Fall Meeting Preview

No Boundaries' second meeting of 2018 will be held October 16-18 in Austin, Texas.

Planned one-on-one technology transfer activities and peer information sharing will address a range of topics relevant to non-winter transportation maintenance. Discussions in the works for the upcoming meeting include:

• Award-winning innovations in maintenance from No Boundaries member agencies
• Roundtables on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and horizontal alignment warning signs
• Updates on asset management programs, training and apprenticeship programs, and No Boundaries' planned sessions at the 2019 TRB Annual Meeting

In addition, planned technical visits include a tour of the fleet shop where Texas DOT fabricates maintenance vehicles (such as herbicide trucks and sign trucks) and a demonstration of the agency's pavement management information system.

Presentation and event highlights will appear in a future issue of this newsletter.

Innovation Database

With the recent relaunch of the No Boundaries website, we also gave our Innovation Database an upgrade, incorporating more topic categories to make it easier for users to find maintenance innovations of greatest interest and potential benefit.

It is No Boundaries' goal to build a national clearinghouse of innovative maintenance practices, and we are seeking submissions to help grow the database. If you work for a federal, state, county or municipal transportation agency, we need your help! We welcome submissions from all agencies.

Please use the submission form to provide basic information about an innovation -- a product, practice or policy -- in any aspect of roadway maintenance (other than winter maintenance) that your agency is using, piloting or considering. No Boundaries thanks you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with others who may benefit from your efforts.

New Members Are Welcome

No Boundaries membership now stands at 19 state DOTs across the United States: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin.

As the program continues activities into 2019, No Boundaries extends an open invitation to new members.

No Boundaries is Transportation Pooled Fund project #TPF-5(330). State DOT commitments to the project can be made using 100% federal funds. Contact Brian Hirt, CTC & Associates, at 402-770-9067 for more information.

Meetings and Events

Training Opportunities

TRB Webinar: Current and Evolving Practices in Asset Management for Highway Agencies

TRB will conduct a webinar on August 7 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time that will review highlights from the 12th National Conference on Asset Management. This webinar will focus on how the practice of asset management is evolving, how agencies can create sustainable asset management programs, and how technology and data are influencing decision making.

NAPA Webinar: Performance Under Pressure: Heavy Duty Pavements -- Preservation & Preventative Maintenance Tools

This webinar, to be held September 5 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, will cover preservation treatments and maintenance strategies for heavy-duty pavement. Details.

University of Illinois Webinar: Monarchs & Roadsides: Mowing Practices

Recorded in June, this webinar from UIC's Energy Resources Center presented three perspectives on how mowing practices along roadsides impact monarch butterflies and their habitat. Webinar series.

MnDOT Research Pays Off Seminar Series: Chip Seal Program in Oregon

Recorded in April, a webinar on Oregon DOT's chip seal program reviews the methodology used to develop a chip seal design and specifications and discusses chip seal performance. Seminar series.

2018 NRRA Pavement Workshop Presentations

Recorded presentations from the 2018 National Road Research Alliance Pavement Workshop are now available online in Skype audio and PowerPoint formats. Sessions on preventive maintenance included:

• Maintaining Poor Pavements: PPT, Skype recording
   
• PCC Patching: PPT, Skype recording
   
• Diamond Grinding and Lightly Surfaced Roads: PPT, Skype recording
   
• IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) of PCC Pavement: Skype recording 

The annual workshop was held in May. Details.

Nation's First Associate's Degree in Highway Maintenance Management

Colorado's Front Range Community College (FRCC) will begin offering an online associate's degree program in Highway Maintenance Management in January 2019. The program is geared toward highway maintenance supervisors and those preparing for supervisory positions. Open to students across the country, the two-year degree program will incorporate a combination of online courses and credits granted for prior learning. Colorado DOT teamed with FRCC to develop the program. Article.

Asset Management Research

Sign Life Expectancy
South Carolina DOT

This project developed models to predict the life expectancy of traffic signs in South Carolina. Among the findings: Shade on a sign accelerated the degradation of sign retroreflectivity (primarily due to mildew growth), and washing the signs at regular intervals helped slow the degradation. Report.

Lifecycle Data Modeling to Support Transferring Project-Oriented Data to Asset-Oriented Systems in Transportation Projects
Journal of Management in Engineering, July 2018

Recording asset changes that occur during construction projects can be labor-intensive, and data can be lost in the transfer of project-oriented data to asset-oriented systems. This study used focus groups and interviews to understand the flow of asset data throughout the life cycle of a project. Researchers used that knowledge to develop a handover data model to address data loss issues in the transfer process. Abstract.

Continual Improvement Processes for Asset Management: Guidelines
Austroads

This guideline details the factors that contribute to enabling and sustaining continual improvement for asset management. The guide discusses challenges, outlines a framework for successful implementation, and provides supporting resources and tools. Project page.

Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation Research

Experimental Shear Capacity Comparison Between Repaired and Unrepaired Girder Ends
Minnesota DOT

Researchers evaluated a cost-effective technique for repairing the damaged ends of reinforced concrete bridge beams using a reinforcement cage and pneumatically placed concrete. Testing showed that the repair method restored the damaged girders to their original shear strength. Article and final report.

