Project Summary
As Michigan’s water infrastructure ages, so does its workforce. Wayne State University and the University of Michigan are tackling both problems at once by training the next generation of water engineers and technicians.
At WSU’s unique Pipe Management lab in Highland Park, students and professionals test real pipes and valves under high pressure—learning exactly how and why they fail. Meanwhile, UM researchers use AI and data science to improve predictions and management.
Together, they’re turning research into real-world know-how, preparing a workforce ready to protect Michigan’s water systems for decades to come.
Wayne State University’s Pipe Management Program (PMP) and the University of Michigan’s pipeline research teams are working together to meet the rising needs of the Great Lakes Water Authority and the broader water utility sector in Southeast Michigan. As infrastructure ages and complex risks increase, both teams recognize the critical importance of hands-on workforce development and practical research to maintain, renew, and reliably operate water transmission systems. The PMP’s unique laboratory setting in Highland Park provides real pipes, valves, and large-diameter pressurized test systems, anchoring the project firmly in real-world experimentation and practical validation. This partnership ensures that emerging research innovations are grounded in operational realities, and that system-specific knowledge is shared rapidly for maximum utility across the region.
The joint initiative centers on integrating applied research, advanced analytics, and workforce training to improve transmission pipeline reliability and resilience. Wayne State and UM each bring distinct strengths—WSU’s field-based pipe testing and “pipe boneyard” for forensic analysis, and UM’s evolution of data-driven reliability models and AI-enabled decision-support tools. Together, their approach is to cross-pollinate findings, validate technologies, and collectively train students, technicians, and industry professionals to meet current and future utility challenges. This process includes continuous technical exchanges, collaborative validation of risk models using actual pipe data, and shared dissemination of research and training materials within the water sector.
The collaboration features immersive training programs, laboratory testing of failure and renewal technologies, joint modeling exercises, and cataloging of pipe deterioration based on real infrastructure samples. Activities also include technical workshops, multi-institutional data reviews, and the development of shared best-practices documents for utilities. Outcomes anticipated from these combined efforts include an expanded workforce with practical and analytical expertise, validated research findings directly applied to utility practice, improved prediction and mitigation of pipeline failures, and accelerated technology transfer for asset management and emergency planning.
Broader Impacts
By working as a unified team, Wayne State and UM are advancing a powerful model for regional water infrastructure resilience. Their efforts foster a community of professionals equipped with both the theory and hands-on experience needed to sustain and renew asset integrity for millions of residents. This partnership is strengthening Michigan’s capacity for innovation, supporting broad adoption of new approaches throughout the utility sector, and ensuring long-term reliability and public health protections. The broader impacts extend to national leadership in water system management, as their model draws the interest of outside researchers, utility leaders, and policy makers seeking scalable solutions to the country’s water infrastructure challenges.
Budget: Approximately $600,000
Partners: Wayne State University and University of Michigan
Period of Performance: 2024-Present