UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 1 Research Projects

Project No.: CY1-OU-OSU-TTI-06
Title: Rapid Assessment of Network-Level Pavement Conditions Using Novel Tools
Performing Institution: University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Principal Investigator: Syed Ashik Ali, University of Oklahoma; Joshua Qiang Li, Oklahoma State University; Garrett Dorsett, Texas A&M Transportation Institute; Kenneth Hobson, University of Oklahoma; Musharraf Zaman, University of Oklahoma
Start and Anticipated Completion Dates: 10/1/2023-9/30/2024
Project Description: In this collaborative project, two leading Oklahoma universities – the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) – will work with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) to assess network-level pavement conditions rapidly and cost-effectively, using novel tools. Roadway pavements constitute a critical element of surface transportation infrastructure. With a large portion of pavements in poor condition and reaching the end of their service lives, pavement maintenance and rehabilitation are becoming increasingly challenging tasks for many state DOTs, including DOTs in Region 6.

Recent developments have spotlighted the Traffic Speed Deflection (TSD) Device as a valuable technology for measuring surface deflections at short intervals and capturing data on roughness, texture, and rutting at traffic speed. The evaluation of pavement conditions and their rating typically depend on such parameters as deflections, slope deflection indices, structural considerations, and remaining service life. In this context, the potential advantages of deriving network-level pavement condition ratings from TSD data could be enhanced through the implementation of other novel technologies developed by the consortium members collaborating on this project. Lack of access to a TSD device and high cost associated with data collection necessitate the pursuit of innovative in-house technologies, which will not only increase efficiency but reduce costs significantly.

As part of a pooled fund study (TPF-5 (385)) participated by ODOT, pavement conditions data from I-35 and I-40 in Oklahoma were collected recently using a TSD. The proposed study focuses on developing tools for analyzing these TSD data for network-level assessment or rating of the associated pavements. A complementary objective is to collect data from the same pavements using in-house technologies, namely Pave3D 8K available at OSU and an air-coupled Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Fast Falling Weight Deflectometer (FFWD) available at TTI.
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