Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in the Public Works ...

compatible with small vehicles or with the transportation infrastructure. Construction
material interests compete for market share and there needs to be an equable process of
comparing material choices and pavement types. Standard materials and pavement types
would be better applied and innovative materials and processes could be better evaluated.
There are a number of opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of resources that
are expended on the transportation infrastructure. Professional engineering experience and
knowledge could be expanded by certification in specialties. Certification would create a
demand for continuing education to prepare engineers for certification and to maintain that
certification. Another enhancement would be a means of evaluating new technology that
would reduce the time for approval and adoption by industry. Accelerated pavement testing
that is being pursued by several agencies is an example of how materials, pavement features
and loading can be evaluated. Figure 2 shows a schematic of an accelerated pavement
testing system being put into service by the Indiana Department of Transportation and
Purdue University in West Lafayette, In.
Traditionally design and construction research in civil engineering has been done in
the public sector. The transportation infrastructure would benefit from industry taking a
more active role in funding research in-house, at universities or in research centers. The
National Asphalt Pavement Association and National Stone Association have recently
established research centers in their respective areas of interest.
Agency
Transportation agencies establish the scope, design criteria, material specifications,
construction methods and quality control/acceptance method for transportation
infrastructure projects. In some agencies this system is historical and well entrenched and
provides barriers to innovation. A new perspective of this system would create opportunities
to apply innovation to the transportation infrastructure. The concept of a warranty for
construction is used in Europe but not in the US. Additional benefit might be gained by
combining warranties with the concept of design/build. This combination would encourage
innovation from the design/build team. There is also the potential for private industry to
own and maintain transportation infrastructure facilities.
Agencies can benefit from innovation and are faced with implementing a number of
new technologies. Productivity incentives have been evaluated in Oregon for Department
of Transportation maintenance workers. Productivity is measured by amount and quality.
Agencies are on the threshold of an information explosion. This is coming about because
of development of hardware, software and the means of collecting data.
Research can be a source of innovation for agencies. The Strategic Highway Research
Program is producing a number of innovative products and agencies are developing plans
for their evaluation. However, there are constraints on research that inhibit innovation. The
constraints come from the fact that major research funding organizations solicit research
based on defining the tasks, products, schedule and funds. The National Cooperative
Highway Research Program is an example of this approach to funding research.
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