Our mining research has resulted in 32 prestigious R&D 100 Awards (http://www.rdmag.com/awards.aspx). These awards, presented annually by R&D Magazine, demonstrate a mark of excellence that is recognized by industry, government, and academia as proof that a new product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year. In addition, NIOSH Mining researchers have earned numerous individual awards and patents for their high level of research.
R&D 100 Awards
Coal Dust Explosibility Meter - Model 100 NIOSH, Geneva College Center for Technology Development | Environment and Safety product category. For the first ever device that provides an immediate capability for determining if coal dust concentrations in active areas of underground coal mines have been sufficiently mixed with rock dust to prevent risk of explosion; R&D Magazine; 2006 TEOM Personal Dust Monitor (PDM) Volkwein-J; Kohler-J; Thimons-E | Environmental product category; R&D Magazine; 2004 Portable Modified Direct Method Apparatus Garcia-F; Schatzel-SJ | Health and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1997 Hydrohoist Lindahl-Philip | Mechanical Devices/Mines product category; R&D Magazine; 1995 Video Photometer Cocanour-J; Harbuck-D | Process Technology product category; R&D Magazine; 1994 Canary Wireless Mine Messenger Bureau of Mines | Industrial Products product category; R&D Magazine; 1993 RCTS-1 Radal Coal Thickness Sensor Bureau of Mines | Test and Measurement product category; R&D Magazine; 1992 Graphite-From-Kish Process Laverty-P; Nicks-L; Walters-L | Environmental Sciences product category; R&D Magazine; 1992 Ultra Lightweight Rebreather SR100 Pelczarski-G | Safety Equipment product category; R&D Magazine; 1991 Underground Flexible Drill System Bureau of Mines | Production Tools and Equipment product category; R&D Magazine; 1991 BioFix Polymeric Beads with Biological Materials Bennett-P; Ferguson-C; Jeffers-T | Processes and Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1990 Cobalt from Copper Ore Recovery Process Jeffers-TH; Seidel-DC | Processes and Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1989 Personal Toxic Gas Alarm Model 01 Carpenter-CR | Electrical and Electronic Devices product category; R&D Magazine; 1989 Cobalt Recovery Process Cornell-WL | Processes and Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1987 Sulfure Concrete McBee-WC | Materials, Finished product category; R&D Magazine; 1986 Machine Mounted Ignition Supression System Mitchell-DW | Environment and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1985 Rock Dust Meter Sapko-M; Ward-J | Environment and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1985 Electrolytic Method for Lead Recovery Cole-ER; Lee-AY; Paulson-DL | Processes and Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1984 MUCH Multiple Unit Continuous Haulage System Mayercheck-WD; Peterson-WJ | Production Components and Equipment product category; R&D Magazine; 1984 Electroplated Nickel-Copper Alloy Coating Falke-WL; Neumeier-LA | Metals and Alloys product category; R&D Magazine; 1983 Methanol Catalyst 9B-138 Atkinson-GB; Baglin-EG; Nicks-LJ | Chemicals and Plastics Compounds product category; R&D Magazine; 1982 Wireless Real Time Survey Tool Model 1202 Bureau of Mines | Measurement and Testing product category; R&D Magazine; 1982 Sheathed Explosive Charge Mainiero-RJ | Safety Equipment product category; R&D Magazine; 1982 QRF Ion Exchange Process Bureau of Mines | Processes and Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1981 Retractable Diamond Core Bit System Larson-WC | Production Tools and Equipment product category; R&D Magazine; 1981 Geodynamic Accumulated Strain Sensor GAS Bureau of Mines | Sampling Systems and Monitors product category; R&D Magazine; 1981 Combined Short/Long Term Oxygen Breathing App. Davison-EL | Environment and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1980 Borehole Miner Bureau of Mines | Processing Systems product category; R&D Magazine; 1980 Cement Grouted Roof Bolt System Simpson-RE | Environment and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1980 Palmes Passive NOx Sampler Bureau of Mines | Environment and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1980 Trapped Miner Electromagnetic Transmitter Durkin-J; Murphy-JM; Sacks-HK | Electrical and Electronic Parts product category; R&D Magazine; 1979 Reusable Ventilation System for Underground Mines Davison-EL; Kissell-FN; Thimons-ED | Health and Safety product category; R&D Magazine; 1978
Other Awards
