Did You Know? AI in Transportation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping transportation by improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability across various applications. From real-time traffic monitoring to predictive infrastructure maintenance, AI is becoming a critical tool for advancing transportation systems in New Jersey and nationwide. This article covers the use of AI in transportation research and implementation, with examples from the 2024 NJDOT Research Showcase, New Jersey and other state DOTs.  


AI on Display at the 2024 Research Showcase  

NJDOT held its 2024 Research Showcase on October 23, highlighting innovative transportation research and its implementation throughout New Jersey. During the morning panel discussion, Giri Venkiteela, Innovation Officer in NJDOT’s Bureau of Research, Innovation & Information Transfer, stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) held significant promise for producing economic and environmental advancements in transportation due to its real-time predictive capabilities and proposed that NJDOT adopt protocols that can adapt to the pace of AI. Similar insights were heard throughout the showcase, where AI emerged as a central theme across numerous presentations and discussions.

AI, encompassing subcategories like Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), allows researchers to analyze and model large data sets in real-time, saving significant labor hours and producing efficient, immediate results. Throughout the showcase, various projects ranging from enhancing pedestrian safety to predicting natural disasters utilized AI-based models.  

Deep Patel received the 2024 Outstanding University Student in Transportation Research. As part of a research team at Rowan University, Patel deployed the AI model, YOLO-v5, to analyze video data from multiple New Jersey intersections, providing information on pedestrian volumes, traffic volumes, and the rate of vehicles running red lights, among other variables. The team then ranked intersection safety using the metrics analyzed by the AI model. 

Slide from Meiyin Liu’s presentation on real-time traffic flow analysis.

Patel’s research exemplifies the growing trend of integrating AI methods into traffic safety analyses, which continued into several presentations given in the afternoon Safety Breakout Sessions. Here, Rutgers professor Meiyin Liu presented her method for estimating real-time traffic flow through a combination of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and deep learning algorithms. A computer-mounted UAS would be used to record video data of a highway, which then gets transmitted to the YOLO-v5 computer vision AI that detects vehicle volume and estimates speed. This data collection method facilitates a real-time traffic flow analysis across a comprehensive geographic coverage that could enhance traffic performance and crash risk prediction. Afterward, Branislav Dimitrijevic, a member of an NJIT research team, showcased an AI-driven project that utilized LiDAR technology and YOLO-v5 computer vision to activate a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) when pedestrians approached crosswalks, enhancing road safety.

Poster by Indira Prasad from the 2024 NJDOT Research Showcase.

Multiple posters featured at the Research Showcase contained elements of AI, including a poster titled “Integrating AI to Mitigate Climate Change in Transportation Infrastructure” made by Indira Prasad and “Artificial Intelligence Aided Railroad-Grade Crossing Vehicular Stop on Track Detection and Case Studies” highlighted by researchers at Rutgers’ CAIT. 

AI’s critical role in the maintenance and preservation of infrastructure was also evident in the afternoon’s Sustainability Breakout Sessions. Indira Prasad, a Stevens Institute of Technology graduate student, conducted a review of future innovations in sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Prasad explained how AI’s pattern recognition capabilities could be used to analyze large data pools and help forecast natural disasters, enabling a rapid response to augment existing infrastructure. Surya Teja Swarna, a Rowan University postdoctoral researcher, demonstrated an innovative approach where state DOTs could use mobile phones mounted on vehicles to record roadway surface deformations, which then would be analyzed in real-time by an AI computer vision software, drastically reducing the time and costs required for road condition assessments.


Deployment of AI in Programs and Project Implementation  

In addition to research from academic institutions, State DOTs and various other state, local and public transportation organizations have started to deploy AI-based methods and tools on various programs and projects. 

Peter Jin, a Rutgers professor, received the 2024 NJDOT Research Implementation Award for his role in the New Brunswick Innovation Hub Smart Mobility Testing Ground (Data City SMTG).  The project, created in partnership with NJDOT, the City of New Brunswick, and Middlesex County, functioned as a living laboratory for transportation data collection, containing Self-Driving Grade LiDAR sensors and computing devices across a 2.4-mile multi-modal corridor. Private and public sectors can use the data to enhance their advanced driving systems, automated vehicle models, and other AI-based projects. 

Additionally, NJDOT has established a program integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into its transportation operations. UASs provide high-quality survey and data mapping information, which, when paired with AI-based technologies, can be analyzed in real time to document roadway characteristics or conduct damage assessments for natural disasters. Meiyin Liu’s real-time traffic flow assessment research is one example of how UAS can be paired with AI. 

The methods used by CAIT to detect and analyze railroad-grade crossings. Courtesy of CAIT.

The use of AI for railroad-grade crossing detection has been demonstrated on several projects in recent years.  NJ TRANSIT, the statewide transit agency, recently received a $1.6 million grant from USDOT to implement a railroad-grade crossing detection system. The system, developed in partnership with CAIT researchers, will be deployed at 50 grade crossings and aboard five light rail vehicles throughout the state. The railroad-grade crossing detection system features multiple cameras on grade crossings and light rail vehicles to record data for an AI computer vision model that monitors and analyzes grade crossing behavior such as near-miss incidents.

For a project recently completed with the Federal Railroad Administration, CAIT researchers examined “stopped-on-track” incidents, which are a leading cause of grade-crossing accidents. During the poster session at the 2024 NJDOT Research Showcase, CAIT’s researchers highlighted a detection system for identifying stopped-on-track incidents and case study examples of how the critical locations can be addressed through design or other interventions. They found that targeted intervention using the AI detection system could reduce stopped-on-track incidents by up to 86 percent.

Visual example of how LiDAR senses the surrounding environment.

Other State DOTs have also started to implement AI-based programs. The Georgia Department of Transportation, in partnership with Georgia Tech, completed a survey of 22,000 road signs around potentially dangerous road curves using AI and vehicle-mounted mobile phone cameras to improve safety at road curves. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) assessed pavement conditions using LiDAR and AI. TxDOT’s project shares similarities with the research presented by Surya Teja Swarna, but it utilized LiDAR instead of a mobile phone camera.  

In 2022, the Nevada Department of Transportation partnered with the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and a private technology company to launch an AI-based platform that facilitated the reporting of real-time crash locations. A study on this project found that the AI platform uncovered 20 percent more crashes than previously reported and reduced emergency response time by nine to ten minutes on average while eliminating the need to dial for help.


Recent National Research  

Responses from state DOT officials demonstrate the varied applications of ML solutions. Courtesy of NCHRP.

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) published a 2024 research report,  Implementing and Leveraging Machine Learning at State Departments of Transportation, that identifies trends in AI transportation research and implementation with a specific focus on machine learning and creates a roadmap for future implementation. The researchers surveyed State DOTs on plans regarding AI, reported case studies of ML implementation by State DOTs, and listed strategies to help DOTs facilitate further inclusion of AI solutions.

The survey of the state DOT officials covered various topics, including the transportation agency’s familiarity with AI methods and tools, types of methods and applications utilized, and challenges in implementation. Among the challenges to implementation, DOT officials noted a lack of public trust, insufficient data collection and storage infrastructure, and, most commonly, scarce labor with knowledge of AI. Most computer and data scientists choose to work in the private sector, and it can be difficult to recruit them to a transportation agency.

The NCHRP report also included multiple case studies from state DOTs such as Nebraska, California, and Iowa, documenting the experiences of these agencies in developing and implementing ML programs.

  • Nebraska DOT (NDOT) used a computer vision Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm to detect and analyze guardrail quality. NDOT recorded 1.5 million images of guardrail data and used AI to save time and money compared to the manual detection alternative. Among the challenges, NDOT observed that their agency did not have the necessary infrastructure to process large volumes of data and lacked in-house ML expertise. The agency solved the former issue by using a private vendor to process the data and the latter by collaborating with consultants from the University of Nebraska. The algorithm achieved accuracies of 97 percent for guardrail detection and 85 percent for their classification into three types. 
  • The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has leveraged AI/ML applications across various projects and partnered with numerous tech companies, including Google. One area of emphasis for Caltrans has been workforce capacity development. While most staff do not have experience with AI-based data analytics, they do have experience with GIS. Caltrans has worked with GIS tool developers to incorporate ML functionalities into the basic user interface of GIS programs, making it more intuitive for their workforce. 
  • Iowa State University, funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation, developed a real-time ML tool to monitor highway performance, enabling a rapid response to traffic congestion. The researchers identified the need for high-performance computing as a significant challenge preventing large-scale implementation. Mass deployment of the tools used in the research study would require a considerable expense, partially due to the stipulation that the code be at least 99 percent reliable. 

For more information on the application and implementation of AI by transportation agencies, the National Academies of Sciences, in collaboration with the NCHRP, published two additional reports in 2024. One, Artificial Intelligence Opportunities for State and Local DOTs: A Research Roadmap, utilizes machine learning methods to analyze research trends in AI and how State DOTs can implement the research. The other, Implementing Machine Learning at State Departments of Transportation: A Guide, serves as a complementary document to the NCHRP report on implementing and leveraging machine learning. 

On a national level, USDOT published its Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence compliance plan in September 2024. USDOT has taken several measures to advance the implementation of AI, including forming an AI Governance Board chaired by the Deputy Secretary and vice-chaired by a new Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO), creating an AI Accelerator Roadmap, and providing funds for AI research and implementation.

Lastly, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) hosted a knowledge session examining the role of AI in transportation in April 2024. Practitioners on the panel highlighted the potential of AI in eliminating the dangerous aspects of data collection and allowing for proactive solutions rather than reactively responding to crashes or injuries.  The panelist discussion touched upon the importance of building trust in a period of rapid AI development, noting the critical role that academic researchers can play as partners with state DOTs to advance and develop the AI technology in ways beneficial for traffic safety and workforce safety, among other topics.


TRID Database 

Artificial Intelligence-based research can be found via TRB’s TRID database. The following are some relevant articles published on recent New Jersey transportation research in AI.

  • Bagheri, M., B. Bartin, and K. Ozbay. (2023). Implementing Artificial Neural Network-Based Gap Acceptance Models in the Simulation Model of a Traffic Circle in SUMO. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2677. https://trid.trb.org/View/2166547
  • Hasan, A.S., M. Jalayer, S. Das and M. Bin Kabir. (2024). Application of machine learning models and SHAP to examine crashes involving young drivers in New Jersey. International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, Vol. 14. https://trid.trb.org/View/2162338
  • Hasan, A.S., M. Jalayer, S. Das and M. Bin Kabir. (2023). Severity model of work zone crashes in New Jersey using machine learning models. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, Vol. 15. https://trid.trb.org/View/2190127
  • Najafi, A., Z. Amir, B. Salman, P. Sanaei, E. Lojano-Quispe, A. Maher, and R. Schaefer. (2024). A Digital Twin Framework for Bridges. ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering 2023, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp 433-441. https://trid.trb.org/view/2329319  
  • Nayeem, M., A. Hasan, M. Jalayer. (2023). Investigation of Young Pedestrian Crashes in School Districts of New Jersey Using Machine Learning Models. International Conference on Transportation and Development 2023, American Society of Civil Engineers. https://trid.trb.org/View/2196775  
  • Patel, D., P. Hosseini, and M. Jalayer. (2024). A framework for proactive safety evaluation of intersection using surrogate safety measures and non-compliance behavior. Accident Analysis & Prevention, Vol. 192. https://trid.trb.org/View/2242428
  • Zaman, A., Z. Huang, W. Li, H. Qin, D. Kang, and X. Liu. (2023). Artificial Intelligence-Aided Grade Crossing Safety Violation Detection Methodology and a Case Study in New Jersey. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2677. https://trid.trb.org/VCiew/2169797  
  • Zaman, A., Z. Huang, W. Li, H. Qin, D. Kang, and X. Liu. (2024). Development of Railroad Trespassing Database Using Artificial Intelligence. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Federal Railroad Administration, 80p. https://trid.trb.org/view/2341095 

Additional Resources

Recap: 26th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase

The 26th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase provided an opportunity for the New Jersey transportation community to learn more about the broad scope of research projects and technology transfer activities being conducted by institutions of higher education partners and their associates. The annual event serves as a showcase to highlight the benefits of transportation research, including NJDOT’s own program. This event was an in-person event with a livestreaming option with sessions held from 9:00am-2:45pm on October 23, 2024.

This year’s Showcase theme, “Pathways to Sustainability,” served as the organizing framework for the speakers and panelists during the morning plenary session. Throughout the day the Research Showcase featured presentations on infrastructure, safety, and sustainability topics being performed by research faculty, staff, students, and NJ agencies. Several awards were presented in recognition of research and implemented innovations.

The Research Showcase Program Agenda provides more information on the day’s proceedings, including presented topics and invited speakers. Recordings of the plenary and breakout sessions, and the presentations and posters shared during the event can be found below.

MORNING

WELCOMING AND INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

David Maruca, Program Development Administrator, Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), served as the moderator for the morning session, offering some housekeeping remarks and walked through the morning’s agenda.

Morning Plenary and Keynote

Eric Powers, Assistant Commissioner Statewide Planning, Safety and Capital Investment at NJDOT, welcomed attendees to the 26th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase, explaining the purpose and theme of the event, “Pathways to Sustainability,” and acknowledging several parties, including NJDOT Bureau of Research, Innovation and Information Transfer (BRIIT) staff, Rutgers-CAIT, and the leadership of NJDOT and FHWA for their planning and participation in the day’s event along with the research partners whose work was being showcased.

Francis O’Connor, Commissioner, NJDOT, thanked several partners for their involvement in organizing the Research Showcase event. He expressed his enthusiasm for the research mission, noting that research is at the heart of progress for innovation in transportation. He framed the event as an opportunity to convene and collaborate with talented researchers and staff in tackling challenges that still confront us in transportation. Mr. O’Connor spoke about the day’s sustainability theme and emphasized the integral importance of safety in all that the agency does. The recent actions by NJDOT to improve safety for all road users, and the NJDOT highway workforce were highlighted by the Commissioner, among other topics.

