2021 Florida Asphalt Expo Sparks Engagement, Inspiration |
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On Tuesday, November 30th, the industry came together for the 2021 Florida Asphalt Expo in Orlando — an encouraging change of pace from the pandemic-era video conferences we’ve reluctantly grown accustomed to.
Along with a bustling expo floor, the 64th Annual Event included a full day of educational sessions covering everything from remarkably robust asphalt research to impressive industry awards. Among the highlights:
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Dr. R. Buzz Powell of the National Center for Asphalt Technology discussed the Additive Group (AG) experiment, part of the 2021 NCAT Pavement Test Track. The effort, now in its eighth research cycle, is designed to quantify the benefits of mix additives and validate a lab framework for future product evaluation.
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Dallas C. Little, Senior Business Development Advisor at Cargill, drew a sharp distinction between asphalt rejuvenation and softening, while Dr. Ben C. Cox of the U.S. Army ERDC evaluated nearly 15 years of volumetric asphalt mix designs in Mississippi.
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FDOT provided a wide-ranging overview of the department’s latest efforts and updates, and Dr. Alix Miller, President and CEO of Florida Trucking Association, provided a broad picture of the state of trucking in Florida — and what the future holds for us all.
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On the career front, Crystal Davidson, Vice President of iBuild Central Florida, discussed how businesses in central Florida are working to close the notorious construction industry skills gap by providing pathways to personal development.
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Dr. Ryan Patrick Rogers of Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory shared research on what happens to asphalt binders, petroleum, and coal-derived seal coating in the hot Florida sun.
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Thank you to everyone who attended educational sessions at the 2021 Florida Asphalt Expo. For a refresher on what you learned, check out the slides for each presentation.
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Flexible Pavement Committee Meeting Announced
The Flexible Pavement Committee will meet again on February 16th, 2022 at the State Materials Office in Gainesville. The meeting is open to everyone. You can learn more about the committee and view previous year's minutes here.
If you would like the Committee to consider a specific topic, please reach out to the Association's Technical Director David Allain (dallain@acaf.org).
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FHWA to Bring Mobile Asphalt Technology Center to Florida |
On February 17th, 2022, the Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) will visit the State Materials Office in Gainesville. You can learn more about the FHWA's MATC center here. The trailer will be open to the entire industry.
The Mobile Asphalt Technology Center is committed to spreading the awareness and accessibility to the latest asphalt pavement innovations.
The MATC brings hands-on education, technology demonstrations, field pavement evaluations, and asphalt materials and mixture testing straight to transportation departments and their partners. We work to introduce new and emerging asphalt materials and construction technologies to State agencies and industry — bridging the gap between research and implementation. The desired outcomes from the MATC program include:
• Longer-Life Pavements
• Safer, More Sustainable Methods and Quality Results
• More Informed and Better Connected Pavement Workforce
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The January 2022 FDOT Letting
The FDOT will let 538,000 tons of asphalt in January. A project-level breakdown is here. |
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Conferences
& Conventions
- ACAF Specifications Committee Meeting, January 19th, 2022
- Flexible Pavement Committee Meeting, February 16th, 2022
- FHWA Mobile Asphalt Training Center Visit, February 17th, 2022
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Webinars &
Virtual Training
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Atlanta Motor Speedway received a major makeover via a brand-new asphalt racing surface.
Source: The Henry Herald
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The new tech, made to be buried inside roadways, features a plate or box made of patented material that contains a transmitter. Surrounding the transmitter is concrete or asphalt.
Source: The New York Times
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Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are exploring how crops can be used to create recycled asphalt pavement.
Source: Nebraska Today
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The company deployed several tandem rollers and autonomous pavers on the Nanjing-Shanghair Expressway.
Source: Equipment World
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Today's hybrid work environments call for an all-new leadership style. How will you evolve yours?
Source: Forbes
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By Lynn Marsh, President of Road Widener, LLC
Let’s face it, road widening, aggregate placement, and other road construction tasks have always been messy, backbreaking operations. What was once a four-step process has now been simplified into two with Road Widener’s FH-R material placement attachment. Learn how you can revolutionize your fleet with innovative equipment.
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Hubbard recently presented Lead Mechanic Rick Sweat with a service award for 40 years of hard work. Congrats, Rick!
Image credit: Hubbard Construction Company
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The company's contract in Walton County (SR 81 from SR 20) was named one of the Smoothest Pavements of the Year by FDOT.
Image credit: CWR Contracting
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