Institute for Transportation

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) coined the phrase, “good roads cost less.” UDOT emphasized the long-term financial savings that agencies gain when they keep roads in good condition through timely preservation and maintenance.

The Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) team proposes to demonstrate the effects of bridge and pavement conditions on a wide array of system performance objectives. The team will demonstrate how state departments of transportation (DOTs) can, in their transportation asset management plans (TAMPs), enhance performance in all areas by sustaining a state-of-good-repair (SOGR) for National Highway System (NHS) pavements and bridges. The CTRE approach also will show how a TAMP can communicate to stakeholders the linkages between the SOGR and achievement of system performance goals.

About the research

The overall goal of this project is to provide a variety of expert technical support services and technology transfer activities to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Construction Management Team (CMT). The project includes assisting the CMT in its efforts to advance the industry-wide adoption of innovations that accelerate the delivery of pavement and bridge construction projects by providing appropriate information and training to state and local highway agencies, consultants, materials suppliers, research/academic institutions, and other stakeholders through workshops, conferences, equipment demonstrations, presentations, technical publications, and web-based training.

This project supports several task orders. They include the following:

• Technical Support Service Centers for 3D Engineered Models in Construction and Slide in Bridge Construction Activities
• Training and Marketing in Support of Every Day Counts Initiatives and Other Program Initiatives
• Virtual Workshop Support
• Development of Web Based Training (WBT) on Constructing PCC Pavement Preservation Treatments
• Support of Every Day Counts Four (EDC-4) Initiative: Development and Facilitation of Peer-to-Peer Exchanges for Pavement Preservation How and Update and Modernize the Pavement Preservation Checklist Series
• Technical Assistance for Advanced Survey and Modeling Technologies and Practices
• Reassess and Update the FHWA Pavement Preservation Research Roadmap
• FHWA Unmanned Aerial System Tech Brief Development and Every Day Counts Round 5 Support
• Advancing the Development and Deployment of BIM-Infrastructure

About the research

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to further an ongoing concrete pavement technology program, which includes the deployment and transfer of new and innovative technologies and strategies to advance concrete pavements and improve pavement performance. The work areas for this project are as follows:

• Deployment of new, cost-effective designs, materials, recycled materials, and practices to extend the pavement life and performance and to improve user satisfaction—with a focus on concrete recycling and the use of industrial waste or byproducts in concrete pavement mixtures
• Reduction of initial costs and life-cycle costs of pavements, including the costs of new construction, replacement, maintenance, and rehabilitation—with a focus on strategies and technologies for rehabilitation and maintenance
• Deployment of accelerated construction techniques to increase safety and reduce construction time and traffic disruption and congestion—with a focus on the use of performance engineered concrete mixtures for accelerated construction without compromising durability
• Deployment of engineering design criteria and specifications for new and efficient practices, products, and materials for use in highway pavements—with a focus on further development and implementation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) PP 84-17 specification for Performance Engineered Concrete Mixtures
• Deployment of new nondestructive and real-time pavement evaluation technologies and construction techniques—with a focus on technologies for construction quality assurance and quality control
• Effective technology transfer and information dissemination to accelerate implementation of new technologies and to improve life, performance, cost effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction—with a focus on partnering with state departments of transportation (DOTs) and industry to advance these innovative technologies

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Technical and Support Services for the FHWA Construction Management Team.”

Whether a highway pavement is constructed using concrete or asphalt, the structure will deteriorate over time because of traffic loading and environmental factors. Technologies such as thin overlays, micro surfacing, slurry seals, and chips seals are some pavement preservation treatments applied to asphalt pavements. Technologies such as full depth patching, partial depth patching, dowel bar retrofitting/ cross-stitching, and diamond grinding are some pavement preservation treatments applied to concrete pavements. These treatments can be very effective in extending the performance life of pavements if applied at the right time on the right project with quality construction and materials.

The Every Day Counts Four (EDC-4) Pavement Preservation “How” initiative accelerates the national deployment of underutilized proven technologies and techniques to construct quality pavement preservation treatments with quality materials. This includes the use of sustainable quality materials and methods, construction equipment, and assuring a quality workforce to construct these surface treatments.

The objective of this task order is to assist in the peer-to-peer exchange of lead state and exploring state, to exchange knowledge about how to effectively implement Pavement Preservation “How”. The focus of the exchange will be based upon the concepts, capabilities, and applications of constructing pavement preservation treatments with quality materials for transportation agencies, contractors, consultants, and FHWA staff.