Francis O’Connor, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Transportation

Sutapa Bandyopadhyay, Planning and Program Development Manager, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) New Jersey Division, praised the NJDOT Research Showcase’s “Pathways to Sustainability” theme and noted its close alignment with FHWA’s newest strategic plan which contains climate and sustainability as a core goal. She spoke of the strategic plan’s focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and resilient infrastructure. She highlighted select formula and discretionary programs supported through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the Carbon Reduction Program, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) deployment, and discretionary programs to reduce truck emissions in port facilities. In her remarks, she also emphasized the importance of research to assist in supporting the current administration’s major planning goals and targets (e.g, net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, adoption of resiliency plans by 50% of the states and MPOs by 2026, and 40 percent of the transportation clean energy benefits delivered to disadvantaged communities in alignment with the Justice40 initiative).

Jim Tymon, Executive Director at American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provided the keynote address, “Navigating the Storm: Resilience, Sustainability and Surface Transportation”. His address reminded those in attendance of the importance of collaboration in continuing to build a resilient and sustainable transportation network. 

Mr. Tymon began his talk by introducing AASHTO, a multi-modal focused trade association that works with 52 state DOTs (including D.C. and Puerto Rico) to provide codified guidance and a platform for sharing knowledge. AASHTO is governed by a strategic plan, created in 2020, that expands their focus beyond the technical goals of transportation to developing “quality of life through strategic leadership”.

AASHTO hosts over thirty different committees and councils in which state DOTs can learn from each other’s experiences. Tymon’s remarked that AASHTO’s President has coined this process as “R&D” — or rip-off and duplicate. This form of “R&D” keeps departments from having to re-invent the wheel themselves and often leads to more successful outcomes.

This collaboration, he pointed out, is necessary for navigating the storm of increased climate disasters and unpredictable weather conditions. In the transportation field, the effects of climate change are both economically devastating and logistically challenging to address. In 2023 alone, climate related disasters cost the U.S. at least $92.9 billion in damages and in the past forty-three years, there have been 376 disasters, each costing over $1 billion. He stated, “Whether or not you are a climate change denier, or somebody that believes in the fact that our climate is changing, we have events that we are dealing with on a regular basis that we need to adapt to and that we need to take into account as we are dealing with our transportation network”.

Mr. Tymon proceeded with additional data and statistics to illustrate how State DOTs were fiscally impacted by the storms. Mr. Tymon laid out two avenues of solutions for addressing this growing issue: 1) building a more resilient transportation system; and 2) building a more sustainable transportation system.

Jim Tymon, Executive Director at American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Navigating the Storm: Resilience, Sustainability and Surface Transportation. Mr. Jim Tymon, Executive Director, American Associations of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

To build a resilient transportation system and network, Mr. Tymon recommended deeply considering how we are designing and building transportation systems and taking into consideration a variety of changing climate factors. Mr. Tymon presented the Resilience Planning Cycle from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a model for this type of planning. Fortunately, there is a variety of federal assistance programming available through the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, including the PROTECT program. PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation) is a formula program that is given annually to each state to use for state resilience projects. This funding can also assist States with the development of a state Resilience Improvement Plan, which is not a requirement, but does ensure a higher federal match.

Mr. Tymon’s second recommendation, to build a more sustainable transportation system, can be made possible through intentional efforts such as encouraging a modal shift by transportation users. He noted that encouraging a shift of transportation usage from single use cars to buses, trains, walking, cycling, or using more fuel-efficient cars, can help to reduce carbon emissions that may slow the effects of climate change.

AASHTO recently assisted with the administration’s U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, which laid out guidance for decarbonizing the transportation network. He highlighted several methods in the Blueprint from planning and leveraging telework, to e-commerce and travel demand management. State agencies receive financial support for developing carbon reduction strategies through programs like the Carbon Reduction Program as well as the National EV Infrastructure Program (NEVI).

Mr. Tymon closed his talk by sharing a recent commercial created by the Tennessee Department of Transportation which aired during a recent football game between Florida and Tennessee. The video highlighted the collective rebuilding and road improvement efforts of Tennessee DOT and Florida DOT volunteers in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Mr. Tymon explained that prior to landfall, Hurricane Helene was expected to impact Florida greatly. To help, Tennessee DOT members were preparing to travel down to Florida in its wake. Instead, when Tennessee became more impacted because of the Hurricane, Florida DOT employees traveled up to Tennessee to help. The video and situation, Mr. Tymon noted, represents how state DOTs “can work together to help mitigate some of those impacts (climate change) and recover.”

Mr. Tymon responded to questions in the Q&A session that followed his keynote remarks.

MORNING SESSION PANEL DISCUSSION

An interactive panel discussion, “How is New Jersey Department of Transportation Creating Pathways to Sustainability?” followed the keynote session. NJDOT staff representatives presented several examples of sustainability initiatives underway at NJDOT in various areas including construction and materials selection, pavement preservation, transportation planning, project management and research. The presenters reflected on the opportunities and persistent challenges as well as the benefits of addressing sustainability in New Jersey.

The panelists included:

  • Alex Borovskis, Director, New Jersey Department of Transportation Division of Construction and Materials
  • Robert Blight, Executive Manager, New Jersey Department of Transportation Division of Pavement & Drainage Management and Technology Bureau
  • Krishna Tripathi, Project Management Specialist, New Jersey Department of Transportation Division of Project Management
  • Mohab Hussein, Supervising Engineer, New Jersey Department of Transportation Bureau of Structural Design & Geotechnical Engineering
  • Sushant Dargi, Principal Engineer, Planning, New Jersey Department of Transportation Bureau of Statewide Strategies
  • Giri Ventikeela, Innovation Officer, Bureau of Research, Innovation & Information Transfer
Pathways to Sustainability Panel
How is New Jersey Department of Transportation Creating Pathways to Sustainability?

Participants responded to a series of questions posed by the moderator and by the audience members.

Panelists shared their views on how the New Jersey Department of Transportation is creating pathways to sustainability.

AWARDS

The program continued as Pragna Shah, New Jersey Department of Transportation, announced several awards given in recognition of research, innovation and implementation efforts. Below is a listing of the award winners presented at this year’s showcase:

2024 Outstanding University Student in Transportation Research Award – Deep Patel, Rowan University. Mr. Patel received the award for his valued contributions to research on “Real-Time Traffic Signal System Performance Measurement” through successive phases and several other recent and ongoing NJDOT projects.

2024 NJDOT Research Implementation Award – Dr. Peter Jin, Rutgers University, New Brunswick Innovation Hub Smart Mobility Testing Ground (Data City SMTG). This project, partially funded by NJDOT, generated a living laboratory for transportation data collection and smart technology innovation across a 2.4-mile multi-modal corridor in New Brunswick.

