Road Construction Sector Research Articles

Analisis Kerusakan Jalan dan Penanganannya Pada Ruas Jalan Timor Raya Km. 4 – Km. 7

The existence of highways is very necessary to support the pace of economic growth, agriculture, and other sectors. Given the important benefits, it is for this reason that the road construction and maintenance sector is a priority to be researched and developed in implementation planning, as well as maintenance. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), identify the factors causing damage to Jalan Raya Timor Km.4-Km.7 and find out the type of repair according to the type and level of damage to Jalan Raya Timor Km.4 - Km.7. The average PCI value for Jalan Timor Raya Km.4 - Km.7 was 59.67 and there were 6 types of damage that occurred on Jalan Timor Raya Km.4 - Km.7, Oesapa Village, Kupang City, namely grain release, holes, crocodile skin cracks, bleeding, corrugation and collapse. The percentage of damage that occurs according to the type of damage is Grain Release 17.29%, Collapse 40.61%, Bleeding 31.72%, Crocodile Skin Cracks 2.44%, Holes. Factors causing damage to Jalan Timor Raya Km.4 – Km.7 include: Excessive vehicle loads so that the strength of the bottom structure of the road pavement or the road pavement structure itself is not able to carry it, poor compaction implementation, uneven or excessive use of asphalt and traffic that clears before the pavement is firmly used.

State and prospects of road construction projects development

The article discusses the aspects that argue for the importance of roads as the main component of the road sector for Ukraine and the application of the project approach to the project activities of enterprises engaged in the construction, maintenance, repair, and reconstruction of roads. The relevance of reforming the industry due to a number of problematic issues in the road construction sector, highlighting the most influential features of the industry that affect the quality of projects, and the conditions of the European Union under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The organizational and functional support for the management of the road sector in Ukraine is defined to understand all the functional responsibilities of all management entities. The main reforms are outlined and positive changes due to their implementation since 2018 are identified. The current state of the road sector, and in particular highways, since Russia's military aggression and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops on February 24, 2022, which forced the continuation of projects within the framework of the sector reform to stop, is determined. The importance of implementing urgent projects in the road construction industry during active hostilities to ensure the transportation of military, commercial and humanitarian cargo, evacuation of civilians and the removal of wounded soldiers from active combat zones to a safer area is outlined. It also outlines plans to implement projects to restore and rebuild Ukraine's road infrastructure in accordance with the Draft Recovery Plan for Ukraine, with the support of foreign countries that are currently helping and have provided guarantees of further comprehensive support for the development of the public road network of national importance after the victory of our country, including the temporarily occupied territories, after their de-occupation.

Rheological and Fatigue Characteristics of Asphalt Mastics and Mixtures Containing Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) Residues

The large-scale implementation of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) has put great pressure on waste management and environmental protection. Road construction engineering has also been confronted with the challenges of the heavy consumption of non-renewable mineral resources. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of recycling and reusing MSWI residue as an alternative to limestone filler (LF) in transport infrastructure. We investigated the rheological characteristics and fatigue performance of asphalt mastics and mixtures containing MSWI residue. Firstly, a particle size analyzer and environmental scanning electron microscope were adopted to characterize the particle distribution and surface micromorphology of the investigated fillers, respectively. Then, tests for determining the steady shear viscosity and multiple-stress creep recovery were conducted to evaluate the high-temperature rheology of five asphalt mastics. Meanwhile, we used Burgers models with fitting parameters to describe the classic creep recovery measurements and viscoelastic responses. The wheel-tracking test revealed the rutting resistance, and the linear amplitude sweep (LAS) and time sweep tests were combined to investigate the fatigue performances of the five asphalt mastics. A dynamic creep test identified the fatigue life of the asphalt mixtures according to the flow number index. Finally, statistical analysis was conducted to identify the correlations between the rheological and fatigue properties of the mastics and mixtures (R2 over 0.87 and 0.78, respectively). Since the fatigue life predictions for the asphalt mastic decreased by over 42.9% according to the MSWI residue/LF volume ratio, the results of the correlations could improve pavement designs. The substitution of the mineral filler in asphalt mixtures with MSWI residue could be a sustainable strategy for the road construction sector.

