Innovations and Pavement-Type Selection Topics Robert Rodden, P.E. www.robertrodden.com

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Stringless Paving Innovations in Concrete Pavement Construction

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FREE Stringless Paving Training! •  Available  around  the  clock,  365  days  per  year.  

•  No  cost  to  par;cipants.  

•  Cer;ficates  of  comple;on  may  count  toward  a  total  of  11.0  professional  development  hours  (PDHs).    

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3 www.acpa.org/self-paced-online-courses/

What is Stringless Paving? §  Alternative to conventional

stringline paving. §  Uses electronic guidance

systems to replace pins, sensors, and “stringline.”

§  Electronic guidance system controls elevation and steering of the paving machine(s).

§  Sometimes referred to as 3D paving.

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Some of the Benefits of Stringless Paving •  Eliminates labor intensive stringline

surveying for hubs and stakes. •  Reduces opportunities to introduce

surveying errors. •  Reduces overall preparation time on

the grade. •  Places engineer’s design directly into

machine(s). •  Controls elevation, slope, and steer of

machines with truer input. •  Reduces or eliminates cords created

by stringline hubs/pins. •  Reduces wave patterns introduced by

improperly tensioned stringline sensors. •  Increases phasing and traffic control

pattern considerations.

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Stringlines = Chords

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Stringless = Smooth Curves

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Stringless Technology Extends Beyond Paving

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Two Most Common Stringless Systems in Use Today

Total Station Control GPS + Laser Control

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Stringless Components

•  In the Field: §  Control Points. §  Instruments (Robotic

Total Stations, GPS Base Station or Lasers).

§  Radios.

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•  On the Machine: §  Computer & Software. §  Dual Axis Slope Sensors. §  Masts.

§  If Using Total Station Control: �  Radios �  360o Prisms

§  If Using GPS Control: �  GPS Receiver

§  If Using Laser Control: �  Laser Receiver

How the Components Talk to One Another � All components

networked together on CANBus.

�  “Internet for machines”

� Each message has unique ID so only the component that needs it will read it.

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CANBus

Bringing the Components Together

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Benchmark Control Points (Hubs)

Robotic Total Station

Radio on Total Station

Radio on Equipment

360o Prism on Equipment

3D Model

On-Board Stringless Computer

Machine Control

Computer

Equipment Hydraulics

Dual Axis Slope Sensor

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Equipment Advancements Innovations in Concrete Pavement Construction

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We Progressed Quickly

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But Some Things Still Look Familiar

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Zero Clearance Paving

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Variable Width Pavers

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Real-Time Smoothness

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Sometimes Testing Advances Drive Equipment Advancements

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Future of Construction • Stringless/GPS integration into joint layout and sawing operations?

• Saw + seal in one single operation?

• Manufacturers don’t reveal new ideas until patents are filed and its ready…

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The Economics of Pavements Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)

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Decision Points in Pavement Type Selection • Historically, initial cost has driven pavement type selection

• Other factors are increasingly important, but cost is still king

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COST

Sustainability

Safety

User Experience

Concrete has a Lower Inflation Rate

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24 Source: ACPA EB011, Life Cycle Costs Analysis

Oil and Asphalt Import/Export Practices

and Refining

Processes Impact This On a Local

Level!

In Many Areas,

Concrete Can

Now Compete

On Initial Cost

Alone!

Concrete Pavements are EXPECTED to Last Longer by Owners

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Life-Cycle Costs Accounts for This

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CONCR

ETE  

ASPH

ALT  

RE

AL-

WO

RLD

CA

SE

F

OR

EX

AM

PL

E P

UR

PO

SE

S O

NL

Y

Failure to Account for LCCA is Shortsighted 5/

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27 Asphalt prices have increased more since these plots

LCCA Guidance in Spanish! • Translated by:

• Soon available through:

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Competition Pays Dividends to the Owner (and TAXPAYERS) •  A complex relationship exists

between number of bidders, volume of market, unit price of materials, etc.

•  However, there is a clear trend of lower prices for both pavements with increasing levels of competition

•  Variability in unit prices also decreases with increasing competition

•  Owners can purchase more pavements with the same investment!

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http://competitionpaves.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PavementTypeSelection-ISCR-Prague.pdf

Sustainability of Pavements Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)

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Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)

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• Quantifies CO2 and other environmental

impacts of a specific pavement section in a specific location similar to how LCCA does $

• The end result is extremely dependent on: � Pavement section, cut/fill, etc. � Materials used, recycled content, by-product usage,

hauling distance, etc. � Use phase: color of surface can impact lighting,

rigidity of the surface impacts fuel usage, etc.

• There is no GENERAL answer to this!

Questions? Robert Rodden, P.E. www.robertrodden.com

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