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Pages 39-69

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From page 39...
... 39 This chapter documents the uses and the practices as reported by seven state DOTs that demonstrated experience with innovative technologies for construction project delivery. The case examples of selected state DOTs document information regarding technology implementation, use, benefits, challenges, and lessons learned for construction project delivery.
From page 40...
... 40 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery technologies; (5) instrumentation and sensors; (6)
From page 41...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 41 efforts to move toward a paperless delivery process. The agency issued tablets to field personnel to use apps that assisted with construction-related processes and reduced or eliminated the need for paper documents.
From page 42...
... 42 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery further analysis. Thermal profiling uses paver equipment that has an infrared temperature sensor system mounted to it that takes temperature readings during the asphalt paving process, creating a thermal profile of the pavement using a cloud-based server and software package.
From page 43...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 43 activities, VETA helps to analyze the massive amounts of data collected by the intelligent compaction and thermal profiling devices. An example of implementing an instrumentation device comes from one of the Minnesota DOT districts in western Minnesota, in which the resident construction engineer used RTK rover devices for data collection and conducting inspections.
From page 44...
... 44 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery as concrete pavement depth, on a continuous basis and with better accuracy than traditional inspection tools and methods. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Minnesota DOT explored the use of UASs for various applications including construction activities.
From page 45...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 45 Use of Technologies for Construction Delivery Contractors were instrumental in encouraging the New York State DOT to explore the use of emerging construction technologies. New York State DOT staff mentioned that the highway construction contractors that worked with New York State DOT realized the benefits and time savings associated with the use of technologies and began developing their own 3-D models for various construction activities, such as AMG.
From page 46...
... 46 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery Visualization and Modeling Initially, contractors created 3-D models for projects to improve their means and methods and work productivity. As time went on, contractors began requesting 3-D models from the New York State DOT so that they did not have to create the model themselves.
From page 47...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 47 As its 3-D visualization and modeling technologies evolve and improve, the New York State DOT indicated that it was addressing file transfer issues because of the availability of various software programs and equipment for use by contractors. For example, the agency used a specific vendor for surveying, which used DWG files.
From page 48...
... 48 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery the New York State DOT began training its inspectors to use technologies in the field to check the accuracy of work put in place. The training included using GPS and 3-D models in the field to measure specifications and quantities.
From page 49...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 49 to learn how to change the status. As an example of the benefits of UASs, the department needed 3 years and 30 people to evaluate the compliance of 8,000 handicap ramps by using mobile and ground-based LiDAR equipment.
From page 50...
... 50 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery needed to perform successfully. On the basis of feedback from agency staff, contractors liked the flexibility in using innovative and advanced technologies, which allowed them to use technologies that made them more efficient and provided greater cost savings.
From page 51...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 51 move from 2-D printed plans to digital 3-D and potentially 4-D models within the next 5 years. The agency typically used 3-D modeling for specific projects that involved complex scope and the building of reinforced structures and for projects located in highly urbanized areas with high traffic volumes.
From page 52...
... 52 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery The I-71 Grove City project successfully used AMG for earthwork and paving operations during construction. Safety Technologies Safety was a concern for the Ohio DOT; protecting the lives of workers and motorists in a construction work zone was always a priority.
From page 53...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 53 types of UAVs have different types of equipment on board, and without testing all these different variations, Ohio DOT had difficulty in understanding the actual value of implementing UASs for construction. However, Ohio DOT staff mentioned some testing occurred with UASs for construction inspection purposes at locations that were difficult or unsafe for a person to access.
From page 54...
... 54 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery at the department saw an opportunity to use more technologies for construction and supervised a staff wanting to use technologies in their positions. At first, Pennsylvania DOT used SharePoint to route document reviews between the various DOT units, the contractor, and the design team.
From page 55...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 55 contained an error, then the department needed to admit the error to the contractor and to correct it in the model. Further, the DOT realized that the design team for a project needed to be more diligent with the development of the 3-D model and to understand how this model was to be used during construction.
From page 56...
... 56 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery applied to the surface, which a person controls with a remote control outside of the actual trench. The compactor travels the length of the trench to compact a lift, then moves out of the way to allow earthwork equipment to add more material, and the compactor travels the length of the trench again compacting that lift.
From page 57...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 57 Also for construction inspections, Pennsylvania DOT allowed contractors to use nondestructive tests for quality control in measuring the concrete pavement thickness. Once concrete was paved over a washed metal plate placed on the subbase, a ground-penetrating radar device could measure the thickness by using magnetic waves.
From page 58...
... 58 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery Utah Department of Transportation The Utah DOT is responsible for construction and maintenance of more than 6,000 centerline miles of roadways throughout the state. Utah DOT annually constructs more than 150 projects, with a capital budget of approximately $1 billion.
From page 59...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 59 Another example of Utah DOT collaborating with contractors and the traveling public is the use of VSL in the work zone. A consistent message from the contracting community was the need to slow down traffic in work zones.
From page 60...
... 60 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery safe, Utah DOT worked with contractors to pilot the use of advanced safety technologies that showed promise. VSL was one of the work zone safety technologies mentioned by Utah DOT staff.
From page 61...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 61 use of UASs for construction surveying, Utah DOT staff noted productivity increases, especially for projects in rural and limited access areas in southern Utah. Surveying activities that had required months to complete now took about a week to collect and process the data and substantially reduced the time needed to survey a project site.
From page 62...
... 62 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery part of the agency's strategic plan, Washington State DOT had six core values of safety, engagement, innovation, integrity, leadership, and sustainability. The use of emerging technologies for construction delivery enhanced these values and made the use of technologies critical to the business operations.
From page 63...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 63 right conditions to initiate the investment was a hurdle that included acquiring the technology, learning about it, testing it, implementing it, and assessing the benefits. As an example, moving toward the increased use of automated equipment and machinery was beneficial to contractors so that they were more efficient and accurate in the placement of work, but the initial investment in automated equipment could be quite high.
From page 64...
... 64 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery direction to the contractor on the length, duration, and speed for the work zone. Further, the DOT had used WZIA, but it was not a tool regularly used.
From page 65...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 65 acceptable forms of means and methods to complete a project. The DOT eventually wanted to use UAVs for internal surveying purposes, but did not yet determine the optimal approach to accomplish this goal.
From page 66...
... 66 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery technological instruments and sensors to measure the work put in place accurately. UASs collected detailed survey data, which fed into the 3-D model for a project.
From page 67...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 67 become comfortable with it during piloting allowed the technology to move into the implementation phase with fewer issues -- as long as the piloting phase showed the business case for using the technology. If during the pilot test a technology were perceived as too complicated or not cost-effective, then Wisconsin DOT might decide not to use the technology.
From page 68...
... 68 Emerging Technologies for Construction Delivery of the model versus traditional 2-D plans. As noted by DOT staff, with 3-D models the survey data used and the alignment of the project with existing conditions could dictate the accuracy of the model.
From page 69...
... Case Examples Using Technologies for Construction Delivery 69 Typically, inspectors needed to track the station offset from a particular element of a project and related this offset position back to the plan set; the process could be time-consuming and challenging for Interstate projects that extended over several miles. With OnStation, the GPS included in the tablet recorded the inspector's actual position, and the plan set could be pinned in the OnStation app that then listed the station offset.

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