What We Do
Test, Evaluate and Innovate
From the roadside to the power grid, we design and conduct research that supports sustainable transportation. Our facilities help industry, government, and academic partners evaluate environmental performance, develop new technologies, and prepare for the future of mobility.
Advance Environmental Understanding
Whether it’s reducing erosion from highway projects or optimizing electric vehicle charging systems, our experts combine deep technical knowledge with hands-on testing to solve real-world environmental challenges.
Innovate to Solve Problems
We find new ways to simplify, understand, and solve complex transportation problems, so we can then translate theory into actionable insights for everyone.
Supporting Industry through Training and Demonstration
We offer hands-on training, trade days, and demonstrations to help practitioners apply the latest tools and techniques in sediment and erosion control.
Pioneering Clean Transportation Systems
Our Clean Transportation Research Complex explores how vehicles, infrastructure and power systems intersect. From evaluating electric vehicle performance to integrating charging networks with microgrids, we help lead the transition to a cleaner, more efficient transportation future.
Our Focus Areas
Erosion and Sediment Control
Evaluating the performance of products that stabilize soil and reduce runoff.
Stormwater and Vegetation Research
Developing solutions that improve drainage, water quality, and roadside vegetation growth.
Training and Demonstration
Hosting trade days, hands-on training, and product demos for environmental practitioners.
Clean Vehicle Testing
Assessing electric and alternative-fuel vehicles for performance, efficiency and durability.
Grid and Charging Infrastructure
Researching the integration of electric vehicles with the power grid and microgrid systems.
System-Level Sustainability
Analyzing environmental impacts and developing strategies for clean, connected transportation systems.
Our Facilities
Sediment and Erosion Control Laboratory
The TTI Sediment and Erosion Control Laboratory (TTI SEC Lab) is a 21-acre research facility located at the Texas A&M-RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas. Since 1990, the TTI SEC Lab has provided the transportation industry with a world-renowned research and performance evaluation program for roadside environmental management.
The TTI SEC Lab research and testing program includes stormwater management, erosion and sediment control product evaluation, product research and development, vegetation establishment and industry training. SEC lab staff have over 50 years of combined experience within the sediment & erosion control industry and are leaders and active participants in industry standards organizations and industry technical committees and councils.
The Clean Transportation Research Complex
The Clean Transportation Research Complex (CTRC) was created in 2023 with the expansion of the existing Environmental Evaluation and Research Facility (EERF) and the construction of the Grid Interactions Research Facility (GIRF).
CTRC capabilities are a national academic, government and industry resource to support electrification of transportation and mobile equipment. Under its umbrella the EERF addresses automotive technology and environmental impact of transportation and the GIRF explores the electric grid, microgrids and their components and controls.
The CTRC facilities intersect to provide world class ability and innovation in the electric transportation and charging infrastructure space, optimizing the relationship between electric grids, electric vehicles and transportation infrastructure. More information on each facility can be found below.
Environmental Evaluation and Research Facility
The Environmental Evaluation and Research Facility (EERF) is home to one of the largest environmental test chambers in the country, as well as numerous other testing-related capabilities. The climate-controlled chamber is equipped to challenge materials and systems under real world conditions and to enhance understanding of energy storage and translation under a wide range of conditions. Within the chamber, a heavy-duty dynamometer and electric power handling equipment enable automotive and electrical power research CTRC offers facilities to support the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, technicians, maintenance personnel, operators and first responders and address diverse real-world topics in transportation security, energy resilience, component deterioration and disposal, traffic safety, information security, emergency management, sustainable generation and transient energy storage.
Grid Interactions Research Facility
The Grid Interactions Research Facility (GIRF) is a facility that is part of the CTRC, and includes laboratories operated by Texas A&M University electrical and computer engineering faculty. The GIRF is home to numerous different research tools related to the electric grid.
The GIRF was made possible through a Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) grant received by Dr. Thomas Overbye.
The Team
Environmental Testing Facilities
Tara Ramani
Associate Agency Director
Division Head
Program Manager
(979) 393-0688
[email protected]
Clean Transportation Research Complex
Jeremy Johnson
Research Specialist V
Program Manager
(979) 317-2670
[email protected]
Sediment and Erosion Control Laboratory
Jett Mcfalls
Research Scientist
Program Manager
(979) 317-2801
[email protected]
