An Operations Planning System for Asphalt Pavement Compaction

Asphalt density after compaction by the breakdown roller is a key factor influencing asphalt pavement performance. Among the several factors influencing asphalt pavement density, the number of passes required for a rolling operation is a critical factor and difficult to determine and measure appropriately. Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure that the roller will uniformly cover the entire length and width of the pavement mat. Without an efficient path planning system, errors in human judgment may cause variation in overlap areas and reduce compaction efficiency. The significance of achieving optimal asphalt density coupled with the problems associated with the present system of operation, motivates the search for a system that can more accurately decide coverage location, number of passes, and control the overlap area for the pavement compaction operation. Such a system could increase the operational efficiency, uniform compaction, and pavement performance. This research aims at establishing the framework for an affordable path planning system for the compaction operation using an on-board guidance facility. This facility would integrate an Asphalt Knowledge-Based System with an economical sensing system