Mobile Asphalt Technology Guidance Program (ATGP)
The ATGP is essential in the research and development of new asphalt pavement technologies, material test procedures and design methods be incorporated into best commercial practices. To accomplish this requires continued refinement of these new procedures and methods, and the demonstration and dissemination of information to government and industry personnel. In order to provide a long lasting, safe and efficient highway network, FHWA uses the Asphalt Technology Guidance Program (ATGP) to respond to stakeholder needs (State and local highway agencies, FHWA division offices, and industry), refine, and standardize innovations in the asphalt pavement industry. The ATGP utilizes a series of initiatives and tools to gather stakeholder input and needs, showcase and validate innovative asphalt pavement materials and procedures, perform asphalt material test development, refinement, and validation, and provide demonstration on-site guidance for asphalt mixture production quality control and assurance. This is crucial to the effective implementation, and adoption, of these new and innovative procedures, materials, and evaluation technologies by both industry and agencies.
The ATGP program provides a basis for determining the needs and conducting a national effort in advancing the current state of practice in asphalt pavement materials, asphalt pavement mixture design, and asphalt pavement material testing and evaluation. Activities include materials testing, data collection, data mining and analysis, data statistical evaluations, workshops, training and technical assistance to test, evaluate, validate, showcase, and promote the use of existing, new, innovative, and emerging asphalt pavement materials and technology in the areas of:
asphalt pavement materials (existing, new, innovative, and emerging)
asphalt pavement structure (thickness) designs
asphalt pavement mixture designs
asphalt pavement distress predictions
asphalt pavement distress evaluations
asphalt pavement materials test equipment and procedures
asphalt pavement quality assurance (quality assurance includes the areas of quality control, acceptance, independent assurance, and risk analysis)
asphalt pavement troubleshooting and forensics
The overall scope of the contract is to provide for personnel, engineering, and other technical services to deliver and support the ATGP. Under this contract, the Contractor shall perform all services necessary to support the activities of the FHWA related to delivering, refinement, and improvement of the ATGP including operation of the mobile asphalt mixture testing laboratory (MAMTL) trailer, provide asphalt binder testing laboratory (ABTL) testing capabilities, provide engineering analysis and reporting, provide technical training and presentations.
The objective of the ATGP is to provide technical assistance on-site to contractors and State agencies on various technologies, test procedures, and quality initiatives. The program has continued to evolve and now focuses on assisting State agencies with Quality Assurance initiatives by providing technical assistance, guidance and training materials for improved State quality assurance programs and adoption of statistically valid acceptance programs. It introduces new concepts for material testing and selection, new test protocols, new equipment, new design methods and new performance testing tools and evaluation and provides technical expertise to facilitate effective use of recycled materials in highway pavements.
Carolyn J. Wilson, Contract Specialist, Phone 2023660867, Email [email protected]
