Katie Johnson

The innovative Thin Concrete Overlay on Asphalt (TCOA) technique has the potential to change the future of pavement rehabilitation and maintenance in California.

To share how the TCOA technique came to be and ways it can be used in the state, the California Department of Transportation will host a webinar on Tuesday, June 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Central.

The webinar will provide insight into the research and development of the TCOA technique, and identify opportunities for implementation on California’s state highway system. Learn more and register for the webinar.

Image source: Federal Highway Administration

The May/June 2024 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of two No Boundaries member states for their work with unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The Ohio Department of Transportation was recently granted approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to test the feasibility and benefits of incorporating live drone footage into its statewide traffic management program.

After taking part in FHWA’s international study of UAS innovations, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) was inspired by Germany’s “drone-in-a-box” docking system and plans to test the technology in the state. Caltrans is also developing a digital products catalog, modeled after one developed by the United Kingdom National Highways Bureau, to streamline the agency’s project delivery process.

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Image source: FHWA

When maintenance crews on the ground are working near heavy machinery, backing accidents and strikes can occur.

To increase worker safety in busy, noisy and low-visibility conditions, the Missouri Department of Transportation developed a user-friendly and portable warning system. Featuring a lightweight sensor that a worker outside can wear paired with a detector and alarm inside the vehicle, the system quickly notifies those at risk when a vehicle gets too close.

Read the research summary: Developing a Hazard Detection and Alert System to Precent Incidents, April 2024.

Image source: Missouri Department of Transportation

Highway maintenance workers – and all road users – can be seriously injured or killed when drivers fail to follow instructions around work zones.

Having detailed information about when and where incidents occur can be valuable for making changes that keep everyone safe. To make it easier for workers to report when a vehicle enters a work zone, the Minnesota Department of Transportation developed a new mobile phone app that can be used for onsite reporting and improving safety for all of the state’s work zones in the future.

Read the Research Summary: A Mobile App to Report Driver Intrusions into Work Zones, January 2024.

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Extremely cold temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles and other conditions can make repairing and maintaining pavements during the winter season a challenge.

A new synthesis report from the National Cooperative Highway Research (NCHRP) documents the practices states use during the winter months to keep their roads operational.

Forty states contributed to the report, including most No Boundaries member states. The practices of both the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Idaho Transportation Department were even included as case studies.

Read the report: Wintertime Pavement Maintenance Practices, April 2024.

Image source: Idaho Transportation Department