Life Cycle Assessment for Substitutive Building Materials Using the Example of the Vietnamese Road Sector

Road construction usually relies on the utilization of natural aggregates as building materials. However, increasing pressure for sustainable roads highlights the importance of replacing natural materials with industrial byproducts. The scope of the present study was to identify feasible secondary raw materials for road subbase construction, and to investigate their environmental footprint in the context of Vietnam. This work examines road subbase alternatives such as manufactured sand (m-sand), granulated blast furnace slag (GBF), electric arc furnace slag (EAF), construction and demolition waste (CDW), and fly ash (FA). Based on the life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach, the environmental footprints of the alternative waste-based layers were compared with one another and with the corresponding conventional layers. The study comprises following working steps: (i) a comprehensive literature review of the respective materials, (ii) general chemical and soil mechanical analysis of road subbase substitutes, and (iii) LCA of the material alternatives in the context of the Vietnamese road construction sector. The results for the road subbase layer indicated that CDW and FA had lower impacts—particularly in the impact categories global warming potential and mineral resource scarcity. The overall LCA analysis for the road subbase layer highlighted that the greatest footprint contribution was involved in the construction material transportation processes. Thus, sourcing of materials closer to the site or the use of low-emission transport alternatives is needed.

THE ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS ANALYSIS BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL ROUGHNESS INDEX (IRI) METHOD USING ROADROID APPLICATION

Road infrastructure is built as an infrastructure to meet needs and facilitate accessibility and mobility of socio-economic activities in the community. With the benefits that are so important, therefore the road construction and maintenance sector become a priority to be researched and developed in planning, implementing, and maintaining it. At the location of Jalan Khatulistiwa section, most of the road surface conditions are in moderate condition so the recommendation for improving road surface conditions is periodic maintenance on 56 segments and the other 13 segments are carried out routine maintenance. In the IRI measurement using the Roadroid application, there is a tendency to produce an IRI value that is greater than the IRI measurement using a laser profilometer, but the IRI value obtained by Roadroid tends to approach the IRI value as measured by a laser profilometer with an average percentage difference per segment of 2.91% with 2 segments that have different conditions. Based on the provisions of Pd-01-2021-BM, the IRI value test of the Roadroid has met the requirements as a class III measure of unevenness (IRI).

The Role of In-Service Pavement Studies on the German Highway Network in the Innovation Process

Innovations in the road construction sector are key to tackling the major challenges that the transport infrastructure sector is currently facing. In-service pavement studies (ISPS) are a vital component of the innovation process in the highway infrastructure sector. This paper defines the role of ISPS in the innovation process of the German highway construction sector and identifies suitable criteria to assess and evaluate the innovation characteristics of the in-service test tracks. In conclusion it provides generalisable recommendations how ISPSs can be improved as a tool to foster further innovations in the sector. To gain insights into the innovation characteristics of the ISPS qualitative expert interviews were conducted with the researchers that were responsible in setting-up, monitoring and evaluating the ISPSs.

Índice de práticas sustentáveis para empresas de construção de estradas - um framework hierárquico

Abstract In the alignment of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) growing importance for investments’ decisions this paper presents an index for evaluating sustainable practices of road construction companies. For assessing the sustainable practices, it was developed a hierarchical framework based on environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The practices’ themes and its respective practices were found in the literature, and were selected and validate by an expert’ panel. That resulted in 12 practices themes and the 37 most relevant practices to the road construction sector. For each practice it was established a set of indicators. For the sustainable practices index, the dimensions and practice’s themes weights were determined using the Simplified Process Hierarchical Analysis method, applied to a second experts’ panel. By linking the sustainable practices to measurable indicators, it was possible to attain an overall sustainable practices index for road construction companies. The SPC method used in this case study emphasized practices in the “social” and “environmental” dimensions, with weights of 0.459 and 0.344. The framework elaborated is practical and expeditious, which has a feasible approach to tackling main ESG issues, helping road construction companies and governments preparedness for the new demands of investors and stakeholders.