2024 Best Poster Award – Swathi Malluru, Rowan University, Performance Evaluation of Full-Depth Reclamation and Cold In-Place Recycling Asphalt Mixtures at Varying Amounts of Bituminous and Cementitious Additives. This poster described research activities conducted towards evaluating best practices in Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR) and Cold In Place Recycling (CIR) asphalt rehabilitation. The researchers distributed surveys to state agencies, conducted a literature review and performed laboratory tests, finding that 3 percent emulsion, with 1 percent cement worked best for FDR mixes, and 2 percent emulsion or 1.5 percent foamed bitumen for CIR mixes.

2024 Research Champion Excellence Award – Yong Zeng and Emmanuel Bassey, Technical Advisory Panel at the New Jersey Department of Transportation. This award recognized Yong Zeng’s and Emmanuel Bassey’s dedication serving as Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) members for the research project, Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure. Their work greatly contributed to the success and implementation of the project, which received an AASHTO National High Value Research Award in 2024.

2024 NJDOT Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Award – Bishoy Abdallah, Senior Engineer in Transportation Roadway Design at NJDOT. The BABM award was given to Bishoy Abdallah for his creative response to current NJDOT roadway standards that require all resurfacing and preservation projects to upgrade existing inlet curb pieces to have a smaller opening. To make more efficient the process of upgrading existing inlet curbs, Abdallah created two details; one specifically for barrier curbs that do not need to be replaced, and the second for damaged or cracked barrier curbs.

Awards Ceremony
Presentation of 2024 Awards
2024 Outstanding University Student in Transportation Research Award, Deep Patel, Rowan University, Real-Time Traffic Signal System Performance Measurements
2024 NJDOT Research Implementation Award, Dr. Peter Jin, Rutgers University New Brunswick Innovation Hub Smart Mobility Testing Ground (Data City SMTG).
2024 Best Poster Award, Swathi Malluru, Rowan University, Performance Evaluation of Full-Depth Reclamation and Cold In-place Recycling Asphalt Mixtures.
2024 Research Champion Excellence Award, Yong Zeng and Emmanuel Bassey, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure.
2024 NJDOT Build a Better Mousetrap Award, Bishoy Y. Abdallah. New Jersey Department of Transportation, Division of Highway and Traffic Design. Replacing Inlet Curb Pieces in Existing Concrete Barrier Curb

HIGH VALUE RESEARCH

In addition to the awards announced and distributed by NJDOT for the 26th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase, the event highlighted two NJDOT research projects that were recognized with 2024 AASHTO National High Value Research Awards at the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) national meeting in Columbus, Ohio in late July 2024.

Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure. One of only 16 research projects nationwide to receive the 2024 AASHTO National High Value Research Award, this project evaluated the performance of three highly ductile concrete materials in comparison to two standard NJDOT mixtures. The results of the research can be used to guide best practices around deploying novel concrete materials to improve the service life of reinforced concrete infrastructure. Principal Investigators: Dr. Matthew Bandelt and Dr. Matthew Adams of New Jersey Institute of Technology; Technical Advisory Panel: Yong Zeng, Nehemie Jasmin, Emmanuel Bassey; Research Project Manager: Dr. Giri Venkiteela of NJDOT BRIIT.

Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques. This research project tested several new pothole repair materials and techniques including the use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and PVA fibers. The research findings can be used to produce longer lasting and more sustainable roadways. The research project received a Supplementary National High Value Research Award from the AASHTO RAC. Principal Investigators: Dr. Hao Wang and Dr. Husam Najm at Rutgers-CAIT; Technical Advisory Panel: Sadime Absolam, Jeff Evanylo, Emmanuel Bassey, Kenrick Layne, Nicholas Colangelo, Anupkumar Patel, Roger Estivalletti, Yong Zeng; Research Project Manager: Dr. Giri Venkiteela of NJDOT BRIIT.

2024 National High Value Research Award, Yong Zeng, Nehemie Jasmin, Emmanuel Bassey, Giri Venkiteela, and Matthew Bandelt. NJDOT. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure.
2024 AASHTO Supplementary National High Value Research Award, Sadime Absolam, Yong Zeng, Emmanuel Bassey, Giri Venkiteela, Husam Najm, Hao Wang and Anupkumar Patel. NJDOT. Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques.

AFTERNOON 

In the afternoon, concurrent break-out sessions were held and research presentations were given on the topics of Infrastructure, Sustainability and Safety. Students and researchers at New Jersey’s colleges and universities also presented their research objectives, methods and findings in a concurrent poster session offering those in attendance an opportunity to learn more about ongoing and recently completed research and interact with the researchers.

INFRASTRUCTURE BREAKOUT

Infrastructure Sessions
Evaluation of Performance of Bridge Deck with UHPC and LMC Overlays through Accelerated Structural Testing. Nenad Gucunski, Rutgers University
Complex Simulation of Large Ship Impacts on Bridges. Anil K. Agrawal, The City College of New York
Navigating the Future: Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure. Indira Prasad, Stevens Institute of Technology
Cost-Effective Pavement Management System for Municipalities in New Jersey. Yusuf A. Mehta and Surya Teja Swarna, Rowan University

SUSTAINABILITY BREAKOUT

Sustainability Sessions
How Concrete is Becoming a Carbon Sponge. Mohamed Mahgoub, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Development of Pavement Design Procedures and Construction Specifications for Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR) Asphalt Mixtures. Abhary Eleyedath, Rowan University
Towards Use of Stabilized Sediments as a Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Infrastructure Materials: A Laboratory and Numerical Study. Tyler J. Oathes, Rutgers University
Life-cycle assessment of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beams using advanced monitoring technologies. Fatemeh Mohammadi Ghahsareh, Stevens Institute of Technology

SAFETY BREAKOUT

Safety Sessions
Towards UAS-based Real-time Video Streaming and Data Analytics for Estimating Highway Traffic Flow Characteristics. Meiyin Liu, Rutgers University
Enhancing VRU Safety in Urban Streets Using LiDAR and Crossing Warning System. Joyoung Lee, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Examining the Applicability of Waze Crash Alert as a Real-Time Crash Detection Tool. Dejan Besenski, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Developing a Pedestrian-Scale Lighting Resource to Improve Safety for Vulnerable Road Users. Ruqaya Alfaris and Greg Woltman, Rowan University and Rutgers University

2024 POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Development of a model to predict the Micro-Deval Abrasion (MDA) Resistance Based on Mechanical and Minerals Oxides Properties of Aggregates
Investigating Mechanical Responses of Cold In-Place Recycled Asphalt Pavement Sections Under Accelerated Truck Loading by Finite Element Modeling
Integrating AI to Mitigate Climate Change in Transportation Infrastructure
Performance Evaluation of Full-Depth Reclamation and Cold In-Place Recycling Asphalt Mixtures at Varying Amounts of Bituminous and Cementitious Additives
Assessment of Box Culvert Reinforcement Using Ground Penetrating Radar: A Case Study of NJDOT Structures
“Equity & Safety” Hand in Hand on the Road to Success
Artificial Intelligence Aided Railroad Grade-Crossing Vehicular Stop on Track Detection and Case Studies
Review of Concrete Structure Demolition Technologies
Determining the Effectiveness of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alerts


The 26th Annual Research Showcase was organized and sponsored by the NJDOT Bureau of Research in partnership with the New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program (NJ LTAP) at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) and co-sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration.

