Automation in Highway Construction Part I: Implementation Challenges at State Transportation Departments and Success Stories

2018Duval, RichardPDFTech Reporthttps://fhwatest.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/16030/FHWA-HRT-16-030DTFH61-13-C-00026AutomationRoad constructionImplementationUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentTorres, Helga N.Ruiz, J. MauricioChang, George K.Anderson, Jennifer L.Garber, Sabrina I.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentThe Transtec Group, Inc.Turner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterDuval, RichardFederal Highway AdministrationAutomation in highway construction includes a growing number of technologies that collect, store, analyze, and process information to make, support, or execute an appropriate action or decision that results in enhanced construction outcomes. The goals of automation in highway construction are to increase speed, efficiency, and/or safety during the construction process. Automation in highway construction is used in conjunction with components, processes, and software that assist in a more efficient system of construction. The primary objectives of this project were to address gaps identified for implementing automation in highway construction and to develop guidance for State transportation departments to assist them in implementing automation to improve accelerated project delivery. There are two volumes of the final report; one for each of the two objectives. Part I of the final report (this volume) presents a description of the key automation technologies that were part of this study and the associated benefits, challenges, and solutions. Part II of the final report, FHWA-HRT-16-031, presents an overview of enabling technologies and policies for automation in highway construction, along with implementation strategies.(1) Part II also includes design procedures and practical guidelines to properly generate three-dimensional models for downstream use in construction and other phases of highway project delivery.82