The University of Pittsburgh Infrastructure Sensing Collaboration (UPISC) is excited to host its 2026 Workshop on June 2 – 3, at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. Convened in collaboration with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and supported by Pitt’s INfrastructure Sensing for Intelligent Transportation and Energy Systems (INSITES) Consortium, the workshop will connect industry leaders, regional stakeholders, researchers, and government to explore challenges and advance technologies and partnerships shaping intelligent, more resilient infrastructure.
“Since the first UPISC Workshop in 2022, collective energy around advanced sensing and related digital technologies across our region continues to build,” said Paul Ohodnicki, RK Mellon Faculty Fellow in Energy, director of Pitt’s Center for Energy, and associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science. “In fact, in response to the 2024 Workshop co‑organized with the National Academy of Engineering, the INSITES Consortium was established. The consortium brings together industry and government stakeholders to transform monitoring technology and to prepare the next generation of innovators.”
This year’s workshop will open with high‑profile speakers and two plenary panels. Leaders from NETL, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, and the City of Pittsburgh will discuss “Emerging Priorities and Initiatives.” There will also be a session on national imperatives at the intersection of quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, the electric power grid, and the nexus between energy and water. The afternoon will conclude with a facilitated discussion about how the infrastructure sensing community can advance national objectives.
The second day will explore applied innovation and industry partnerships. Topics include:
Condition-based monitoring across infrastructure segments.Distributed fiber optics and infrastructure, featuring experts from GoogleX, LUNA, Lightera, and the Fiber Optic Sensing Association.Optical neural networks and distributed sensing for on‑chip photonics as well as sensing and instrumentation for nuclear applications.Infrastructure connectivity and cross‑sector sensing needs, with participants from Duquesne Light Company, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory.
In addition to panels and keynote speakers, attendees will network, tour the Energy Innovation Center, and attend a technical poster session during the social hour.
Central to the UPISC Workshop and the INSITES Consortium are four goals:
Developing novel sensor technologies.Advancing regional workforce development to meet near‑term research-and-development and future deployment needs.Strengthening industry and stakeholder engagement for technology transfer.Forming teams capable of responding to agency and industry calls.
“Improving reliability and efficiency of energy infrastructure is one core mission at NETL. Through the UPISC Workshop, we’ve built a productive space for experts across sectors to share insights and spark new collaborations,” said Ruishu Wright, Research Physical Scientist and Technical Portfolio Lead at NETL who also serves as co-host of the UPISC Workshop.
“By linking advances in infrastructure sensing with AI, digital twins, and workforce development, we can accelerate reliability, safety, and efficiency across the grid, transportation, and water systems in our region and beyond,” Ohodnicki said. “Pittsburgh, with its industrial history, its universities, and its growing innovation ecosystem, is primed to serve as a national leader in how we create and deploy new sensing technology. We’re excited to fuel collaboration and innovation at the UPISC 2026 Workshop.”
Event details:
Dates: June 2 – 3, 2026Location: Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Learn more and register to attend the 2026 Workshop.
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