Electronic engineering has changed many industries over the years including the construction industry. New tracking systems can ensure that paving will last for its projected lifetime.

Premature degradation is a serious problem that cannot only be costly by tearing up a road again if not done right the first time. It can also damage a professional reputation. The stakes for building a quality road are very high considering that roads must stand up to heavy use and the elements for a reasonably long period of time.

Smoothness is critical for fuel economy and long-lasting roads. Historically, achieving smoothness was a painstaking, expensive process. Modern grade control systems use various high-tech sensors to enable fast, precise leveling and slope control.

Thermal segregation is another nagging problem addressed by experts in paving quality. This problem occurs when laid asphalt does not have a consistent temperature through and through. Without proper density, the asphalt develops more air pockets and can fail prematurely. In the past, getting temperatures exactly right was vexing and sometimes impossible. Today, high-tech infrared cameras and scanners are increasingly used to measure temperature differentials in discrete sections of asphalt. Innovations like these are leading to high paving quality wherever they are used.

Compacting is a crucial stage that can seem incredibly simple and easy to laypeople. In fact, this is another stage that demands reasoned analysis. Using the right number of passes and maintaining optimal temperature ensures an ideal compaction and ultimately increases the lifespan of an asphalt road. Intelligent compaction is a much-discussed new term in paving quality but it is far more than a trending phrase. Here again, new technology is transforming Best Practices in an invigorating way. New systems make precise pass counting and temperature control a reality. In the future, systems could integrate roller-to-roller communication for even more control.

Current Best Practices for high paving quality have served well for generations. Nevertheless, there is a crucial need for more sophisticated and precise practices. As more contractors adopt sophisticated new tracking systems, technologies like infrared will move from theory into the mainstream of modern paving. In real time, these systems create and update thermal profiles with crucial information. These sensors enable contractors to continually adjust their operations for higher quality paving. Since contractors rely on word-of-mouth and repeat business, adopting new technologies can lead to exponential returns on investment.

A job well done, an array of factors unimaginable to the average person driving down a paved highway. The intense pressure put on Contractors to complete jobs at the highest level of quality, in an industry with decreasing profit margins, is not easy. Keeping current with technology, and abiding by Government regulations - requires money, it’s expensive! Limited infrastructure practices create challenges of their own, and the list goes on, and on and on. The job of a Contractor, is simply…not easy!

Where do you see the best results for building a quality road? Do you plan to implement more tools into your working process? If you do, in what areas, if you don’t, why not?