Breaking Down the Barriers: The Steps to Getting New Innovation Into - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2015 ARTBA TransOvation Panel Jeff Milton Bridge Preservation Specialist

Breaking Down the Barriers: The Steps to Getting New Innovation Into the U.S. Transportation Construction Market

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Overview of Virginia (VDOT) Practices for New Materials

• New Products Application – the VDOT new products application may be

accessed at the following website: http://www.virginiadot.org/business/resources/bu-mat- NewProdApp.pdf

• New Products Committee
• Special Products Evaluation List (SPEL)
• Approved Lists
• Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) implementation program -

moving a research recommendation or innovative new technology, concept, material, or process and incorporating it into VDOT’s accepted practice

• Example of innovation deployment in Virginia – discussions with vendor at

AASHTO meetings, trial installation of product, evaluation of product performance, inclusion of product on SPEL, development of standard specification

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FHWA Bridge Preservation Expert Task Group (BPETG) - Advancing Innovation in the area of Bridge Preservation

The BPETG has identified issues related to advancing innovation in the area of bridge preservation as related to approval of new and existing products and treatments. The BPETG conducted two surveys. The findings of these two surveys include:

• Lack of consistency in the evaluation, testing, and approval processes. For

example, a product manufacturer goes through various processes with each state DOT in order to have a product placed on the approved list for the same product or treatment

• Lack of national or regional specifications. Product/treatment specifications vary

by state for using the same product or treatment

• There is national consensus on the need to improve current processes

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FHWA Bridge Preservation Expert Task Group (BPETG) - Advancing Innovation in the area of Bridge Preservation

The BPETG recommends establishing a task force of representatives from AASHTO subcommittees to:

• Develop recommendations to AASHTO that standardize the requirements

and processes for products and treatments approval and implementation for adoption on national and or regional basis.

• Identify a few commonly used bridge preservation products/treatments

and develop specifications for these products/treatments that can be adopted by AASHTO nationally and/or regionally by State DOTs.

Thank you for your time and attention Questions??

Jeff Milton Bridge Preservation Specialist