Broad Agency Announcement for the Accelerated Market Readiness Program

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released a new five-year open Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for its Accelerating Market Readiness (AMR) program. The AMR program provides funding to advance and apply emerging transportation innovations that have the potential to enhance roadway safety, increase efficiency, or improve performance. The BAA, which opened on October 29, 2024, intends to advance the objectives of the AMR program by soliciting a variety of white papers and proposals that could help deliver innovative projects and practical solutions.

Acceptable research topics for the BAA include:

  • Safety
  • Shortening Project Delivery
  • Infrastructure Performance
  • Climate and Sustainability
  • Equity
  • Digital Twins and Advanced Simulation Techniques.

Awards from the BAA may be of any dollar value, but it is anticipated that most individual awards will range between $300,000 and $600,000.

To be considered for an award, offerors must submit a project white paper, which must be no more than six pages in length and comprise of a cover page and a technical approach. FHWA will work to return white paper evaluations within 60 days of receipt.

The proposed solicitation number will be 693JJ325BAA0001. The open period of the BAA is anticipated to be October 29, 2024, through October 28, 2029. The FHWA held a Virtual Industry Day on November 20, 2024 to explain the FHWA’s overall vision, to provide details regarding the AMR BAA requirements, and give interested parties the opportunity to ask questions.

For more details on the BAA, consult the BAA summary provided by the FHWA.

If you believe you have an innovation or technology that is eligible for funding under the AMR Program that New Jersey should pursue, please email Bureau.Research@dot.nj.gov.

Wildlife Corridors and Crossings in NJ’s Road Network: A Conversation with NJDEP & NJDOT

Wildlife crossings help to bridge greenspaces divided by roads, streets, and highways through the creation of safe alternative pathways for wildlife. For the past forty years, wildlife crossings have been a part of New Jersey’s transportation network. The state’s first known crossing, a terrestrial overpass, was created during construction of Interstate 78. Since that time, the number of wildlife crossings has increased, and continues to do so with the support of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

With myriad benefits for both nature and humans, wildlife crossings establish essential connections within a sustainable, resilient, and safe ground transportation network. To learn more about NJDOT and NJDEP’s effort to increase and improve wildlife crossings in New Jersey, we spoke with several staff members during a group interview.

From NJDOT:

  • Domenica Mousa, Environmental Specialist, North Environmental Team, Office of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Solutions
  • Rachel Dekovitch, Supervisor, North Environmental Team, Office of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Solutions 
  • Amber Cheney, Section Chief, North Environmental Teams, Office of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Solutions

From NJDEP Fish and Wildlife, Endangered & Nongame Species Program:

  • Gretchen Fowles, GIS specialist and wildlife biologist, , Co-lead of Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ)
  • Brian Zarate, wildlife biologist, CHANJ Co-lead
  • Mackenzie Hall, wildlife biologist, CHANJ Co-lead

The following Q&A is a summary of the conversation which has been condensed and edited for clarity.


Q.  It is estimated that there are over one million annual wildlife vehicle collisions nationwide involving large wildlife. The need for, and related benefits from, wildlife crossings vary but can include benefits to both human safety and wildlife survival, as well as cost savings. What other potential benefits come to mind when you think of roadway wildlife crossings?

NJDOT:  New Jersey is a densely populated state with an intricate network of roadways, often cutting between greenspaces. These greenspaces, including forests, fields and streams are home to a variety of species, many of which travel and explore. Unfortunately, these two realities cause a significant amount of traffic collisions; the most serious of which are caused by deer. These collisions can be very unsafe for drivers, passengers, and wildlife. Fortunately, wildlife crossings can be implemented to keep fauna away from the roadway. The result? Safer drivers, passengers, and wildlife.

A figure from the CHANJ Guidance Document (page 64) that illustrates key design elements of effective wildlife crossings.

NJDEP:  From the Department of Environmental Protection’s perspective, wildlife crossings provide important environmental benefits in addition to reducing wildlife fatalities. The division of greenspaces by roads and highways is considered habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation worsens the conditions of endangered species, affects ecosystem function, and reduces the ecosystem’s resiliency. In short, it keeps species from moving, mating, and finding food. The implementation of wildlife crossings helps to reduce habitat fragmentation and improve connectivity. Often this improved connectivity creates healthy ecosystems where populations can behave and survive naturally and move about as they wish. Connectivity also contributes to the maintenance or restoration of ecosystem function and ensures rare species have a chance to recover. Even non-rare species can help maintain their health and population with improved connectivity. The NJDEP team wants to build all these redundancies into the ecosystem to allow the more imperiled species to have opportunity to recover, while also maintaining populations of existing species that are seemingly doing well.

Q. Many New Jersey highways and roadways fragment wildlife habitats and challenge migratory paths. With one of the densest road networks in the country, how does your department address concerns of biodiversity and habitat connectivity within the context of road and bridge development?

NJDOT: Each bridge or road project goes through an environmental review to identify any environmental issues or constraints within that project area. As a part of the analysis, we screen for federally and state-listed threatened or endangered species. If such species are found, restrictions or guidelines are specified. For example, if the proposed area has birds that are listed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or has endangered or threatened bats, we put a time restriction on when tree clearing may take place. These efforts help to preserve the habitat by limiting tree cutting to periods when animals are less present, typically from November 16h to March 31st.  

The NJDOT Office of Landscape Architecture (OLA) started a Pollinator Program in 2020 to help promote biodiverse connectivity throughout the State along our appropriate right of way while considering alternate mowing opportunities. Our Capital Program projects seek to enhance the native species of the specific location, and we use our Pollinator Program to supplement and create more locations. Each year OLA applies for funding through State funds for these plantings. Many times, these locations are chosen based on the best management practices (BMP) of the Maintenance yards that reach out to us for consideration of locations. These created sites help offset and maintain assurances of our Department’s compliance with the Endangered Species Act. 

NJDOT is increasing the number of pollinator habitats along roadways. Recognized benefits include more pollinators (bees, birds, butterflies, etc.), roadside beautification, increased carbon intake, less mowing and herbicide maintenance, and soil erosion prevention. Source: NJDOT.

In 2023 we became more proactive in establishing habitat for the Monarch Butterfly and created the 100,000 Milkweed Initiative.  With the funding set aside for pollinators we planted over 100,000 of 3 types of Milkweed species throughout the State.  To date we have created over 11 Acres of Milkweed Specific habitat and over 40 Acres of additional Pollinator and reduced mowing areas through the Pollinator Program.  NJDOT Lands are significant in creating a linear and ideal habitat for Pollinator activities which is also why we address Pollinator Habitat through Capital Program Projects.

