Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Collecting load tickets is an example of an antiquated practice that puts construction inspectors at risk by being either adjacent to traffic, in close proximity to moving equipment, or at times climbing on to trucks to reach tickets. In addition, archiving hard copy tickets for project documentation requires effort and resources to sort, organize, and store that can be streamlined with a digital platform. Technology exists to collect this information electronically allowing for safer and more efficient inspection methods. Beyond the physical ticket, the delivery and installation of materials (e.g. paving, concrete structures, earthwork and aggregate) can be tracked using various technologies such as GIS, GPS, and RFID. Specifically, for paving operations, GPS units with established geo-fences around trucks and pavers can provide critical quality and productivity data for construction inspectors. Other technologies, such as RFID tags or other means of remote sensing can provide additional means of material tracking for highway construction inspection.
Recent uses of material tracking technology present the potential for enhanced safety and inspection opportunities. The Iowa Department of Transportation is piloting two technologies: 1) scales and cloud computing to produce an electronic ticket at the plant and a material properties ticket created at the job site, and 2) GPS technology to track haulers including time spent in various stages of the operation. Additional remote sensing technologies have been used by other agencies to track and locate a variety of materials on construction jobsites in both horizontal and vertical construction sectors. These emerging processes and associated technologies in highway construction have received recent interest, yet little research exists to evaluate its dissemination and performance.
The objective of this synthesis is to identify state DOTs that are using material tracking technology and provide an overview of the implementation of these technologies to date and lessons learned that identify success factors.
Information to be gathered will include but not be limited to:
• Material tracking technologies being used by state DOTs, specifically e-ticketing
• Current pilot efforts using e-ticketing and lessons learned to date
• Strategies for the effective use of e-ticketing
• Knowledge gaps and future research needs
Information will be gathered through a comprehensive literature review, a survey of DOTs, and case examples of states and other participating stakeholders (hauling companies, batch plants, trade associations, etc.) that have deployed and piloted these technologies.
Information Sources:
• Cleaver, L (2016). “Full-Depth HMA Project Uses Cutting Edge Innovations.” Asphalt Contractor, November 2016.
• Iowa DOT and Nebraska DOT e-Construction Peer to Peer Exchange, December 15-16, 2015.
• Mulder, G. (2017). “e-Ticketing for Asphalt Delivery.” P17-21228, 2017 Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
• Mulder, G. (2015). “e-Construction”, Iowa Department of Transportation, Presentation on May 27th, 2015.
• FHWA research on the use of RFID tags to track paving materials (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/14061/index.cfm)
• Iowa DOT is a leader, working towards e-ticketing for HMA and PCC only.
• Florida, Iowa and Pennsylvania use FleetWatcher, and Delaware uses iStrada
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 10/25/18 → 2/26/20 |
Funding
- National Academy of Sciences: $45,000.00
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