Labour-related Causes Controlling the Efficiency of Road Construction Operations in Sri Lanka: Engineers’ Standpoint

The efficiency of workforce operations has a significant impact on how profitable a construction firm is. Studies from the past demonstrate that a variety of labour-related concerns have been affecting the construction sector in Sri Lanka and other developing countries, which has a negative impact on the efficiency of construction activities. Construction engineers are crucial resources who can play a key role in the development of decisions and regulations pertaining to construction labourers. This study intends to examine the influence of labour-related causes on the efficiency of construction operations in Sri Lankan road construction projects from the perspective of construction engineers. The significant labour-related causes were identified by a comprehensive scholarly review. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 31 road construction contractors in Sri Lanka. The impact level of each cause was calculated using the Relative Importance Index (RII) method. A total of 26 causes were found to be critical, where labour skill shortage, labour discipline, labourers’ poor ability of reading, understanding, speaking and writing, labourers’ lack of thinking abilities and their communication problems were the top five ranking causes in the list. The validity and reliability of the study findings were established using statistical testing. The activities required in the construction site management processes were also evaluated in relation to the key variables identified through a number of industry consultative sessions. These consultative outcomes further confirmed the validity of the study results. The study findings will significantly aid in modernising current industry practices to boost output and efficiency. Even though the study findings are applicable and limited to the Sri Lankan road construction sector, some of those may still be considered in other developing sectors/countries.

AUTOMATIC CALCULATION OF VOLUME CHANGES IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Abstract. The construction industry is still one of the least digitized sectors in the world, and digitization in the road construction sector in particular is even more dire. To improve the efficiency of the sector, it is of utmost importance to automate construction monitoring tasks, i.e. progress, quality and quantity analyses. The goal of the presented framework is the automation of volume calculation in road construction, so the last branch, i.e. quantity analysis. This paper discusses volume calculations in road construction sites. These volume calculations will be done based on both as-design data and as-built data, where the former is modelled by considering the regulations formulated by the Agency of Roads and Traffic, Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer (AWV) of Flanders, and the latter is captured by using an RTK-UAV. The feasibility of the proposed workflow is examined using real test cases. As a result of the automation, the homogeneity of data across projects will increase and this forms the basis for further automation in road construction. By performing these checks on a regular basis at set intervals, one can obtain a clear overview of progress. In this way, possible delays or errors can be spotted quickly, resulting in higher quality and reduced failure costs.

A road maintenance management strategy evaluation and selection model by integrating Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS methods: The case of Ethiopian Roads Authority

The construction industry is the most important for the social, economic, and political development of countries. The road construction sector is the largest in the construction industry. Inappropriate road maintenance leads to an inefficient and random way of spending maintenance costs. Therefore, road maintenance needs to prevent deterioration that shortens the service life of the road. Thus, the study was focused on a road maintenance strategy evaluation and selection model by integrating Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS methods. The evaluation was a multiple-criteria decision-making problem. The fuzzy AHP technique was used to determine criterion weight. To deal with the uncertain judgment of decision makers, a fuzzy TOPSIS method is applied as an evaluation tool in a fuzzy environment where the uncertain, subjectivity, and imprecise judgments of decision makers are handled with linguistic values parameterized by triangular fuzzy numbers. To achieve the objective, the data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The method of data analysis for this study was made by integrated methodology, and the analysis was made by using Microsoft Excel. The study revealed that quality, maintenance time, environment, production cost, and profit are the most important selection criteria. The finding of the study revealed that periodic maintenance was the best relative closeness value among the considered alternatives. This study recommends that the analysis method can be implemented by the Ethiopian Roads Authority to demonstrate its practicality in selecting the appropriate strategy.