The objectives of the task order are:

1. Develop and maintain a database of lead states approach, strategies, and strengths for Pavement Preservation “How” for the life of this task order;
2. Identify the needs and desires of exploring states to learn how to implement Pavement Preservation “How”. Align the exploring agency needs with a lead agency strength. Organize, facilitate, and accompany a peer-to-peer exchange between the two agencies;
3. Develop tech briefs for each peer-to-peer exchange that contain example guiding documents, specifications, work flows, and lessons learned to help other states adopt quality construction and materials for pavement preservation;
4. Review and update the current Pavement Preservation Checklist series;
5. Develop a modernized version of the Pavement Preservation Checklist series to include a smart phone app; and
6. Produce and embed brief videos demonstrating the key components of each checklist treatment.

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

There is evidence of the very successful use of Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) bridges both in the US and abroad. Particular examples include the San Mateo Hayward Bridge (1967) in California and the more recently constructed Millau Viaduct (2004) in France. OSDs are durable, redundant, and lightweight, making them a popular option for both new design and the rehabilitation of signature structures. However, complexity of design, sophisticated analysis requirements, large fabrication costs, and the possibility of owner-mandated experimental testing generally makes OSDs prohibitive for use with commonplace bridges. The FHWA’s 2012 Manual for Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Orthotropic Steel Deck Bridges (OSD Manual) aimed to address these shortcomings by introducing three design levels for OSD. These include Level 1 Design, which makes use of proven OSD solutions without the need for analysis, Level 2 Design, which makes use of simplified 1D or 2D analysis methods calibrated to experimental results, and Level 3 Design, which makes use of refined 3D analysis.

To further address the complexity of OSDs, in collaboration, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) formed a task group (TG-16) to evaluate and address the manufacturability of OSDs, the complexity of design, and the evolution of complex detailing. These parameters have been demonstrated to have a negative impact on the cost of the deck. Efforts of this task group so far have been to modify the overly specified rib-to-deck weld penetration requirements, propose research for a demonstration deck, and to evaluate the necessity of having a standard deck option. The latter effort is well-aligned with this task order from the FHWA.

With several team members participating in TG-16, the researchers are well aware of the negative perception of this deck type and the need for a more accessible process for designing and analyzing OSDs. Moreover, our team consists of OSD designers, fabricators, inspectors, and authors of the OSD Manual. It is that expertise that will successfully identify a list of candidate bridge OSDs and provide guidance for standardization.

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

The FHWA’s transportation performance program and transportation asset management program represent major advancements for the stewardship of the nation’s highway system. The transportation asset management plans provide the first nationwide, consistent, and comprehensive summation of how state departments of transportation (DOTs) intend to manage the condition and performance of the National Highway System (NHS). Simultaneously, FHWA Transportation Performance Management (TPM) efforts have generated valuable performance measures and targets for safety, freight movement, traffic congestion, and the condition and performance of interstate and non-interstate NHS pavements and bridges.

This task order proposal allows for further advancement by providing additional guidance and training on how to better link asset management, transportation performance management, and performance-based planning and programming. To date, state DOTs may have developed their asset management plans in relative isolation from their long-range plans, in part because the development cycles for the two plans have not yet overlapped. Also, there has not been enough time for the gap analyses, risk assessments, or investment strategies to influence short-term transportation programs, which often are updated biennially.

This team will produce for the FHWA useful guidance documents and training that illustrate how performance-based planning and performance management enhance asset management. With this guidance and training, the potential of asset management, performance-based planning, and transportation performance management can be enhanced and be better aligned into a seamless way of doing business in DOTs.

About the research

The overall scope of the contract involves providing technical, engineering, publications, marketing, and professional support services, as needed, in a variety of transportation topics to support the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Infrastructure (HIF) program. General areas of support cover bridges and other structures, construction and pavements, and oversight and management. 

Potential activities include, but are not limited to, policy/regulatory support and analysis, analysis of program delivery approaches, program evaluations, feasibility studies, white papers, development of technical manuals and reports, guidance, standards, analytical tools, including data visualizations applications and trade-off analysis, focus group meetings, meeting support, course development and delivery, workshops/seminars, case studies, handbooks, marketing and communication strategies/activities such as videos, technical briefs, articles, brochures, and outreach to industry.

