News

In 2014, Washington State DOT began constructing hot chip seals, which use an asphalt binder applied at 275 to 370 F and can be opened to traffic at normal operating speeds as soon as the binder has cooled. WSDOT recently conducted a construction and performance review of 11 hot chip seal projects, finding that most were performing well. The study developed construction recommendations for future projects.

Read the research report: Review of Hot Bituminous Surface Treatments in Washington State, January 2019.

In a recent study, Minnesota DOT researchers used lab and field tests to evaluate blends of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and virgin aggregate for use as gravel road surface layers. Maintenance costs for a 50% RAP blend and a 100% virgin aggregate surface were compared as part of an economic analysis, and two field studies analyzed the performance of blends with 15% to 80% RAP content.

Read the research report: Optimal RAP Content for Minnesota Gravel Roads, March 2019.

The American Public Works Association will host a webinar on reducing equipment maintenance costs and downtime on Thursday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern Time. From field workers to supervisors, each employee plays an integral and complex role in maintaining equipment. This course will give drivers, operators, and supervisors the tools and the know-how to set up guidelines and procedures for daily, weekly, and yearly maintenance programs for vehicles and equipment. These guidelines will ultimately reduce costs and downtime.

Read the announcement:
APWA Webinar: Maintain Shared Assets: Reduce Costs & Downtime with Teamwork

Researchers for the Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET) have developed a self-powered structural health monitoring system for pavements and bridges. Powered by a thermal energy harvester that translates temperature differences between pavement layers into electrical energy, the prototype system can store and transmit data without a battery.

Read the research report: Development of a Self-Powered Structural Health Monitoring System for Transportation Infrastructure, December 2018. (Image courtesy of Minnesota DOT.)

Ohio DOT’s maintenance work includes inspection and cleaning of the storm sewer infrastructure along roadways. A recent ODOT study reviewed the effectiveness of the Recycler, a sewer cleaning unit that uses a recycling system to filter the removed wastewater and reuse it for jet cleaning, saving both time and water. Over a summer maintenance season, researchers found that the Recycler was 52% more productive than the traditional Vacuum Jet Truck system.

Read the research report: Evaluation of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Current Storm Sewer Cleaning Operations—Phase II, January 2019.