An Analysis of the Main Causes of Delays in the Completion of Road Construction Projects: A Case Study of Tanzania

Introduction Completing road construction projects in time is a challenge for developing countries, specifically for Tanzania, where great economic costs result from difficulties in identifying and reducing the factors that cause the delay. Methods This study addresses factors that cause the delay of a road construction project in Tanzania and proposes some methods that could potentially reduce this delay. A structured questionnaire was drawn up through an interactive online workshop with the help of experts and professionals from the road construction sector in Tanzania, and follow-up interviews were conducted. Results and Discussion In addition, the first results were analyzed, and the factors identified were combined into five important groups, namely, client-related, consultant-related, contractor-related, design-related, and external factors. These were the main contributing aspects to delays in road construction projects in Tanzania. Conclusion Furthermore, from across these groups, six significant causes of delays emerged, and these were inadequate access to finance and delayed payments for completed work, financial problems or difficulties, unwillingness or inability to sustain operations over long periods of non-payment, an unrealistic program of works (Works Schedule), inadequate site management, and political interference.

Influence of stress-level due to self-weight on the hydraulic conductivity of permeable concrete for geotechnical applications

Permeable concrete is effectively used in many fields of civil and environmental engineering, including some geotechnical applications such as drainage piles, deep drainage trenches, and as a permeable backfill material for retaining walls. The principal requirements that a pervious concrete must have for geotechnical applications are those that simultaneously guarantee enough hydraulic conductivity and good filter properties against internal erosion of the soil in which the drains are realised. These requirements can be effectively achieved through special mix-designs in which a non-negligible amount of sand is added to the aggregates, unlike the permeable concretes used for example in the road construction sector where the aggregates are essentially made only of gravel and the concrete is a “no-fines” concrete. The permeability of the pervious concrete depends on many factors among which the stress level due to the self weight of the column of fresh concrete when the depth of the same column is non negligible, as it is in the geotechnical applications. Results of an experimental study on this aspect are reported in the paper. These results show that the hydraulic conductivity reduced with the vertical stress level due to the self weight of the fresh permeable concrete. This reduction is very significant in the range of vertical stress σv of 1–100 kPa (that correspond to the self-weight of a column of “classical” fresh pervious concrete h* ranging from about 0.1 to 6 m). Subsequently this reduction is less marked up to the maximum stress level reached in the tests (σv=700kPa, h* about 40 m). The minimum hydraulic conductivity (hydraulic conductivity for σv=700kPa) is, however, still sufficient and adequate for draining medium to fine-grained base soils (soil near piles or trench drains) such as clays, silty-clays, sandy-silts, silty-sands, and fine sands.

Critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of green construction concepts in road construction in Ghana

The move towards green construction concepts’ implementation in road construction provides an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint while enhancing the prowess of the built environment to uphold sustainability. The purpose of this study is to identify the CSFs for the adoption of green construction concepts in the road construction sector. Through a thorough literature review and pre-testing, 20 CSFs for green construction concepts adoption in road construction were identified. A mean score ranking was used to rank the CSFs for adopting green construction concepts in road construction. At the same time, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run to test for significant differences in perceptions among the respondents. Exploratory factor analysis was further used to ascertain the connection among the variables. The findings of the study revealed the following four CSFs in the adoption of green construction concepts in road construction: ‘collaboration and tendering requirements’, ‘regulatory factor’, ‘leadership and standards development’, and ‘bridging industry and academia gap’. The study is known to serve as a practical reference to help adopt green construction concepts in road infrastructure projects.

Prediction of Ground Water Content Using Hyperspectral Information through Laboratory Test

With the technological advances led by the fourth industrial revolution, automation has been implemented in road earthworks and paving in the road construction sector. For preparation of construction works, achieving an optimal degree of compaction of the subgrade soil is one of the key factors required for automation of construction and digitalization of quality control. The degree of compaction is greatly affected by water content in geotechnical aspects, and measurement of water content is a necessary process in construction sites. However, conventional methods of water content measurement have limitations and drawbacks and have low efficiency considering the recent trend of construction automation and digitalization of quality control. Therefore, in this study, hyperspectral remote sensing was applied for efficient large-scale measurement of water content over a wide area. To this end, first, through laboratory tests, soil water content was normalized with spectral information. A spectrum was derived with a varying water content using standard sand, and reflectance was obtained for specific ranges of wavelength. Finally, we obtained the relationship between the reflectance and the water content by comparing with various fitting models. At this time, the ranges of wavelength to be used in the equation were specified and presented in an exponential model.