Q. In a recent “Lunch and Learn” presentation, it was noted that changes to the NJ Flood Hazard Control Act Regulations require that NJDOT evaluate new and existing bridges, culverts, or roadways for fragmentation of habitat for threatened and endangered and/or any species of special concern and provide a wildlife species passage if a project is determined to cause fragmentation of habitat. How has this requirement affected your work program? Has this change heightened interest in wildlife connectivity?

NJDEP: The NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Act regulation has led to a significant increase in the number of permitted and implemented terrestrial wildlife crossings. It has also fostered more projects and collaborations across NJDOT, other NJDEP divisions, as well as with counties and municipalities, and non-profit organizations.

However, the regulation can sometimes create challenges. For example, while habitat fragmentation might be occurring, the feasibility of installing a wildlife crossing might be difficult because of other infrastructure in the area or the stream’s hydrology. In such cases, NJDEP and NJDOT work together to determine the best course of action.

Q. As noted, this topic is of interest nationwide. The FHWA Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program (WCPP) has $350 million in federal aid funding available through 2026 for state DOTs and others. FHWA plans to release the next NOFO shortly. Has NJDOT considered pursuing one of these grants for a construction or non-construction wildlife corridor project?

NJDOT has pursued this competitive grant, unsuccessfully. The FHWA grant focuses on human and driver safety and projects where large mammal collisions are occurring, making projects for smaller wildlife species, less likely to be awarded a grant, and most of our projects focus on smaller animals. Losing smaller animals poses a risk to the health of the ecosystem, and future justifications will consider this.

The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program grant is just one of many options within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which offers historic support to tackle habitat fragmentation and wildlife mortality. Other opportunities within the law may be more helpful to pursue, such as eligible formula allocations, rather than competitive grants. That said, NJDEP Fish and Wildlife successfully applied for a Transportation Alternatives Program grant that is resulting in the construction of an amphibian crossing in northern New Jersey, but it took ten years of work to get to this stage. The crossing has not yet been constructed but anticipated in the next year or so.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative?  How does NJDOT participate with NAAAC?

We are participating with the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAAAC) program to survey current culverts and bridges and evaluate possible wildlife passages. Once surveyed, this information becomes available on the Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) online mapping tools and via online or downloadable GIS services. The use of these maps can help to identify when there is an existing barrier for terrestrial or aquatic species. We also use other GIS layers, such as the NJDEP Landscape Project and CHANJ, that is also included on the map to determine if there are any terrestrial species of concern and suitable habitat on either side of the culvert/bridge or in the area. For each project that requires an NJDEP Flood Hazard Area permit and involves a bridge or a culvert, we use this map to write up a brief analysis, which we then send to NJDEP.

CHANJ Web Viewer is used to determine habitat fragmentation. Source: NJDEP

Q. According to research, the evaluation and development of road crossing projects are mostly being led by several organizations including the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Network, and other localized, environmentally-focused organizations. What role does NJDOT have with these organizations and projects?

NJDOT works with NJDEP to prioritize and list culvert and/or bridge sites that need to be surveyed for NAACC. This year, NJDOT employees will join in the analysis, conducting site surveys to enhance the online dataset for future projects that may require crossings. By collaborating with NJDEP Fish and Wildlife and various watershed groups across the state, NJDOT and its NAACC partners have assessed about 700 culverts so far. Each has been mapped on the CHANJ web tool, which identifies wildlife habitats, cores, and the corridors that connect them.

NJDEP and NJDOT use the CHANJ mapping tool and NAACC generated layers to understand connectivity for both land use and transportation projects, including NJDOT projects.

By collaborating with NJDEP Fish and Wildlife and various watershed groups across the state, NJDOT and its NAACC partners have assessed about 700 culverts so far.

Regulatory officials evaluate the map when assessing Flood Hazard Area permits. The map also helps provide a general sense of connectivity within the state, aiding in targeting areas for road improvements, land acquisition, and habitat restoration. These actions are crucial for creating a functionally connected network of land. The CHANJ mapping of habitat cores and corridors, along with all NAACC culvert data, help prioritize sites.

NAACC culvert analysis is often conducted by trained watershed groups and NJDEP Fish and Wildlife seasonal employees. Montclair State University serves as the state lead and coordinator, offering training for interested parties. Free training and resources are also available online from the University of Massachusetts.

The NAACC collaboration spans 13 states in the Northeast region. The NJ NAACC map allows users to select squares on the map (which indicate a culvert) in order to access the regional database. Once the user is redirected to the regional database, they are able to access the corresponding pictures of the culvert, if it has been surveyed, as well as the culvert’s dimensions. This innovation helps users understand what lies under specific road stretches simply by the click of a mouse.

Q.  The Connectivity Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) interactive mapping tool catalogues current and completed projects, the passability of road culverts for aquatic and terrestrial species and other details. This map is partly a product of the NAACC 13 state map that aims to compile wildlife connectivity information into one database, and relies on culvert assessments using the NAACC culvert inventory. The map does not include information about roadkill or auto collisions with wildlife, which limits the basis on which a project could be installed. Are there plans or current processes to collect data on wildlife collisions and roadkill? 

Screenshot of CHANJ Web Viewer. Source: NJDEP

NJDOT maintains crash records based on police reports that may refer to wildlife collision. However, NJDOT does not currently collect any data regarding roadkill.  NJDEP Fish and Wildlife collects roadkill location data, but only for select species like bobcats, bears, coyotes, otters, and beavers. Those data are combined into a roadkill dataset.  For some species, like the state listed bobcat, biologists collect the carcass, and sample it to glean as much information as possible that contributes to their understanding of the health of the population.

Q. Maine Audubon worked with Maine DOT and UC Davis Road Ecology Center to build a crowdsourcing tool that drivers could use to report the location of roadkill. Is NJDOT currently using any type of crowdsourcing in this way? Are there plans to record more information about roadkill and collisions? 

The new NJ Wildlife Tracker tool expands NJDEP’s data by collecting resident reports of rare species sightings and observations. For instance, someone can report seeing a turtle by a stream using this mobile-friendly web application. Reporting is also open to all species, rare or not, that are on roads. This tool aims to increase awareness of roadkill, and to help identify roadkill ‘hot spots.’ 

CHANJ Web Viewer can be accessed on smart phones, a convenient application for those working in the field. Source: NJDEP

The NJ Wildlife Tracker and NJ Fish and Wildlife data mining help identify road mortality hotspots. Between the two we currently have around 7,000 roadkill records in our database.  We are developing a standardized roadkill collection tool, where individuals monitor important road segments bisecting habitat cores and corridors identified by the CHANJ map and report wildlife sightings. Regular commuters can report on specific road segments, providing detailed data for rigorous hotspot studies.

This data is useful for pursuing grants or projects. For example, the upcoming Waterloo Road Amphibian Crossing Project in Byram Township, Sussex County, was justified by years of collected data.

Beyond data collection, we use other tools to interpret and analyze findings. Animal data points require careful interpretation due to their constant movement. One key tool is the NJDEP Landscape Project mapping, which uses wildlife observation location data to infer valuable habitats.

However, there are concerns about crowdsourcing and public data access, particularly regarding the illegal wildlife trade. Detailed mapping tools can be exploited by poachers. At this time, this information is only accessible by NJDEP.