This project supports several task orders. They include the following:

• Guide for Standardized Modular Orthotropic Steel Deck
• Developing Guidance Documents and Training Workshops to Support Enhancement of the State DOTs Transportation Asset Management Plans
• Advancing Bridge Load Rating: Best Practices and Model Frameworks
• Applying the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) System Performance Requirements to Pavement and Bridge Conditions

About the research

The objective of this research is to document Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) best practices and case studies that highlight the benefits, costs, strategies and implementation scenarios that successful early adopters use to meet realistic and useful objectives and performance-based management of traffic signal programs. Support for implementation of ATSPM is increasing, but there is a need to develop and document a comprehensive methodology for evaluating costs and benefits of objectives and performance-based traffic signal operations and maintenance. This support effort will include methodology white papers, case studies from state and local agencies, and a best practices guidebook based on existing reference sources on performance-based traffic signal management.

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Technical and Support Services for the FHWA Construction Management Team.”

Advanced survey and modeling technologies are a rapidly maturing set of technologies with the potential to enhance the design, construction, and management of public infrastructure. Advanced surveying techniques can include “traditional” survey equipment such as total stations and global positioning systems (GPS) but also can include advanced technologies such as terrestrial, mobile, and aerial LiDAR scanners. Advanced modeling technologies include the development of 3D engineered models. The information provided by these technologies has numerous uses for both designers and downstream users such as contractors, construction inspectors, and maintenance personnel.

The primary objective of this work is to develop products that are intended to increase awareness and understanding of advanced survey and modeling practices and the benefits of using them among transportation officials, private industry, and contractors. The objectives of this work more specifically are as follows:

1. Develop a national resource team (NRT) of up to 50 members who will provide technical guidance and assist in championing advanced survey and modeling technologies.
2. Develop and deliver 3 to 6 webinars that are 90 minutes in length to educate transportation officials, design professionals, contractors, maintenance personnel, and others on the considerations and benefits for utilizing advanced surveying and modeling technology.
3. Develop and deliver 1 to 3 virtual roundtable events and produce a 508-compliant report. The roundtables will be 2.5 hours long. The roundtables will present state of practice and implementation gap information to a diverse audience to help others develop the use of advanced surveying and modeling technology within their own organizations.
4. Develop and deliver 1 to 4 one-day workshops on using advanced practices for construction engineering and quality assurance, including demonstrations of workflows, specifications, equipment, problem solving, and best practices.
5. Develop and deliver 1 to 4 1.5-day peer exchanges on using advanced survey and modeling technologies, including demonstrations of workflows, specifications, equipment, problem solving, and best practices. A report will be developed that contains example guide documents, specifications, work flows, and lessons learned to help other states adopt the advanced practices for construction engineering.
6. Develop a document and PowerPoint presentation covering the business case for using advanced survey and modeling technology that can be used to market to DOT executives.
7. Support FHWA development of a draft national “Advanced Modeling Technologies/CIM” implementation plan in support of the MAP-21 requirements and that builds upon EDC-2/3, “BIM for Infrastructure,” and other ongoing efforts.

Below is a playlist of all CP Tech Center videos on real-time smoothness (RTS), the earlier two of which were developed as part of the above project:

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Technical and Support Services for the FHWA Construction Management Team.”

Significant progress has been made in the last 20 years in the understanding of the planning, design, construction, and materials associated with pavement preservation activities. Pavement preservation has become important to state work schedules in order to maintain their road infrastructure in good condition. Even when preservation is a routine element in an agency’s infrastructure management program, the process of selecting which roadways to treat, which treatments to apply, and when to apply them may be far from routine.

In order to coordinate these efforts, FHWA in partnership with AASHTO, published the “Transportation System Preservation Research, Development and Implementation Roadmap.” This document was created through the collaboration of state, provincial, and local government agencies, industry and academia in three regional, multi-day workshops in 2007. The workshops identified gaps in knowledge in pavement and bridge preservation and the research necessary to fill those gaps. Projects were ranked according to their perceived necessity and available funding. The goal was to provide a document that could guide future research efforts and avoid duplication of efforts, thereby conserving limited research funding.

The objective of this project is to advance a pavement preservation research roadmap that will guide pavement preservation research efforts in a productive and non-duplicative manner. The updated roadmap will reflect the significant changes that have resulted from the transportation authorization legislation Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and the subsequent Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The research roadmap will identify priorities, gaps, and overlap in ongoing and proposed research and build on the priorities of the FHWA Preservation Expert Task Group.