Civil and Architectural Engineering

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Past Transportation Research Projects

Title: Evaluating the Impact of DOT's QC/QA Programs on Pavement Performance

Principal Investigator's Name(s): Dr. Khaled Ksaibati, P.E.

Description of Research Problem:

Most Department of Transportation (DOTs) have developed and implemented various types of Quality Control/ Quality Assurance (QC/QA) programs. Such programs require significant resources to be invested in testing before, during and after finishing the construction of pavement structures. The testing may include aggregate gradation, asphalt content, density of compacted mix, and smoothness of finished surface. The test results are normally utilized by DOTs to calculate the incentives/disincentives based on statistical evaluation and standard procedures. It is important after QC/QA programs have been in place for several years to determine their impact on the overall quality and long - term performance of pavements. The data for this project has been collected. The second year activities will concentrate on data analysis and reporting.

Research Objectives:

1. Identify the different QC/QA policies utilized by DOTÂ’s in the Rocky-Mountain region.
2. Develop procedures for evaluating the impact of QC/QA Programs.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of QC/QA programs.

Potential Applications of Research:

The results of this research can be used to determine the impact of QC/QA policies on the overall performance of pavements. In addition, the findings can justify the costs associated with QC/QA programs.