Q. Are there any technologies that have been useful in designing and modifying infrastructure to better suit wildlife? 

Sometimes simple modifications to infrastructure can ensure effective wildlife crossings. For instance, adding a ledge to a culvert can allow animals who avoid water to cross. Bobcats are one species that benefit from this inclusion. The ledge is ideally a natural stream bank within the bridge or culvert, but can also be constructed of concrete or gravel, and  can be tailored to the species present and their needs. All design modifications require hydrology and hydraulics analysis to determine if the modification is feasible.

Through CHANJ, there are two main tools: a map and a guidance document. The guidance document includes best management practices for designing wildlife passages across different taxa. While not high-tech, these practices significantly improve the effectiveness of crossings.

Q.  The NJ Pilot Road/Stream Crossing Assessment focuses on culverts to improve connectivity for aquatic wildlife; however, NJ is also home to terrestrial wildlife that require special crossings. How do you approach this divide in your work, and what are some ways that transportation agencies can design passages that are suitable for both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife? 

Designing wildlife crossings can be complex, especially when dealing with driveways and land use constraints. Studies have shown that incorporating effective fencing is crucial for directing animals towards crossings and preventing wildlife from accessing the roadway. Innovative designs include using flexible recycled plastic fencing directly attached to structures, which helps prevent animals from breaching gaps. Some designs feature a protective lip to deter animals from climbing over.

Advancements in monitoring technology, such as infrared cameras, are proving invaluable. NJDOT is initiating a project to monitor several highway underpasses not originally designed for wildlife but identified as potential crossings. Infrared motion detection captures warm-blooded animals, while specialized setups capture cold-blooded animals. These technologies provide crucial data on wildlife usage of these crossings.


Resources

  • Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ). (u.d.). NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. [Website]. Guidance Document and Mapping Web Viewer Tool. Accessed here.
  • Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ). (u.d.). NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. NJ Wildlife Tracker Public Survey. Report sightings of (1) Rare Species and (2) Wildlife on Roads/Roadkill. [Tool]. Accessed here.
  • Crowdsourcing for Wildlife Road. (2019). Maine Audobon. [Presentation]. FHWA Local Aid Support Exchange Webinar. Retrieved here.
  • Flood Hazard Areas. (u.d.). NJ Department of Environmental Protection. [Website]. Accessed here.
  • Fowles, G., Zarate, B., and Hall, M. (2023). Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) Assessments. Final Report for September 1, 2017–August 31, 2022. Project Number: W-78-R-1. 1. NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved here.
  • North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC). (u.d.). [Presentation]. NJDOT Lunch and Learn. Retrieved here.
  • North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC). (u.d.). [Website]. Retrieved here.
  • North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC). (2019). Culvert Condition Assessment Manual. [Report]. Prepared in association with UMASS-Amherst Engineering, UMASS-Amherst The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment and The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved here.
  • Wildlife Crossings Program. (u.d.). [Website]. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved here.
  • Weber-Leaf, Pamela. “New Jersey’s Animal Crossings Protect Our Wildlife from Dangerous Traffic”. (October 9, 2024). New Jersey Monthly. [Article]. Retrieved here.

Innovative Solutions for Enhanced Road Durability: NJDOT’s Use of High-Performance Thin Overlays Is Recognized

During Every Day Counts round (EDC-6), FHWA promoted Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS) to state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local agencies as a way to maximize their highway repair investments by improving on conventional overlay methods and including new overlay materials and techniques. Case studies and research presented as part of FHWA’s EDC outreach efforts to states and local agencies included New Jersey DOT’s use of highly modified asphalt (HiMA), among other proven but underutilized overlay options.  

In a recent Innovator Newsletter, FHWA highlighted NJDOT’s use of HiMA to effectively improve the quality and extend the lifespan of roadways.


Overview

NJDOT’s use of HiMA was the subject of a detailed technical case study, one of five such case studies focused on Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS) produced for the FHWA. The case study report, High Performance Thin Overlays (HPTPO), notes that NJDOT has increasingly been using HPTO mixes for preventive maintenance projects statewide.

The case study shares NJDOT’s experience leading a team of design engineers, materials engineers, researchers and asphalt suppliers to devise and evaluate HPTO, a gap-graded mixture using polymer-modified asphalt binder. The case study offers incisive details and lessons learned on specifications, implementation, design, planning, construction, and performance considerations.

The case study explains that NJDOT defines HPTO as a fine-graded polymer-modified asphalt mixture that uses 100 percent high-quality crushed stone with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 3/8 inch. HPTO is designed using a modified Superpave (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavement System) design methodology that places restrictions on the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement and natural sands.

HPTO mixes are typically used in maintenance and pavement preservation applications but can also be used as a leveling course when extended staging times are expected for temporary pavements during construction. HPTO, a durable mixture, is designed for high resistance to rutting and cracking and is often placed at a thickness of 1 inch either on a milled or unmilled surface. HPTO has been used as a maintenance application on high-volume interstate projects and on heavy-duty parking lots. The product is typically performance-tested at design and during construction.

Boot on finished pavement.
HPTO surface upon completion.

NJDOT primarily uses HPTO as a preservation application on pavements in good to fair condition in need of minimal repairs (i.e., repairs account for less than 10 percent of the preservation project). However, HPTO can be combined with other preservation strategies such as microsurfacing, slurry seals, or micro-milling when project conditions warrant its use.

The FHWA case study report on NJDOT’s experience with HPTO offers several references that further detail various asphalt research studies, and analyses undertaken over more than a decade that advanced HPTO as product through testing, evaluation and institutionalization stages at NJDOT.

Lessons and Benefits

NJDOT has was able to increase the number of “good condition” lane miles from 12 percent to 40 percent statewide through prevention maintenance strategies including use of HiMA overlays.

NJDOT adopted a proactive approach to advancing pavement preservation in its asset management toolbox, particularly through HiMA, that has delivered several noteworthy benefits. NJDOT was able to increase the percentage of its network pavements in “good condition” while reducing pavements in “poor condition” through dedicated program funding for preventive maintenance. FHWA noted that NJDOT was able to increase the number of “good condition” lane miles from 12 percent to 40 percent over a decade in part through the contribution of HiMA overlay treatments.

Through research, NJDOT found that the timing of HPTO application is crucial for getting the maximum pavement life extension. HPTO, when applied to an existing pavement in “good condition” can more than double the service life compared to its application to “fair condition” pavement.

Utilizing HPTO, NJDOT has been able to extend pavement life along busy roadways by approximately 10 years and improve ride quality — depending on the pre-existing surface conditions, quality of pre-HPTO repairs, and thickness of the HPTO overlay. HPTO can also reduce noise and improve long-term skid resistance on projects. During construction, HPTO’s application causes relatively minimal traffic disruption as it requires only short duration road closures.

HPTO also offers flexible solutions to NJDOT’s design concerns by adding service life to a pavement without a significant change in profile grade. It can minimize changes to the vertical clearance at overpasses and match the elevation of infrastructures such as guardrails, curbs, and gutters.