Evaluation of Repair Techniques for Impact-Damaged Prestressed Beams
Virginia DOT

Over-height vehicles can cause collision damage to bridges ranging from minor to catastrophic, potentially requiring repair or replacement of a bridge beam. This study tested repair methods using a new material, fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix, as an alternative to traditional fiber-reinforced polymer wraps. Report.

Low Cost Wireless Fatigue Crack Monitoring System Using RFID Arrays
Connecticut DOT

In recent years, DOTs have used radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to aid in crack detection on steel girder bridges. This study developed and evaluated a low-cost passive wireless crack sensor that uses commercial ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tags for crack detection and monitoring on metallic structures. Report.

Evaluation of Different Types of Waterproofing Membranes (Asphaltic and Non-Asphaltic) as Cost Effective Bridge Deck Barriers in Reducing Corrosive Chloride Effects
Colorado DOT

To help protect bridge decks from deterioration due to chloride ingress and to reduce maintenance costs, state agencies apply topical protection systems such as waterproofing membranes (WPMs). Tests of four brands of WPMs showed that all were effective in controlling the intrusion of moisture, but the membranes failed to protect the concrete from chloride penetration. Report.

Budgeting and Funding Research

Impact of Environmental Assessment and Budgetary Restrictions in Pavement Maintenance Decisions: Application to an Urban Network
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, March 2018

Researchers examined the effects of incorporating environmental considerations and funding availability in pavement maintenance decisions. In a case study of an urban pavement network in Chile, a 2 percent budgetary increase allowed for more sustainable maintenance decisions. Abstract.

Culvert Maintenance Research

Development of a Sustainability Evaluation System for Culvert Replacement and Rehabilitation Projects
Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, May 2018

Researchers developed a culvert module for the GoldSET assessment tool that incorporates sustainability considerations into culvert repair and replacement projects. Environmental, societal, economic and technical indicators are used to evaluate cost-effective approaches for culvert rehabilitation projects; two case studies compare open-cut and trenchless approaches. Abstract.

Drainage Systems Maintenance Research

Evaluate Alternatives to Right of Way Drainage Control Along the Interstate
Ohio DOT

In Ohio, crews undertake routine and sometimes extensive maintenance of roadside ditches to ensure the performance of roadway drainage systems. Researchers evaluated the viability of alternative processes and products to provide cost-effective solutions to maintenance problems such as paved gutter deterioration and ditch erosion. Report.

Fleet Management Research

Fleet Management Tools for Local Agencies
Minnesota DOT

This guidebook identifies tools and methods local agencies can use to manage their equipment fleets effectively. Researchers compare the features of commercially available fleet management software tools and outline one Minnesota county's rating system for quantifying equipment condition and determining parameters for replacement. Report.

Maintenance Worker Safety Research

Evaluation of Green Lights on TMAs
Missouri DOT

Researchers evaluated the use of green vs. traditional amber lights on truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) to see if their use could help improve safety in mobile work zones. Four lighting combinations were evaluated for visibility, disability glare, vehicle speed and other measures. Report.

Pavement Maintenance Research

Revised Condition Rating Survey Models to Reflect All Distresses: Volume 1
Illinois DOT

In Part 1 of a two-part project, researchers used new data to update the calculation and prediction models used in Illinois DOT's pavement condition rating survey (CRS). A new prediction model was proposed to capture the distinct deterioration patterns of concrete pavements, and calculation models were revised to better incorporate alligator cracking. Report.

In Part 2 of the project (Development of Pavement Performance Prediction Models for Preservation Treatments: Volume 2), researchers developed pavement condition prediction models for nine pavement preservation treatments. Among the results: Chip seals and slurry seals had an average service life of three to four years, while microsurfacing and ultra-thin bonded wearing course treatments could extend pavement service life by six to seven years. Report.

Investigating the Necessity and Prioritizing Pavement Markings on Low-Volume Roads
Minnesota DOT

Installation and maintenance of pavement markings represents a significant financial investment for local agencies. This project developed a prioritization approach and spreadsheet tool to help local agencies better understand the value, cost and need for pavement markings to make the best use of available budgets. Report.

Nontraditional Fog Seals for Asphalt Pavement: Performance on Shoulder Sections in Minnesota
Minnesota DOT

Researchers evaluated several nontraditional and bio-based fog sealants used by local agencies around the state. Among the results: All of the nontraditional products reduced pavement permeability, and two test sections showed a reduction in cracking. Surveyed agencies observed effective performance for two to six years. Report.

Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process in Network Level Pavement Maintenance Decision-Making
International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, July 2018

This study proposes an analytic hierarchy process theory-based method for pavement maintenance agencies in China to use in network-level decision making. In a case study, researchers used the method to rank road sections according to five weighted factors: pavement performance, pavement structure strength, traffic loads, pavement age and road grade. Abstract.

Performance Measurement Research

Validation of Pavement Performance Measures Using LTPP Data
Federal Highway Administration

This study validated proposed FHWA pavement performance measures using performance and distress data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance database. The performance measures assess pavement condition using four metrics: International Roughness Index, cracking percentage, rutting and faulting. Report.

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