PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The original objective of this project was to demonstrate that inexpensive expendable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags could be used to identify the spatial location along the pavement alignment of specific truckloads of hot mix asphalt (HMA) production. These tags are placed in the truckload as it leaves the production plant, pass through the paver, and are compacted into the finished mat. Cross-referencing these tags with Global Positioning System (GPS) latitude and longitude coordinates after construction allows spatial referencing of quality assurance (QA) material property data measured at the production plant, enabling linkage to other spatially referenced in-place test results and pavement management system (PMS) pavement performance data. This use of the large QA and PMS datasets already collected by highway agencies will permit more robust analyses and insights into the relationships between HMA material properties and actual pavement performance.
Phases I and II of this project addressed the development of techniques for making the RFID tags sufficiently rugged to withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical conditions of HMA paving and for evaluating the survival and read performance of the tags after construction. Phase I focused on identifying feasible RFID devices for HMA tracking, identifying candidate projects for field testing, and formulating a field evaluation work plan. Phase II executed the work plan developed in Phase I.
During the Phase I and II work, some additional applications of RFID technologies to pavements were identified for evaluation:
• Evaluation of potential problems caused by surfaced tags.
• Exploration of surface acoustic wave (SAW) RFID technology for improved performance of small format tags.
• Demonstration of RFID tracking of placement of Portland cement concrete (PCC) loads in pavements.
• Provision of guidance to agencies on data integration.
The evaluation of these additional topics was the focus of the additional and final Phase III of the project.
This report documents all work done over all three phases of the project.
The original objective of this project was to demonstrate that inexpensive expendable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags could be used to identify the spatial location along the pavement alignment of specific truckloads of hot mix asphalt (HMA) production. These tags are placed in the truckload as it leaves the production plant, pass through the paver, and are compacted into the finished mat. Cross-referencing these tags with Global Positioning System (GPS) latitude and longitude coordinates after construction allows spatial referencing of quality assurance (QA) material property data measured at the production plant, enabling linkage to other spatially referenced in-place test results and pavement management system (PMS) pavement performance data. This use of the large QA and PMS datasets already collected by highway agencies will permit more robust analyses and insights into the relationships between HMA material properties and actual pavement performance.
Phases I and II of this project addressed the development of techniques for making the RFID tags sufficiently rugged to withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical conditions of HMA paving and for evaluating the survival and read performance of the tags after construction. Phase I focused on identifying feasible RFID devices for HMA tracking, identifying candidate projects for field testing, and formulating a field evaluation work plan. Phase II executed the work plan developed in Phase I.
During the Phase I and II work, some additional applications of RFID technologies to pavements were identified for evaluation:
• Evaluation of potential problems caused by surfaced tags.
• Exploration of surface acoustic wave (SAW) RFID technology for improved performance of small format tags.
• Demonstration of RFID tracking of placement of Portland cement concrete (PCC) loads in pavements.
• Provision of guidance to agencies on data integration.
The evaluation of these additional topics was the focus of the additional and final Phase III of the project.
This report documents all work done over all three phases of the project.
