As we approach the halfway point of an election year, road builders, like many others in the construction industry, are trying to endure change. Despite increased material and labor costs, project managers are adopting solutions to increase profit margins this paving season.
The Equipment Manufacturers Association reports that asphalt and concrete prices will rise and diesel and oil prices will be volatile for the remainder of the calendar year. Meanwhile, as labor shortages continue, many project managers are still looking for the right person for the job. The project manager should set a budget for higher salaries for roller operators, screed operators, and workers. In addition to increasing business costs, as part of the Infrastructure and Investment Act (IIJA), some state or federal projects require efforts to improve the sustainability of project bids. All of these factors require equipment professionals, project managers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to identify what will get them on the road for the long haul without breaking the bank. What is the answer for most people? Eliminate rework.
Several times in recent years, John Deere executives have emphasized a key strategy when talking about the company's efforts to reduce emissions: reducing rework. After all, not having to run equipment again to complete a job means less equipment is running and emissions are reduced. Construction rework is unplanned work that is required as a direct result of a failure.
For example, if the mixed density is off or the slipform pavement width needs to be reset due to too many or insufficient roller passes, the resurfaced road will no longer have the correct density to meet the specifications . If you can't achieve the exact smoothness, slope, and thickness specified by engineers, your road is unlikely to last long.
Unplanned rework requires additional resources, such as materials, labor, and fuel. During this paving season, many project managers are upgrading their paving tools due to a focus on profitability combined with the high demand for paving roads sustainably.
To help operators avoid rework, OEMs like Topcon and Wirtgen offer a variety of technologies and equipment to give the entire paving team better visibility into the entire process.From simple extensions to operator platforms to stringless Wirtgen's AutoPilot 2.0 control systems scan roads at highway speeds to create 3D models, and project managers invest in tools to ensure teams can see through the windshield every time they cross pavement. Learn how road construction teams use equipment and technology to pave roads accurately, on time and on budget.
Choose a paving contractor with versatility
Over the past two years, OEMs have released slipform or offset pavers with wider width versatility. With this ability to configure widths to suit the specific needs of each road, the OEM has also expanded its platform for carriers. For example, the operator says: Wirtgen's The SP15i platform allows you to see inside the feeding system, transfer hopper, and mold integration compartment. This expanded view and width allows operators to accurately set the pavers for each project and better see their work.
A view from above in front of the slip-off pavement.RDO Equipment Co., Ltd.
Crunch said the team is very satisfied with the SP15i compact slipform paver and will continue to use it on future paving sites. But Crunch decided the benefits of the latest model could make a difference next season.
He said both models have good maneuverability, tight turning angles and flexibility. However, the SP25i can pave roads up to 6 feet and 7 inches thick, and concrete surfaces up to 12 feet wide. His team will be performing paving work in various cities this year and hopes to be able to tailor the paving to project specifications based on local environmental factors, including average environmental factors. temperature, humidity and frost levels.
Where did the strings go?
This season is a turning point. Tetherless paving is no longer an anomaly and is becoming the norm on many sites. Project managers say cordless pavement dramatically reduces hazards and improves safety. Previously, road builders would have their paver move in a straight line, staking strings to compact the concrete to the proper slope and width. Sensors and GPS technology now allow paving equipment to be precisely guided without the need for physical string markers.
Dennis Howard, Northern Improvement Company President Greg McCormick, and foreman Ryan Ziegler at a concrete paving site in North Dakota.RDO Equipment Co., Ltd.
Northern Improvement Company, a North Dakota-based heavy equipment, highway and municipal construction company, is adopting cordless pavement. Northern Improvement President Greg McCormick said the company began implementing stringless paving systems several years ago.
Regarding the North Dakota Department of Transportation project, McCormick said cordless pavement significantly improved safety as the team reconstructed six miles of Interstate 94. Without the cord, the team has reduced worker hazards and increased the efficiency of the transport trucks that deliver the concrete, so they can run the WPS 102i concrete placer continuously.
Scan the road on the highway
Road builders turn to intelligent paving systems when they need to help their teams achieve the right compaction rates when resurfacing roads quickly. Last year, Topcon introduced an intelligent paving system, 3D scanning, modeling, and automated machine guidance (AMG) to create detailed road maps using in-vehicle scanners that can collect real-world traffic data at typical highway speeds. I captured the model.
Ham roller operators ensure compact and smooth roads.RDO Equipment Co., Ltd.
White and members of the PRS team fed the engineer's 3D model into five milling machines, including the highway's smoothness, slope, and thickness, which were optimized for the environment. Each milling machine was equipped with his AMG, a type of automatic machine control. Five milling machines simultaneously milled the road's old asphalt into a uniform material that could be accurately repaved in one pass. In the end, PRS completed the project in his one week, and the road smoothness improved by 70% from its previous condition.
Early adoption
Road construction teams will be early adopters of equipment and technology to meet the increasing demand for building durable roads without increasing material or labor costs. With a focus on eliminating rework, project managers partnered with equipment experts to give operators a complete picture of the project.
With simple equipment upgrades in line with complex technological advances in machine control automation, project managers and operators can significantly reduce machine production time and reduce paving emissions in one pass. Accuracy is ensured by the dedicated efforts of each team paving the way for the future.
