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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
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Office of Research, Development and Technology at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

Evaluation of Long-Term Pavement Performance Program Weather Data for Use in Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Calibration and Other Pavement Analyses

Project Information

Project ID:
FHWA-PROJ-11-0110
Project Abstract:

The current Weather/Climate (CLM) module of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database began in 1992, with major revisions and enhancements performed in 1998. During the last weather/climate data update performed by the LTPP program in 2008, there has become a need to create a time series-based operating weather stations (OWS) selection strategy. The reason for this is that over the 20 years of the LTPP program, new weather stations have been added, others are no longer operational, and the locations of exiting weather stations have changed, although their station identification remained the same.

There is a need to develop a methodology to treat estimates of location-specific climate data from surrounding weather stations whose locations and characteristics change over time. There is also a need to develop an estimate of variability or uncertainty in climate estimates derived from the averaging process of nearby weather stations. The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 1-34D study on pavement drainage found a better correlation between the Thornthwaite Moisture Index (TMI), which is a climate-soil moisture holding potential interaction parameter, than traditional precipitation-based climate indices. The LTPP Automated Weather Station monitoring measurements have been terminated; however, no assessment of the value of the solar radiation data collected by this study have ever been made against other data sources, nor has the use of solar radiation data from other data sources for more widespread incorporation in the LTPP program been assessed. It is not yet known how these factors will affect the service life of pavement materials being used today.

Goals 

The key project objective is to develop guidance for implementing weather/climatic data for use in Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) calibration and other pavement analyses.

Research HUB ID:
7755
Project Status:
Completed
Project Funding Amount (Contract Award Amount):
$360,538.00
Start Date:
End Date:
Public Access Plan:
No
FHWA Program Area:
  • Infrastructure
Fiscal Year / AMRP Program / AMRP Activity:
  • FY 2002-2022 / Infrastructure / Long-Term Infrastructure Performance
FHWA Activity:
  • Long-Term Pavement Performance

AMRP = Annual Modal Research Plan

Contact Information

First Name:
Larry
Middle Initial:
J
Last Name:
Wiser
Phone Number:
(202) 493-3079
Email Address:
larry.wiser@dot.gov
Team:
Long-Term Infrastructure Performance Team
Office:
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Office Code:
HRDI-30

Management Organizations

Sponsor Organization

Organization Role:
Sponsor Organization
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Contact Role:
Project Lead
Contact:
Wiser, Larry J

Managing Organization

Organization Role:
Project Managing Organization
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Contact Role:
Project Contact
Contact:
Wiser, Larry J

Performing Organization

Organization Role:
Performing Organization
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Contact Role:
Project Contact
Contact:
Wiser, Larry J

Partners and Other Sponsor/Managing/Performing Organizations

Organization Role:
Partner: Advisory
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Organization Role:
Partner: Advisory
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Office of Infrastructure - Office of Asset Management, Pavement, and Construction
Organization Role:
Partner: Technical
Organization:
Federal Highway Administration: Resource Center
Organization Role:
Partner: Technical
Organization:
TRB Expert Task Group

Deliverables

Links to Project Reports:
Links to Project Reports: