One of MEDA’s primary activities in Ontario is research and development (R&D) in the civil engineering field. Besides our in-house research activities, MEDA has supported other research projects at the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. MEDA has been involved with various engineering and technological solutions to its clients; some of these solutions are: structural analysis and design of structural fortifications for towers, signs, and roofs; bridge analysis and rehabilitation; and advanced concrete design for specialized applications. MEDA wishes to develop and manufacture new materials for construction which are more durable and more cost effective than existing construction materials. One such material is a composite fibre based Grizzly reinforcement product in the form of chopped fibres, rebar, and geo-meshes. This material has the potential to deliver longer service lives for infrastructure, which ultimately reduces the life cycle costs to infrastructure owners. Many municipalities have a large inventory of crumbling infrastructure, MEDA’s research also focuses on the rehabilitation of existing structures to help extend the lifespan and reduce budget costs for municipalities. To move successfully in that direction, MEDA has recently supported bridge demonstrator projects which included the use of BFRP Grizzly reinforcement products (Grizzly rebars, Cub bars, Grizzly strengthening fabrics, and Grizzly meshes). Additionally, MEDA has taken the knowledge gained from our R&D activities and used it to expand our service offerings to our clients, producing innovative, value‑added solutions to their engineering challenges.