Outstanding Technical Employee, Silver Award Alcorn-LA | ; Federal Executive Board; 2008 Rookie of the Year, Gold Award Janisko-SJ | ; Federal Executive Board; 2008 SME Distinguished Member Award Trevits-MA | ; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2007 Syd S. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award Mark-C | Presented annually to recognize outstanding professionals who have demonstrated insight and understanding of ground control issues by developing concepts, theories, or technologies that have been adopted by the mining community or the successful implementation of ground control design or practices; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2007 2007 Federal Engineer of the Year Award Bauer-ER | Awarded in recognition of engineering achievements, education, continuing education, professional/technical society activities, NSPE membership, awards or honors, and civic and humanitarian activities.; National Society of Professional Engineers - Professional Engineers in Government; 2007 2007 President's Award Mainiero-RJ | Presented to those who have contributed their time and talent to the organization - for commendable volunteer effort to the Society.; International Society of Explosives Engineers; 2007 The Calvin Kidd Fellowship Award Alexander-DW | Awarded to a mining professional who has demonstrated dedication to student growth and advancement by promoting professional interaction and fellowhip within the community; West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources; 2007 2007 SME-Pittsburgh Section Distinguished Member Award Tadolini-SC | For notable and significant contributions to the technologic and professional activities of SME and the mining community; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2007 Outstanding Technical Employee, Gold Award Hummer-JA | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2007 Outstanding Contribution to Science (Nonmedical), Gold Award Homce-GT | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2007 SME J. W. Woomer Award (Young Engineer Award) Beck-TW | The award recognizes engineering professionalism in young people working in the coal industry; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.; 2007 National Academy of Engineers Inductee Hustrulid-WA | In recognition of his “contributions to the theory and practice of geomechanics in the design of safe and efficient underground mining systems.â€� Inducted at NAE´s annual meeting in Washington, DC. This is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to an engineer.; National Academy of Engineers; 2007 SME/PCMIA - John T. Boyd Memorial Young Engineer Beck-TW | In recognition for engineering professionalism in young people working in the mining industry; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc./Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America; 2006 Outstanding Professional Employee (Medical/Scientific field) Iannacchione-T | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2006 Outstanding Team Award, Bronze Award Glowacki-AF; Unger-RL; Carilli-AM; Caruso-D; Kwitowski-AJ; Brnich-MJ; Cole-GP; Tuchman-RJ; Calhoun-RA | In recognition of contributions to the development of the National Academy of Sciences Briefing Package. Bronze Award; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2006 Outstanding Supervisor/Manager in a Professional Series, Gold Award Matetic-RJ | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2006 Outstanding Clerical Employee, Bronze Award Sobeck-B | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2006 Federal Engineer of the Year Award - Civil Service Category Whatt-J Ph.D. | For work on structural design of deep mine openings; National Society of Professional Engineers; 2005 AIHA Engineering Committee Award Best Paper Award Goodman-G; Pollock-D | For the paper "Use of a Directional Spray System Design to Control Respirable Dust and Face Gas Concentrations Around a Continuous Mining Machine", published in JOEH (Dec.'04). Award presented May, 2005; American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); 2005 Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award - Innovations in Technology category Schiffbauer-WH | For the Work Zone Analysis System for on-site surveillance (video, GPS) of highway construction workers. Presented at the Intertraffic North America Trade Show and Convention on September 29 in Baltimore, MD. The award recognizes outstanding efforts to help reduce roadway work zone construction accidents, injuries, and fatalities.; American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); 2005 2005 Hispanic Achievement Award Ulery-JP | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2005 SME Stefanko Best Paper Award Zipf-RK Jr | For the paper entitled "Ground Control Design for Highwall Mining," which he presented at the 2005 SME annual meeting in Salt Lake City, UT; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc. (SME); 2005 2005 SME-Pittsburgh Section Distinguished Member Award Brune-JF | For notable and significant contributions to the technologic and profesisonal activities of SME and the mining community; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.; 2005 Outstanding Contribution to Science (non-medical), Silver Award Homce-GT | Analysis of electrical accidents and development of an overhead power line contact alarm for mobile equipment; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2004 SAE Digital Human Modeling Award Ambrose-D | For the paper: Estimating Low Back Loads of Underground Coal Mine Roof Bolter Operators Using Digital Human Simulations; SAE; 2004 Applied Rock Mechanics Research Award Tesarik-DR; Seymour-B; Yanske-T | For the paper Post-Failure of Two Mine Pillars Confined with Backfill published in the Int. J. of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences; American Rock Mechanics Association; 2004 SME Rock Mechanics Award Mark-C Ph.D. | In recognition of contributions to protect miners from the hazards of ground falls, the development of technology considered industry standards (including the ALPS and ARMPS methods for sizing pillars to prevent mine collapses), and the Coal Mine Roof Rating to evaluate geologic conditions before mining takes place.; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2004 SME Stefanko Best Paper Award Mark-C Ph.D.; Chase-FE; Pappas-DM | For the paper: Reducing the Risk of Ground Falls During Pillar Recovery; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2004 J. W. Woomer Young Engineer Award Robertson-SB | In recognition of her engineering professionalism in the coal industry; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc., Coal and Energy Division; 2004 John T. Boyd Memorial Young Engineer Award Krog-RB | In recognition of engineering professionalism; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc., Pittsburgh Section; 2004 Telly Award, bronze Cullen-ET | For the video You Are My Sunshine, Best entry, Broadcast Media category; Creative Group; 2003 SAE Digital Human Modeling Award Ambrose-D | For the paper: Machine Injury Prediction by Simulation using Human Models; SAE; 2003 SAE Digital Human Modeling Award Bartels-J | For the paper: Verification of a Roof Bolter Simulation Model; SAE; 2003 Outstanding Professional Employee, Bronze Award Sammarco-J | In recognition of contributions to research establishing a formal safety framework for computerized mining systems; Federal Executive Board; 2003 Outstanding Professional Employee, Bronze Award Ambrose-D | In recognition of contributions to the field of ergonomics and machine safety; Federal Executive Board; 2002 H.L. Boling Award Spokane Research Laboratory | Consistently going above and beyond the call of duty. This annual award honors those nominated by safety people from all over the country for the highest commitment to the safety and health of miners.; International Society of Mine Safety Professionals; 2002 SME Stefanko Best Paper Award Schiffbauer-WH | For the paper: An Active Proximity Warning System for Surface and Underground Mining Applications; Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 2002 Outstanding Team Award, Bronze Award MERITS Team (Brnich-M; Mallett-L; Cole-G; Fries-E; Glowacki-A; Jobes-C; Kwitowski-A; Rethi-L; Unger-R; Vaught-C; Reinke-D) | ; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2001 Best publication in AIHA/AOEH journal - 2000 Cecal- AB; Timko-RJ; Thimons-ED | For the paper "Methods to Lower the Dust Exposure of Bag Machine Operators and Bag Stackers". Award presented at the AIHA Conference in New Orleans, June 2001; Michigan Industrial Hygiene Society; 2001 SAE Digital Human Modeling Award Bartels-J | For the paper: Verification and validation of roof bolter simulation models for studying events between a machine and its operator; SAE; 2001 CDC Engineer of the Year Award - Civil Service Category Dubaniewicz-T | For research on laser safety in potentially flammable environments; National Society of Professional Engineers and US Public Health Service; 2001 Outstanding Contribution to Science (nonmedical) Dubaniewicz-T | For research on laser safety in potentially flammable environments; Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board; 2001 Engineering Literary Award - Engineering