertion
Prefab Moment/Space Frame System
Spinning Saw Stops on Human Contact

2006
Site Characterization/Analysis
3D GPS Based Earthmoving
Field Welding Polyethylene Pipe
Wireless Electric Switch
Pavement Composition Analysis
2005
Titan Bridge Lifting
Asphalt Zipper Attachment
Contractor Wastewater Filtration
Pipeline Leak Noise Correlator
2004
Rouge Complex Sustainability Project
Concrete Tunnel Jacking on Central Artery
Concrete Maturity, Temperature Logging
Fume Free Hot Mix Asphalt
Personal Mobile Crane Simulator
Micro-Composite Resteel
2003
Green Building
Control System on Chip
Close Range Photogrammetry
Automatic Rebar Tying Machine
Prestressed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic
Pavement Quality Indicator
Construction Innovation Forum Founding Directors
2002
Multi-Span Suspended Bridge Platform
Reinforced Concrete Tied-Arch Truss
Interlocking, Mortarless Brick Siding
Ground Penetrating Imaging Radar
Electro-Osmotic Pulse
2001
Side-grip pile driver
Laser scanning 3D as-builting
Pothole patching truck 
Pallet barrier flood fighting
Outfall Tunnel Ventilation
2000
Rapid deployment crane barge
Dynamic load lock-up device
Mobile roof edge parapet
Friction pendulum isolation
Steel-free concrete decks
1999
Belt asphalt roller
Direct drive elevator
Soil/material stiffness gauge
Moment resisting truss
1998
National safety, training, welding qualification
Slab early dry-cutting
Open cell bulkheads
Maximum strain monitoring
1997
Trenchless pipe replacement
National worker training
FRP glulam timber
Concrete hardening accelerator
Recycled plastic timber
1996
Steel tube A325 blind bolt
In-place concrete recycling
Concrete chloride removal
Labor shares project risk
1995
Tunnel roof casting machines
Live Line sewer cleaning
3-D real-time positioning
1994
Drive-through loading
Osterberg load cell
Automated Building Assembly
1993
Medium depth piers
In-situ soil remediation
Self propelling shoring
1992
Plastic pipe fire stop
Jig-welded wire resteel
Steam generator replaced
North Sea underwater barrier
1991
Seismic isolator retrofit
Site-based child-care
1990
Post Office Kit of Parts
Slab flatness F-Number
Train tunnel ventilation

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