July 2010

Asphalt Industry Releases New Life Cycle Cost Software
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) has developed new software for life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of pavements. The new software, called LCCAExpress, uses the principles recommended by the FHWA to compare the economics of alternative designs for a given road project. LCCAExpress is a simplified version of the APA’s original LCCA software. Geared to less-complex projects, it’s quick, easy to use, and unbiased.  “The new software is designed for counties, cities and consultants. It is a very robust software and not daunting for the user,” said Jill Thomas of the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, co-chair of the APA’s Economics Team.

LEED and Green Construction - The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System serves as a scorecard for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. It was designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable building and development practices. Sustainable development tries to balance the needs of people, nature, and the economy.  Pavement type selection (concrete vs. asphalt), on its own, directly contributes to only a few LEED credits. Credits can be earned in these ways:  (read more)

Thin Lift Overlays for Pavement Preservation – Agencies are being forced to stretch road improvement budgets and to maximize the number of roadways being repaired and improved.  Thin lift overlays are a tool in the box for pavement preservation.  Best practices for material selection need to be followed when using thin lift overlays.  In the Pueblo area, a new thin lift gradation (SX Modified) has been developed for 1-1/2” or less paving lifts with a 3/8” nominal maximum aggregate size (read more). 

New APA Document Perpetual Pavement: A Synthesis

The concept of Perpetual Pavements was introduced in 2000 by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA). They defined a Perpetual Pavement as "an asphalt pavement designed and built to last longer than 50 years without requiring major structural rehabilitation or reconstruction, and needing only periodic surface renewal in response to distresses confined to the top of the pavement" (APA, 2002).

At that time, it was recognized that many well-built, thick asphalt pavements that were categorized as either full-depth or deep-strength pavements had been in service for decades with only minor periodic surface rehabilitation to remove defects and improve ride quality. Click here to read document

June 2009

NCAT Technology News - Spring 2009

The spring NCAT Technology News has been distributed. Download a copy by using this button

CAPA publication "The Asphalt RAP" . These articles will feature topics on various subjects which relate to the Asphalt, Consulting or related Construction industries.

If you would be interested in submitting an article for consideration, Contact Tom Clayton for the information as to making a submission.
Click here to visit "The Asphalt RAP" technical articles published to date.

A NEW DVD AVAILABLE ON THE ART OF GRAVEL ROAD MAINTENANCE

The Minnesota LTAP has created a tool kit to teach maintenance workers, supervisors, and engineers the right way to perform gravel road maintenance. The key component of the toolkit is a new DVD, Gravel Road Maintenance: Meeting the Challenge. The DVD can serve either as a stand alone tutorial or as an instructor's tool to introduce the topics of gravel road maintenance. Each chapter of the DVD discusses a specific maintenance topic:

•Correct Roadway Shape
•Shaping the Roadway
•Good Surface Gravel
•Dust Control

The DVD can also be used for presentations to the public to explain what can be done to their local roads, what is being done, and why it needs to be done. To view the video visit the LTAP website.click here. FHWA through the LTAP Clearinghouse is currently determining the potential need for the tool kit and will be providing information on ordering, etc. in the near future.

Complimentary Publications Downloads
now available at the AASHTO Bookstore

You can download the AASHTO publications list below, at no charge, from the AASHTO bookstore.
Information about how to access these free publications follows the list of publications below.

Click here to download a pdf version of the latest AASHTO Catalog.

Free Publications (currently available online)
Item Code Title

AM-2 21st Century Asset Management, 2nd Edition
APD-1 Accelerating Project Delivery: It's About Time
BPCSS-1 Best Practices in Context Sensitive Solutions, 2005 Competition
BLR-3 Transportation: Invest in America, Bottom Line Report, 3rd Edition
CLF-1 CEO Leadership Forum for State Departments of Transportation
CLFS-1 CEO Leadership Forum Survey
DDPG-1 Design Drawing Review Presentation Guidelines
ESC-1 Best Practices in Environmental Stewardship Competition
EMS-1 EMS Implementation Handy Guide Number One: Making the Case for an Environmental Management System
EMS-2 EMS, A Bridge for Organizational Coordination and Communications
FRBL-1 Transportation: Invest in America, Freight Rail Bottom Line Report*
GDC-2 Guidelines for Design for Constructability, 2nd Edition
GHC-4-I1 AASHTO LRFD Design Examples - Horizontally Curved Steel Bridges (2 files)*
HBF-2 Guide Specifications for Highway Bridge Fabrication with HPS 70W (HPS 485W) Steel, 2nd Edition*
HCE-1 Strategic Performance Measures for State Departments of Transportation, A Handbook for CEOs and Executives (NCHRP No. 20-24 (20))
OTS-1 Optimizing the System*
PAR-1 Protecting America's Roads, Bridges and Tunnels: The Role of State DOTs in Homeland Security
SBB-1 Steel Bridge Bearing Design and Detailing Guidelines, 1st Edition
SBCS-1 Standard Specifications for Highway Steel Bridge Coating Systems With Inorganic Zinc-Rich Primer
SBF-1 Steel Bridge Fabrication Guide Specification
SBFQC-1 Steel Bridge Fabrication QC/QA Guide Specification
SDDP-1 Shop Detail Drawing Presentation Guidelines
SDDRAG-1 Shop Design Drawings Review/Approval Guidelines
SFR-1 Security Funding Resources: A Reference Guide for State Transportation Agencies
SMC-2 Smart Moves: Transportation Strategies for Smart Growth 2004 Competition
SP-1 AASHTO Strategic Plan 2005-2010
SS-3 2004 Salary Survey
TEA-1 The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century in Action: Money at Work
THR-1 Taking the High Road, 1st Edition
UAAG-1 Uniform Audit & Accounting Guide for Audits of Transportation Consultants' Indirect Cost Rates - September 2005 Update

There is one requirement to download these publications to your computer; you must be a registered user of the AASHTO bookstore. To register at the AASHTO bookstore, go to https://bookstore.transportation.org and click on Become an AASHTO E-Affiliate.

The registration process just takes a few minutes and offers you many benefits besides access to these free publications. These benefits include easy access to information about revised and new AASHTO publications, special discounts, and your own online account which makes ordering AASHTO publications much easier.

To register at the AASHTO online bookstore, go to https://bookstore.transportation.org and click on Become an AASHTO E-Affiliate.

Once you have registered, at your online account click on "Free Digital Publications".

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