Penggunaan Material Galian Dari Desa Kandang Mbelang, Lawe Bulan Untuk Pembuatan Aspal Beton Campuran Panas

Aggregate is the main component of the road pavement structure, which is 90-95% of the weight of the pavement. Such a large proportion causes the quality of the aggregate used will greatly determine the overall pavement performance. The availability of quality aggregates is necessary to ensure the sustainability of development in the road construction sector. One area that has aggregate potential that has not been optimally utilized is Kandang Mbelang Village, Lawe Bulan. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of the Marshall, UCS, and ITS test values ​​and the permeability of the asphalt mixture using the excavated material of Kandang Mbelang, Lawe Bulan as an aggregate. This study used an experimental method carried out in the laboratory with variations in asphalt content of 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, and 6% for Marshall testing and to obtain Optimum Asphalt Content (KAO). For testing ITS, UCS and permeability used Optimum Asphalt Content with three samples each. Hypothesis testing for data comparison using the T-test method. The use of Mbelang cage aggregate in the AC-WC spec IV mixture resulted in a stability value of 711.5 kg, a flow value of 3.48 mm, a porosity value of 16.077%, a density value of 2.016 gr/cm3 and Marshall Quotient value is 215.823 kg/mm ​​at Optimum Asphalt Content of 5.3%. The average ITS value is 319.024 KPa, the average UCS value is 6.982.237 KPa, and the average permeability coefficient is 7.14x10-4 cm/sec. Through the statistical method of T T-tests, it was found that the use of Mbelang cage aggregate for the AC-WC spec IV mixture did not change the stability, flow, I,TS, and UCS values.

DIGITISATION IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION: AUTOMATION OF AS-BUILT MODELS

Abstract. The construction industry is still one of the least digitised sectors worldwide and digitisation in the road construction sector in particular is even more dire. To improve the efficiency of the sector, it is of the utmost importance that construction monitoring tasks, i.e. progress, quality and quantity analyses, are automated. The goal of the presented framework is the automation of the following three vital interconnected subjects: (1) The systematic capture of remote sensing data with low-cost UAVs, (2) the information extraction from survey data and (3) the interlinking and exchange of interoperable BIM data (design, survey and extracted information) using Linked Data technologies. In this paper, the needed data for proper road construction digitisation and the desired data structure is discussed. Additionally, the automation of Real Time Kinematic (RTK)-flight processing is presented. The feasibility of the proposed workflow is examined based on real-life test cases. As a consequence of automation, the homogeneity of data across projects will increase. This will form the basis for further automation in road construction.

Emulsion Polymers of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Methyl Methacrylate with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Surfactant as Soil Stabilizer

Polymer-based materials have gained considerable attention in the road construction sector due to their ability to improve the mechanical strength and durability of soil. In this study, carboxymethyl cellulose-methyl methacrylate (CMC-MMA) emulsion polymers were prepared from different MMA to CMC mass ratios with sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant. The synthesized materials were homogeneously mixed with laterite soil, and their unconfined compressive strengths were measured using dry and wet methods on a universal testing machine. The results indicated that the polymers were obtained in high yields with optimum solids content. Characterization using Fourier transform infrared confirmed the homopolymerization probability of monomers in the materials with increased MMA fractions. In addition, the viscosity of the graft-copolymers measured at room temperature was in the range of 1.2-3.2 cP. The polymer-stabilized soils exhibited maximum unconfined compressive strengths of 564 and 162 psi, respectively, obtained from the dry and wet methods. In general, the rise of MMA fraction in the treated soils enhanced the compressive strength of the soil, with a slight increase in soil pH. This study unfolds the potential of cellulose-based materials that can be implemented in soil reinforcement technology.

