This blog post is an updated version of a live discussion that took place at BAUMA 2013 with reference to the European funded project called PAST.

The mission of the PAST project was to come up with a highly innovative set of technologies that catapults paving quality to the next level of road construction, while at the same time providing contractors with money- and time-saving tools. In a first step, the group identified 30 parameters that had the highest influence on road quality, narrowing down from there to 15. Further analysis and prioritizing was done to determine the significance of their influence in the delivery of a superior quality road.

The following statements are excerpts taken from the previous live discussion. They describe well what differentiates this new approach, from existing Best Practices:

“A machine like a paver does not automatically understand material flow”

“You need to measure first before you can optimize processes”

“Measuring and adapting in real-time is the only way to improve”

“A feedback loop from plant to truck, truck to paver, paver to compaction machine is needed to be able to deliver a quality road”

“The quality process is finished with the last compaction pass”

Are all of these 15 parameters needed to build the “perfect” road? Or should the approach be to implement step by step, tools for each working section until the complete road-building process is covered?

Which one do you think is best to start with? Tools for measuring compaction, asphalt temperature, and material temperature control during transport? Or communication between different machines with the asphalt plant, trucks and pavers?

How do you provide construction workers with tools that are easy to handle, but at the same time fulfill the promise of a better road, cost savings and ease of work? Fact is that existing technology is already complex enough. Only training and continuous use provide the full benefits today.

How is is this new approach so different? It is a change from existing individual solutions to complete networked construction sites, with data that provide real-time feedback and allow for automatic correction in the process.

The picture below provides a bird’s view of how such a construction site can look like:

It is definitely an ambitious goal and cannot be done in a single step. It takes a change in mindset from controlling individual processes towards allowing automation tools and data to control the paving process starting at the asphalt plant and ending with the last compaction pass.

What is your opinion? What are the challenges to overcome?