Skip to main content

Help for US agencies’ to use new tool to boost concrete pavement quality

In a bid to reduce costs, increase pavement quality, and minimise travel delays caused by road construction, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) are to help agencies implement a tool that allows contractors to identify concrete pavement surface irregularities during construction. Real-time pavement smoothness has been selected for guided implementation under the second Stra
April 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In a bid to reduce costs, increase pavement quality, and minimise travel delays caused by road construction, the US 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the 3510 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the 2774 Transportation Research Board (TRB) are to help agencies implement a tool that allows contractors to identify concrete pavement surface irregularities during construction.

Real-time pavement smoothness has been selected for guided implementation under the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2). In May 2014, SHRP2 will begin accepting applications from state departments of transportation (DOTs) who wish to use real-time concrete pavement smoothness to speed up construction and increase quality on their projects.

SHRP2 is an initiative committed to delivering solutions that address growing congestion and aging infrastructure while increasing roadway and construction safety. During typical construction, contractors must wait for concrete pavement to gain adequate strength before evaluating smoothness, which can result in costly penalties and corrective grinding to meet requirements. By monitoring the smoothness of freshly placed concrete, contractors can make timely adjustments to improve operations, increase quality control, and deliver pavements faster.

Two devices measuring real-time pavement smoothness will be available for implementation assistance—the 218 Gomaco Smoothness Indicator (GMI) and the Ames Engineering Real Time Profiler (RTP). These products were selected for implementation after research and evaluation performed by pavement engineering firm The 5943 Transtec Group under SHRP2.

Principal Investigators Dr Robert O. Rasmussen, Steven M. Karamihas and Gary J. Fick evaluated the devices for practicality and accuracy during pavement projects in Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, and New York. You can access the full results of this study—including guidelines for implementation—at TRB online.

State DOTs can apply to participate in the SHRP2 effort to familiarise agencies and associated contractors with the selected real-time pavement smoothness devices. The program aims to provide participating agencies with approximately $60,000 worth of equipment rental, training, and technical support.

Agencies interested in participating must apply online during the application period extending from 30 May – 27 June 2014. To learn more, %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal click here http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2/ImplementationAssistance false http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2/ImplementationAssistance false false%>

Related Content

  • International transport conference for Rome
    April 19, 2016
    An international transport conference is being planned to be held in Rome in the second quarter of 2017. The AIIT International Congress on Transport Infrastructure and Systems will be held from April 10th – April 12th. The aim of the event is to promote transport as a growing industry and the congress will provide a forum for discussion among researchers, scientists and engineers focussed on transport and infrastructure engineering. The congress is being organised by the Italian Association for Traffic and
  • IRF Board and GA in Amsterdam
    March 8, 2016
    IRF Geneva will host its Board and General Assembly meeting during Intertraffic in Amsterdam from 5 – 8 April. The team from IRF Geneva will be on hand throughout Intertraffic to greet members and non-members alike, and bring them up to date regarding the comprehensive range of current activities and actions coordinated by the Secretariat – including several exciting new initiatives.
  • GOMACO offers additional capabilities for 9500 at Conexpo
    January 29, 2014
    GOMACO is now increasing the versatility of its 9500 concrete trimmer with the installation of the firm’s proprietary and exclusive G+ control technology and G+ Connect system. With the installation of the G+ system on the 9500 paver, the firm also introduced other updates on allowing the machines capabilities to include trimming, concrete and asphalt placing, and shoulder trimming. The firm says that the wiring in the 9500 operator’s console has been redesigned and a rear steer control is now offered for t
  • Mixing system performance on a different planet
    January 6, 2017
    Rapid International is back at INTERMAT for the first time in 12 years with a focus on its Rapid Planetary Mixer. Designed and manufactured in Ireland by Rapid International, the mixer provides “innovation, productivity, pioneering, quality to the manufacture of concrete, in particular architectural precast products, construction and environmental industries”, said Jarlath Gilmore, sales and marketing director. There are seven models in the planetary range with output capacities ranging from 0.375m3 to 3m3