Chemical, Thermal, and Rheological Performance of Asphalt Binder Containing Plastic Waste

In order to meet the environmental needs caused by large plastic waste accumulation, in the road construction sector, an effort is being made to integrate plastic waste with the function of polymer into asphalt mixtures; with the purpose of improving the mechanical performance of the pavement layers. This study focuses on the effect of a recycled mixture of plastic waste on the chemical, thermal, and rheological properties of designed asphalt blends and on the identification of the most suitable composition blend to be proposed for making asphalt mixture through a dry modification method. Thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis were carried out to investigate the effect of various concentrations and dimensions of plastic waste (PW) on the neat binder (NB). The frequency sweep test and the multiple stress creep and recovery test were performed to analyze the viscoelastic behavior of the asphalt blends made up of PW in comparison with NB and a commercial modified bitumen (MB). It has been observed that the presence of various types of plastic materials having different melting temperatures does not allow a total melting of PW powder at the mixing temperatures. However, the addition of PW in the asphalt blend significantly improved the aging resistance without affecting the oxidation process of the plastic compound present in the asphalt blend. Furthermore, when the asphalt blend mixed with 20% PW by the weight of bitumen is adopted into the asphalt mixture as polymer, it improves the elasticity and strengthens the mixture better than the mixture containing MB.

Knowledge management in a project - oriented organization and its impact on reducing delays of Road Construction Projects in Southern Khorasan

Given the increasing importance of time, cost, and resource management, organizations are pushing for a knowledge base consisting of all the knowledge acquired during a project, and with the prior knowledge being put in place to maximize productivity. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of knowledge management on the delays of road construction projects in project-oriented organizations. The present study, after explaining the concept of knowledge management and identifying the causes of delays in road construction projects, examines the components of knowledge management and the impact of each of them on reducing the time latency of road construction projects through a questionnaire study method. Then, one of the sub-criteria of delay factors and its effectiveness from knowledge management was investigated. For this purpose, a statistical population consisting of active employers, consultants and contractors in the road construction sector of Southern Khorasan province was considered and parametric tests were used for inferential analysis. Findings show that there is a significant positive two-way relationship between knowledge management and reducing project time latency. This means that the more knowledge management is used in road construction projects, the greater reduction in project latency we will see. Among the components of knowledge management, knowledge creation has the greatest effect (17.42%) on reducing delays and based on the calculated results, it can be said that about 96.8% of delays in projects can be controlled by knowledge management. Also, according to the descriptive statistics obtained in the general case, it can be said that the most important factor affecting the delays are the contractors at the rate of 21.35% and then the employers at the rate of 20.76%.

Kraft lignin as a bio-based ingredient for Dutch asphalts: An attributional LCA

In the last decade, lignin has received much attention as a feedstock to produce bio-based products. This study investigates the potential benefits of using lignin to mitigate the environmental impact of the road construction sector. An environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of various top-layer bio-based asphalts using kraft lignin was conducted. From a cradle-to-grave perspective, lignin-based asphalts were compared with conventional asphalts.The results of the LCA revealed that the climate change impact of lignin-based asphalts could be 30–75% lower than conventional asphalts. For the other ten impact categories, trade-offs were observed. Overall, two key factors to make the environmental impact of lignin-based asphalts lower than conventional asphalts are 1) increasing the amount of bitumen-substituted and 2) using low-grade biomass fuels for process steam in the pulp mill. The substitution of weak filler with lignin was beneficial only for climate change and could lead to a worse overall environmental performance than conventional asphalts. Similarly, higher environmental impacts for lignin-based asphalts could be obtained if the pulp mill consumed natural gas to complete the energy balance to replace the part of the black liquor from which lignin is extracted.This study also includes an in-depth discussion on methodological choices such as the allocation methods for lignin, functional units, and asphalt layers considered. We believe that such a methodological discussion could be helpful to support future Product Category Rules for asphalt mixtures.