No Boundaries has published a listing of technical sessions and papers related to maintenance for the 2023 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. The compendium includes each poster and lectern session’s title, authors, identification number, and a link to find the work on TRB’s Online Program portal. Note: TRB requires a login to access full papers. If you are having trouble accessing the papers, check with your DOT or other transportation library.
News
Missouri Identifies Tools and Methods to Monitor Active Landslides
Though moving slowly, an active landslide near Branson, Missouri presents an ongoing maintenance challenge to the four-lane highway nearby. To assess the land’s movement and predict future road maintenance needs, the Missouri Department of Transportation initiated a research project to use modern technology to monitor the slope’s movement.
Using unmanned aerial vehicles and LiDAR to measure the terrain’s surface, and several high-tech instruments to better understand conditions below ground, the agency was able to identify patterns in the movement that can be used to develop near- and long-term mitigation solutions.
Read the two-page brief: Landslide Monitoring Methods: Application of Existing Technologies to Long-Term and Real-Time Monitoring of Slope Movements, February 2023
Image source: Missouri Department of Transportation
Arizona Evaluates Pavement Surface Treatments
When it comes to preserving and extending the life of asphalt pavements, maintenance managers have a variety of surface treatment options to choose from. But as each treatment comes with different benefits and costs, choosing the most cost-effective option can be challenging.
To help inform and simplify the decision-making process for its maintenance managers, the Arizona Department of Transportation developed an analytical framework to identify a range of pavement performance indicators and appropriate short-, medium- and long-term treatment solutions.
Read the two-page brief: Evaluating the Performance of Pavement Surface Treatments on Arizona Highways, December 2022
Image source: Arizona Department of Transportation
Illinois Explores Feasibility of Self-Healing Materials for Pavement Repair
Asphalt roads are at risk of cracking and suffering other premature distresses because binders can become less effective with age. Concrete roads are also subject to cracks from shrinkage, fatigue and other issues.
As rejuvenators can help to restore the original properties of both types of pavements, the Illinois Department of Transportation initiated a research project to investigate whether capsules containing rejuvenating chemicals can be added to the pavement mixtures during construction, creating a self-healing process as the pavements crack and the capsules’ contents are released over time from within. The study also examined the possible benefits of embedding specific bacteria in concrete to promote mineral growth.
The research results could be used to help extend pavement life and reduce the need for preservation treatments at the surface.
Read the report: Using Microcapsules and Bacteria for Self-Healing in Rigid and Flexible Pavements, January 2023
Image source: Illinois Department of Transportation
Webinar to Highlight Benefits of Safety Management Systems for Maintenance Worker Safety
Highway maintenance and field work requires a high level of management to ensure worker safety. Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) use an in-house-developed or vendor-provided safety management system to track and report incident data and identify effective mitigation strategies. To help DOTs across the country understand the various systems and tools in use, the National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) published Synthesis 591: Use of Safety Management Systems in Managing Highway Maintenance Worker Safety.
To discuss the publication’s findings, the NCHRP will host a webinar on February 9 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
View details and register.
Image source: Iowa Department of Transportation
New Mexico Identifies Drought-Resistant Roadside Vegetation
Healthy vegetation along highway roadsides is critical for stabilizing soil after construction and minimizing dust and erosion. New Mexico’s increasingly dry climate and elevated temperatures has made finding and maintaining suitable plants a challenge.
To expand its list of viable options, the New Mexico Department of Transportation initiated a four-year research study to identify drought-resistant plants with deep root systems that establish quickly. The findings and recommended growing strategies can help transportation agencies with similar climates restore problem areas and enhance their revegetation efforts.
Read the report: Developing and Implementing Native Seed Germplasm From the Wild for Arid Lands, April 2022.
Image source: New Mexico Department of Transportation