MTTI Research Staff Profiles
Mr. McNinch's primary effort is focused through the Michigan LTAP and the Technology Development Group serving the transportation technology transfer needs of Michigan's county road commissions, cities, villages, MDOT and the consultant/contractor community. He directs a staff of 20 in activities such as: training development, organizing, facilitating and leading training workshops and conferences, producing technical publications, developing training video, creating Internet broadcasts, etc. He also oversees the design, production and support of RoadSoft GIS, a roadway asset management system designed specifically for the needs of counties, cities and villages; and MERL a construction project estimating software used by public agencies and private companies throughout Michigan. With other members of his staff, he assists the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council in implementing its statewide asset management initiative on 44,000 miles of federal aid roads throughout Michigan, and serve as advisors/trainers under contract with the Council.
Ms. Desphande's research interests include sustainable concretes; concrete repair and rehabilitation; characterization, performance and development of rapid-setting repair materials; design tailored construction materials and concretes; in-situ evaluation of structures and performance based specifications. She is currently involved in the development of new courses through MiSTI.
Mr. Peterson is a certified Petrographer.
Mr. Tulppo joined the staff at Michigan Tech from Professional Services Inc (PSI) where he established an asphalt binder lab. He retired from the Michigan Department of Transportation in 1997 as the lead technician of the asphalt binder lab. Prior to that he worked in the MDOT soils lab. Mr. Tulppo has worked at Michigan Tech putting the laboratory facilities together with Mr. Vivian. He performs asphalt tests on a daily basis, maintains AMRL accreditation for the asphalt binder, aggregate and HMA labs, and oversees testing performed by students. Mr. Tulppo is an experienced technician in field sampling, construction specification, and laboratory testing in both asphalt binder and HMA . He is certified in all aspects of asphalt materials and aggregates used in asphalt mixtures.
Mr. Tulppo performs analysis in the asphalt binder, mix design and preparation laboratories at Michigan Tech.
Mr. Jim Vivian is the quality control/quality assurance manager for the TMRC. He manages the material certification courses, assists with research projects, trains graduate and undergraduate research assistants, procures materials, oversees materials labs, and calibrates and maintains research equipment. Mr. Vivian also has the responsibility of managing the AMRL accreditation for the aggregate, asphalt, and HMA laboratories and is a certified Michigan aggregate and Bituminous QC/QA Technician.
Mr. Vivian oversees the operation and management of the educational research laboratories for the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech.
