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COVER STORY

What’s Trending The mill operator can input and monitor his project parameters
A leading international publication Asphalt Pro highlighted various such as cut depth, slope and speed from this panel. Such systems
trends doing the round in the paving industry in the global market, at the operator’s platform typically have matching stations at the
which are sure to take shape in the Indian market as well in no groundman’s station. These technologies allow milling crews to
time. One of them is 3D paving control systems that provide the achieve perfect surfaces for the paving train to follow, maximizing
operator the tools to easily match the planned design and make paving efficiency from the first lift.
adjustments in real-time as necessary through variable depth
paving. In addition to these real-time controls, there is the option Autonomous pavers
to download additional apps or install other third-party programs SANY recently debuted a small fleet of autonomous rollers and
to give the 3D paving controls more flexibility and usability. Using pavers in the Xiong’an New Area of China where seven machines
these control programs can reduce the amount of asphalt used were remote-controlled from a mobile base station and control
during the first layer, which can reduce waste and make it easier room. When paired with automatic levels and other automatic
for companies to finish their projects faster and more efficiently tools and sensors that can monitor the land under construction in
than ever before. real-time, these autonomous pavers could potentially reshape the
way paving companies approach these projects. In the United
Smart Pavement and Nanotechnology States, where there are thousands of miles of highways in need
Nanotechnology is slowly making its mark in the paving industry in of refurbishment, self-driving pavers could help pick up some of
a variety of applications. Smart pavement is now being explored the slack and make it easier for paving contractors to handle the
as a tool to continuously monitor infrastructure health, by equipping growing demand. While autonomous paving may prove to be a
the pavement with ‘weigh in motion’ capabilities. Infusing this valuable tool in the future, it hasn’t been tested in active work zones
technology into the pavement when it is put down allows the and its safety parameters have yet to be defined in these settings.
piezoelectric sensors to collect data about the cars and trucks A Volvo blog stated that the ability to properly design and construct
traversing a stretch of highway, as well as the overall health of the flexible pavement structures allows for traffic compaction to occur
pavement. without creating early pavement failure or excessive pavement
Smart pavement that can remotely charge electric vehicles is surface distress. Attention to detail during the material selection
also in the prototyping phase. These wireless chargers—similar to process, pavement design and field construction activities will result
the chargers that might power a phone—may be able to top off in long-life flexible pavements requiring only routine maintenance.
EV batteries as the car drives over them. The Indiana Department Successful asphalt compaction paves the way to fiscal responsibility,
of Transportation is working on a quarter-mile-long testing track keeps the motoring public happy, and helps avoids traffic delays
with concrete, but you can see the world’s first smart road built in in construction zones. All in all, good times ahoy for roadbuilding
Sweden at the Green Car Reports website. equipment!

MARCH 2022|CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES 17