About EL

Mission

The Engineering Laboratory promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in areas of critical national priority by anticipating and meeting the measurement science and standards needs for technology-intensive manufacturing, construction, and cyber-physical systems, including the Smart Grid Program Office in ways that enhance economic prosperity and improve the quality of life. 

Vision

To be the source for:
- creating critical solution-enabling measurement science , and
- critical technical contributions underpinning emerging standards, codes, and regulations
that are used by the U.S. manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure industries to strengthen leadership in domestic and international markets.

Carry out mission related activities in:

  • fire prevention and control;
  • national earthquake hazards reduction;
  • national windstorm impact reduction;
  • national construction safety teams;
  • building materials and structures;
  • engineering and manufacturing materials, products, processes, equipment, technical data, and standards;
  • manufacturing enterprise integration;
  • collaborative manufacturing research pilot grants; and
  • manufacturing fellowships.  

Carry out other mission related engineering research as may be necessary, including:

  • systems integration and engineering,
  • intelligent systems and control,
  • robotics and automation,
  • cyber-physical systems,
  • sustainability and energy efficiency,
  • economic analysis and life cycle assessment,
  • productivity measurement, and
  • safety and environmental performance.  

Measurement science research includes:

  • development of performance metrics, measurement and testing methods, predictive tools, protocols, technical data, and reference materials and artifacts;
  • conduct of intercomparison studies and calibrations;
  • evaluation of technologies, systems, and practices; and
  • development of the technical basis for standards, codes, and practices—in many instances via testbeds, consortia, standards and codes development organizations, and/or other partnerships with industry and academia.

EL focuses on high-leverage, high-impact infrastructural measurements and standards efforts to:

  • Foster U.S. manufacturing and construction industry innovation, productivity, and competitiveness,
  • Improve building and fire safety, and
  • Reduce the environmental impact of buildings and manufacturing activities.

 
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