Fall 2006 Technology Exchange
Intelligent compaction: The next big thing?
By combining several advanced technologies, manufacturers are producing compactors that show operators real-time information about the degree of compaction achieved throughout an entire construction project.
Minnesota LTAP honored at national conference
Minnesota LTAP’s directors—past and present—were honored at the Second International Symposium on Transportation Technology Transfer, held July 30 through August 3 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Concrete Pavement manual published in easy-to-use format
Minnesota LTAP has completed a graphic redesign of the State Aid Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Best Practices Manual.
Workforce Development
Advice for leading multiple generations
For the first time in U.S. history, four generations with distinctly different sets of values are in the transportation workplace.
Kubista succeeds Frederickson as winter maintenance coordinator
Wendy Frederickson ended her third and final year as Mn/DOT’s winter maintenance coordinator with the Salt Solutions program.
LRRB Update
New tool indentifies, analyzes crash problem areas
Local organizations have a powerful new tool to help identify safety problem areas in their jurisdictions. MN-CMAT—the Crash Mapping and Analysis Tool—allows users to easily access, comprehend, and display data about automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes.
OPERA project: Windshield wiper deicer
Cars can't drive on roofs... or can they?
The Town of Hassan hopes so. A research project funded by the Minnesota Local OPERA (Operational Research Assistance) Program looks to recycle used asphalt roofing shingles to pave roads.
Construction
Open houses show basics of intelligent compaction
In July, Mn/DOT hosted two open houses—one in Akeley, the other at the MnROAD facility near Albertville—to demonstrate the use of intelligent compaction equipment on roadway grades.
TERRA Web site to share MnROAD research
The Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance (TERRA) has launched a Web site, www.terraroadalliance.org, featuring information on the organization and its activities.
Maintenance
Rubbilization and HMA overlay in Faribault County
The 2004 Faribault County project highlights some of the advantages of the concerete rubbilization and HMA overlay process.
Say goodbye to underbody plow accidents
The Carlton County Highway Department installed circuitry on its snowplows to prevent damage to underbody plows when backing up, preventing thousands of dollars in damages by spending a fraction of that amount.
Maintenance Research Corner
This month's highlights are a jetter project and a full matrix LED changeable message sign.
Research Conference
The Center for Transportation Studies Seventeenth Annual Research Conference, held May 24–25 in St. Paul, featured many presentations of interest to local agencies. Three presentations are summarized in the following articles.
Winter weather: more dangerous than drunk driving?
Laws against speeding, drunk driving, and other irresponsible behavior on the road are designed to protect motorists and pedestrians. But extreme weather is another danger travelers face, and oftentimes the risks it poses are just as high—and in some cases, higher.
Aggregate availability
We are moving from a time of abundance to one of limited avalibility and longer hauls to job sites.
Innovative contracting techniques
New techniques such as lane rental, A + B bidding, and incentives for early completion can reduce project delivery time, improve quality, and increase contractor production.
Information Services
Iowa LTAP publishes worker safety training modules
Are you looking for materials to use in your monthly safety meetings? Iowa LTAP has created six training modules that might just be the ticket.
Report reviews effectiveness of new contracting methods
A new report by the Minnesota LRRB compares traditional contracting methods with three innovative contracting methods: A + B with an incentive option, lane rental, and design-build contracts.
Events & Training
LTAP Training & Events Calendar
For an up-to-date list of events in Minnesota, please see the LTAP training and events calendar
Roads Scholar credit offered at "How to" conference
The Northland Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (NCATSSA) will hold its 15th annual “How to” safety training conference March 20 and 21, 2007, in Fargo.
Click, Listen, and
Learn schedule
set through July
Click, Listen, and Learn is the American Public Works Association (APWA) series of interactive Internet educational programs.