Institute for Transportation

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

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

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

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.

About the research

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.

About the research

The objective of research is to produce four independent 1.5-hour long, web-based training courses that focus on the how-to of constructing quality concrete pavement preservation techniques. The specific topics to be included in the four courses are: full-depth patching, partial-depth patching, dowel bar retrofitting, cross-stitching, and diamond grinding.

The production of these courses will draw upon project team experiences with construction techniques applicable to these technologies, as well as with developing effective WBT. The team will produce training that meets the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) learning standards and meets NHI Electronic Learning Management System (LMS) requirements. Materials prepared by the project team for the WBT will follow the requirements of NHI’s Style and General Standards Guide.

The team will develop new content, including a video of the techniques, worker interviews, and animations that will enhance adult learning. The team will draw from existing resources, including recently published materials such as second edition of The Concrete Pavement Preservation Guide (FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HIF-14-014), which was prepared by the National CP Tech Center. The guide covers full- and partial-depth repair, dowel bar retrofit, cross stitching and diamond grinding, including some aspects of construction.

About the research

The objective of research is to produce a series of tech briefs that focus upon the capabilities of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies, as well as the coordinating and delivering of webinars covering the developed content. The project also includes support for the Every Day Counts 5 (EDC-5) Summits and development of an implementation plan. These combined efforts will advance the state of the practice with respect to the use of UAS technologies.

UAS technologies are not necessarily new as they have existed for well over 150 years as militaries sought to attack adversaries without putting their own forces at risk. Certainly, some of the earliest unmanned aerial vehicles are uncontrolled balloons carrying ordinates. Even more, hobbyists have been flying UAS for well over 40 years. Recently, the availability and ease of use of UAS has seen a rapid growth as computing and sensing technologies have made them safer and easier to operate. Such availability has opened the door to leveraging these technologies for the construction, management, and operation of infrastructure. The potential for UAS is exciting and creates opportunities to “see” local, regional, and global transportation systems from a perspective never before possible.

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Emergency Management of Flooding Webinar

Webinar held on April 29, 2018 featuring Dr. Robin Murphy, Raytheon Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University and Director of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue. The webinar covers using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for emergency response efforts, particularly focusing upon flooding events. The webinar highlights lessons learned and best practices from past efforts, including examples from the response efforts associated with Hurricane Katrina (‘05), Harvey (‘17), and Michael (‘18).

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Construction Applications Webinar

Webinar held on July 10, 2019, featuring Paul Rogers, Principal at North Carolina based KPR Engineering, and Basil Yap, Program Manager for the NCDOT Aviation Division’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program. This presentation focused upon using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for construction applications. Topics included QA/QC, construction progress monitoring, and UAS platform needs specific to each use. Rogers and Yap also discuss collaboration between state agencies and private consultants based upon North Carolina’s past experience.

The Use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for Land Surveying Webinar

Webinar held on December 5, 2019, featuring Paul Wheeler, UAS Program Manager at the Utah Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics, will present on using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for land surveying. Topics will include surveying tools, rotorcraft versus fixed-wing UAS, GPS equipment, ground control points, flight planning, photogrammetry point cloud versus LiDAR point cloud, and QA/QC.

Use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for Bridge Inspection Webinar

Webinar held on Dec. 12, 2019, featuring David Cheyne and Brian Merrill of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. This presentation focused upon using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for bridge inspection. Topics include advantages of UAS for bridge inspections, which type of bridge inspection will benefit, UAS platforms and sensors, FAA regulations regarding UAS for bridge inspections, and UAS limitations.