Publications category Dubaniewicz-T | Journal article on ignition of methane-air mixtures by laser heated small targets; US Public Health Service; 2000 SAE Digital Human Modeling Award Ambrose-D | For the paper: A Simulation Approach Analyzing Random Motion Events Between a machine and its Operator; SAE; 2000 Highest Degree of Safety Award Cullen-ET | Outstanding contributions to the reduction in injuries and Illnesses in the mining industry; International Society of Mine Safety Professionals; 2000 SME Stefanko Best Paper Award Goodman-GVR; Listak-JM | For the paper "Variations in Dust Levels with Continuous Miner Position"; Coal Division, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc.; 1999 Government Civil Engineer of the Year Iannacchione-AT Ph.D. | For significant contributions to the practice of Civil Engineering in the public sector; American Society of Civil Engineers; 1999 Engineer of the Year Iannacchione-AT Ph.D. | For outstanding contributions and displayed professionalism in the Engineering discipline; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health Service; 1998 Colliery Manager's Award for Best Peer-Reviewed Paper in S.A. Mine Ventilation Journal Rider-J; Taylor-C; Thimons-E | For the paper "Measuring Low Level Methane Concentrations with an Air Bag Sampling System"; Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa; 1998 FEB Award Sammarco-J | Chairman's Award for improving government operations. Silver Award; Federal Executive Board; 1997
Patents
Systems and Methods for Automated Quantitative Analysis of Digitized Spectra Tuchman-DP; Lemmon-DH; Smith-BC | U.S. Patent No. 7,206,701 (granted April 17, 2007) Method and Apparatus for Load Rate Monitoring Howie-WL; Owens-JK | U.S. Patent No. 6,957,166 (granted Oct. 18, 2005) Non-directional Magnet Field-Based Proximity receiver with Multiple Warning and Machine Shutdown Capability Schiffbauer-WH | U.S. Patent #6,810,353 B2 (granted Oct 26, 2004) Lighted Line Conti-RS; Chasko-LL | U.S. Patent #6,742,909 (granted June 1, 2004) Ore Pass Inspection System Miller-AL; Maricich-P; Dorrington-C; Schmitz-P; Garvey-T | CDC No. I-023-98/0 (United Kingdom - granted Oct. 2003) Apparatus and Method for Generating Power Onboard a Hoist Conveyance Beus-MJ; Sunderman-CB; Rains-RL; Lazenga-N | U.S. Patent # 6626267 (granted Sept. 2003) Alarm System for Detecting Hazards Due to Power Transmission Lines Sacks-HK; Yenchek-MR; Homce-GT; Cawley-JC | U.S Patent #6,600,426 (granted July 29, 2003) Method and Apparatus for Safety Testing Optical Systems for Hazardous Locations Dubaniewicz-TH; Green-GM | U.S Patent #6,667,801 (granted December 23, 2003) Intrinsically-Safe Roof Hazard Alert Module Mayercheck-WD; Brautigam-AL | U.S. Patent #6,469,619 (granted Oct. 22, 2002); Australia Patent #747632 (granted Aug. 29, 2002); UK Patent #GB0027883.8 (granted June 3, 2003) Dust Detector Tube Volkwein-JC; Page-SJ; Dobroski-HH | U.S. Patent #6,401,520 EP 0 993 599 B1 (granted June, 2002), Australia Patent #738972 (granted January 16, 2002) Support Apparatus with Stress Measuring Capability Martin-LA; Curtin-RP | U.S. Patent #6311564 (granted Nov. 2001); Australia Patent #738265 (granted Jan. 2002); UK Patent #GB2350200 (granted Jan. 2002) Method for Characterization of Rock Strata in Drilling Operations Utt-WK | Patent# 09/613/963, 2001 Apr Methods and Apparatuses for Detecting a Temperature Increase in an Electrical Insulator Hudson-AJ | U.S. Patent #6,189,479 (granted Feb. 20, 2001) Mobile Machine Hazardous Working Zone Warning System Schiffbauer-WH; Ganoe-CW | U.S Patent #5,939,986 (granted Aug 17, 1999) Portable Tester for Determining Gas Content Within a Core Sample Garcia-F; Schatzel-SJ | U.S. Patent #5,741,959 (granted April 21, 1998) Method & Apparatus for Monitoring the Thickness of a Coal Rib During Rib Formation Mowrey-GL | U.S. Patent #5,500,649 (granted March 19, 1996) Inflatable Partition for Fighting Mine Fires Conti-RS; Lazzara-CP | U.S. Patent #5,469,920 (granted Nov. 28, 1995) Inflatable Partition for High-Expansion Foam Generators Conti-RS; Lazzara-CP | U.S. Patent #5,469,920 (granted November 28, 1995) Method & Apparatus for In Situ Biological Conversion of Coal to Methane Volkwein-JC | U.S. Patent #5,424,195 (granted June 13, 1995) High Pressure-Resistant Nonincendive Emulsion Explosive Ruhe-TC; Rao-P | U.S. Patent #5,366,571 (granted November 22, 1994) Thrust Bolting: Roof Bolt Support Apparatus Tadolini-SC; Dolinar-DR | U.S. Patent #5,127,769 (granted July 7, 1992) Non-Incendive Rock-Breaking Explosive Charge Mainiero-RJ | U.S. Patent 4,537,133 (granted August 27, 1985)
|