International Highway Technology Scanning Program

Contact

Hana Maier
Program Manager

Email: hana.maier@dot.gov

FY 2011 Scan Program

All activities are presently on hold for the following scans for fiscal year 2011:

Risk Management: Best Practices for Program Development and Delivery

May 27- June 12, 2011
Australia, England and Scotland, the Netherlands and Germany

This scan will examine programs and practices used by other countries to actively assess transportation system performance risks and manage them through a risk management process. The scan objectives are to document lessons learned from public agencies that are administering mature risk management programs under a variety of programmatic strategies and project delivery methods. The scan will focus on risk identification, analysis, and management techniques that result in successful program delivery and enhanced stakeholder communications. The scope of this scan will be limited to an exploration of risk management processes, tools, documentation and communication. Risk management strategies, methods and tools currently being employed by international agencies will be the key information obtained by this scan.

Managing Pavements, Monitoring Performance

June 9-26, 2011
Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands

Managing Pavements, Monitoring Performance - This scan's focus is on sustainable pavement performance. The scan will identify case studies, methodologies and techniques among selected countries in Europe and Australia that have mature programs for long-term management of pavements that are shown to be sustainable. Evidence suggests that transportation agencies in these countries are substantially more performance driven, link pavement budgets more directly with long-term needs, and foster cultures throughout their agencies that support pavement programs that are more economically sound, environmentally sensitive, and better serve the needs of their communities. There is a critical need in the U.S. for increased technical capacity and resources, particularly as they relate to long-term policy making and program development. This scan and its anticipated results will add immensely to the knowledge, skills and policy practices needed to implement performance based management of pavements on the nation's highways.

Precast Concrete Pavement Systems

Currently on hold
The Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia

The purpose of this scan is to investigate design methods, construction techniques, testing methods, and long-term performance and durability of Precast Concrete Pavement Systems (PCPS) applications constructed and monitored by international partners. The cost-benefit of PCPS applications in comparison to other more traditional treatments, such as the use of rapid setting cast-in-place concrete, will also be examined. In addition, the scan will look at the use of life cycle cost analysis, user delay costs, and innovative contracting methods such as incentives and disincentives, lane rental, and warranties. It is anticipated that knowledge gained from the scan will provide valuable insight into the PCPS technologies and practices used by other countries that have potential for implementation in the U.S. Information on the application and related performance of PCPS from the scan will be used to assist state highway agencies, toll authorities, cities and others to assess the potential benefits of PCPS applications and to become more receptive to its use, where appropriate, as a proven rapid construction technique.

Climate Change Adaptation

Currently on hold
Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, England and Scotland

The purpose of this scan is to gather information on how other countries are addressing adaptation of highway infrastructure to the future impacts of climate change. This scan will identify international policies and practices that will be shared with the U.S. transportation community to support the development and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies in the U.S. Transportation infrastructure that can withstand climate change and severe weather events will need to use multi-disciplinary, risk based approaches that are fluid and advanced through cooperation among varying levels of government. The results from this scan can inform the planning process and procedures, influence design guidelines for pavement and bridges, asset management approaches and a wide range of transportation system management strategies at the Federal and State levels. The results of the scan will help FHWA and AASHTO support the states with activities underway; it will inform many others considering how to approach or begin understanding the issues underlying adaptation of transportation infrastructure.