Smart Concrete Solutions for Municipalities: How Fort Wayne is Opening Streets Faster with REBEL® Sensors

Municipalities across the country face a common challenge: balancing limited staff resources with the growing pressure to deliver infrastructure projects more quickly and safely. In our recent Lunch & Learn webinar, we sat down with Brad Trenary, Senior Engineering Technician for the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, to discuss how his team is addressing these challenges head-on with the help of Wavelogix’s REBEL Concrete Strength Sensing System.

Meet Brad Trenary

With nearly two decades of experience in civil engineering and construction quality control, Brad has overseen countless projects that directly impact residents’ daily lives. A Purdue University graduate with a degree in Architectural Engineering, Brad is also a Licensed General Contractor, an ACI Concrete Field and Strength Testing Technician, an MS4 Certified Compliance & Enforcement Inspector, and even an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot.

In Fort Wayne, Brad and his team are responsible for ensuring that the city’s infrastructure projects meet the highest standards of safety and durability—all while working with lean staffing. That reality makes innovation not just appealing, but essential.

The Challenge: Limited Staff and Cylinder Testing

Traditionally, municipalities rely on cylinder breaks to determine concrete strength. But as Brad noted during the conversation, this method creates delays and drains resources:

“With a small team, every cylinder we make, cure, and break takes time away from the real work of keeping projects moving. It’s a process that hasn’t changed in decades—and it just doesn’t match the pace of municipal projects today.”

The Solution: Real-Time Data with REBEL® Sensors

Brad and his team turned to the REBEL® Concrete Strength Sensing System, which measures in-place, real-time strength without the need for pre-set maturity curves. By shifting from traditional cylinder testing to this acoustical resonance method, Fort Wayne has been able to:

• Accelerate traffic release — opening roads and sidewalks faster for residents.
• Reduce reliance on cylinder breaks — freeing up staff time for higher-value work.
• Optimize costs — saving time, materials, and money.
• Improve confidence — with data that’s accurate, consistent, and AASHTO T-412 compliant.

As Brad explained:

“The REBEL® system gives us decision-grade data right on site. We’re not waiting for lab reports or trying to guess if a road is ready—it’s right there in real time. That changes how we manage projects.”

Joe Turek, CEO of Wavelogix, added perspective on the broader industry shift:

“AASHTO T-412 is the new standard, and municipalities that adopt now are getting ahead of the curve. This isn’t just about new technology—it’s about aligning with where concrete testing is going nationally.”

Why It Matters for Municipalities

For municipal leaders, the benefits are clear:

• Community impact: Faster project completions mean less disruption and greater public satisfaction.
• Operational efficiency: Limited staff can focus on managing projects rather than chasing test results.
• Financial savings: Early traffic release and accelerated schedules help cities reduce costs and unlock earlier contractor payments.

Or, as Brad summed it up during the webinar:

“At the end of the day, our residents don’t care about cylinders or test methods. They care that the road opens when we said it would—and REBEL® helps us deliver on that promise.”

Looking Ahead

As more agencies adopt AASHTO T- 412 specifications, the shift toward real-time, in-place strength testing is only accelerating. Fort Wayne’s experience demonstrates how municipalities can leverage this new standard to work more efficiently, serve residents better, and lead with innovation.

Watch the Webinar

Missed the live session? You can still catch the full conversation with Brad Trenary and Wavelogix CEO Joe Turek.

📺 Watch the recording here 
📩 Or, book a demo to see how REBEL® sensors could transform your own municipal projects.