Ongoing Efforts to Support Implementation

For the FHWA, EDC-6 outreach activities served as an opportunity to educate transportation agencies and stakeholders about various asphalt and concrete overlay products that demonstrably provide long-life performance under a wide range of traffic, environmental, and existing pavement conditions. The EDC-6 TOPS team sought to build greater awareness and encourage deployment of some 7 distinct asphalt products and 4 distinct concrete products during the EDC-6 Round.

Several application features and benefits of HPTO were described in the video, “Pavement Preservation Treatments at NJDOT.

In its final report for EDC-6, FHWA notes that forty-one States participated in the TOPS EDC-6 initiative, including 26 that were focused on asphalt overlays, 15 that sought to learn more about concrete, and 13 that participated in both. Further, FHWA recognized that EDC-6 was also a catalyst for advancing deployment; 22 States advanced to a new phase in the implementation process from “not implementing” to the development, demonstration, assessment, or institutionalized phases of deployment. In all, 19 States reported that they had institutionalized TOPS products by incorporating at least one overlay type as a standard fix option within the agency’s pavement management program.

While the formal EDC-6 innovation cycle ended in December 2022, FHWA continues to support TOPS implementation through training and technical assistance resources such as the lessons learned from NJDOT’s use of HPTO as well as noteworthy initiatives in several other states. Many resources are available on the TOPS webpage including webinars, articles, case studies, how-to reports, brochures, and one-pagers.


Resources

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. “Innovative Solutions for America’s Roads: Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS)”. (October/November 2024). Innovator [Article]. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/innovator/issue103/page_03.html

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (u.d.). EDC-6: Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS). [Website]. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/tops/?utm_source=innovator

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. (April 2023). EDC-6 Final Report: Innovation for a Nation on the Move. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/reports/edc6_finalreport.pdf?utm_source=innovator.

Gilliland, Amanda, Mohanraj, Kiran, and Taghavi Ghalesari Abbasali, Ph.D. (March 2022). High-Performance Thin Overlays. [Case Study Report].  FHWA-HIF-22-053. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/tops/pubs/TOPS_HPTO_Case_Study_Report_508.pdf.

Gilliland, Amanda, Mohanraj, Kiran, and Taghavi Ghalesari Abbasali, Ph.D. (April 2022). High-Performance Thin Overlays: How-To Document. [Case Study Report].  FHWA-HIF-22-057. Retrieved from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/tops/pubs/TOPS_HPTO_How_To_Report_508.pdf

NJDOT’s Pavement Support Program – Goals, Deliverables and the Future. (July 2021).  NJDOT Technology Transfer. [Webinar]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGhxphN1rOA&t=4057s.

NJDOT Pavement Preservation at NJDOT. (July 2020). NJDOT Technology Transfer. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wlnB8AQ-g.

FHWA Issued Its EDC-7 Progress Report #1

The Every Day Counts Round 7 Progress Report #1 is now available here.  

Every Day Counts (EDC) is the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) program to advance a culture of innovation in the transportation community in partnership with public and private stakeholders. Through this State-based effort, FHWA coordinates rapid deployment of proven strategies and technologies to shorten the project delivery process, enhance roadway safety, reduce traffic congestion, and integrate automation.

The Progress Report describes the seven technologies and practices FHWA is promoting in EDC-7 and summarizes the deployment status of each innovation as of April 2024 and each innovation’s goal for adoption by 2025.

More information on the EDC-7 Round Innovations, including the initial Baseline Report can be found here.

Research Spotlight: Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques

A recently completed NJDOT research study, Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques, tested several new techniques and materials that could improve the cost-effectiveness of pothole repairs in New Jersey. Phase I of the research project, led by Professors Hao Wang and Husam Najm of Rutgers University, evaluated new methods for both asphalt and concrete structures. Pothole repair is one of the primary maintenance activities for highway agencies, generating significant costs and resource commitments. Cost-effective pothole repair methods can reduce or eliminate the possibility of re-patching and save future repair costs.

Asphalt Pothole Repair

Asphalt pavement is continuously subjected to vehicular and environmental loading throughout its lifecycle, leading to the inevitable occurrence of distresses such as cracking, rutting, raveling, potholes and so on. Among these distresses, potholes are critical as they can disrupt traffic, impose risks to safety, and cause costly vehicular damage for vehicle operators.

Field repair of pothole using induction heating.

Pothole repair is a primary maintenance activity for highway agencies. Typically, cold mix asphalt is used for emergency repair and hot-mix asphalt (HMA) for traditional repairs. Usual pothole repair methods include throw and go (roll), edge seal, semi-permanent, spray injection, and full depth repair. Among them, throw and go (roll) method using HMA has been adopted by most transportation agencies for surface patching. However, this common practice largely relies on the usage of HMA. Although the quality of the asphalt patch can be ensured, it presents environmental concerns due to the energy consumption and environmental footprint involved in producing new HMA. To mitigate the impact on the environment, reduce cost and conserve energy, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) has been widely used as a highly desirable material. The addition of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in asphalt mixtures can bring numerous economic and environmental advantages.

Infrared heating test was used in asphalt repair method.

This study sought to investigate an innovative approach to pothole repair using HMA with RAP and preheating. The study investigated two aspects: First, the performance of HMA with different RAP contents were evaluated through laboratory tests to select the most appropriate content. Second, the in-site strength of pothole repair was evaluated with field cores to quantify the benefits of repair quality due to recycled material and preheating.

Both microwave heating and infrared heating were tested, with varying results. Microwave heating was able to warm both the surface and internal materials of the pavement, however, its efficiency was low and the rate of temperature increase was insufficient. Conversely, the infrared heating method proved adept at rapidly heating the top edges and bottom surface of the pothole to high temperatures and was used successfully in pothole repair.

Further tests were carried out adding RAP to HMA patching materials. The results showed that there was greater abrasion loss, reduced IDT (indirect tensile strength), and interface shear strength of patching material had less resistance to moisture as RAP content increased. Nonetheless, with the application of preheating, the overall performance of HMA containing 30 percent RAP was satisfactory, proving that it is feasible to use RAP material for pothole repair.

Concrete Pothole Repair

Photos showing condition ratings for concrete repairs.

Similar to asphalt pavement, concrete structures are prone to deterioration due to vehicles and weathering. Cracks can develop which lead to further deterioration due to chloride infiltration. Thus, a good repair is necessary for maintaining concrete structures. An ideal repair material should be easy to work with under different weather conditions, be fast setting, and possess good durability. Rapid-setting cementitious patch repair materials are popular for repairing small concrete damage and providing a functional repair within few hours.

Based on extensive literature research and several NJDOT practices, three formulations were chosen as the best performing candidates. Workability, strength, and restrained shrinkage cracking of the formulations were investigated. The restraint shrinkage test protocol simulated upper and lower limits of restraint that a repair material undergoes in real applications. The repairs were also cast and placed in external environmental conditions to expose them to natural weathering actions. The cracking behavior was evaluated including cracking spacing and maximum crack width

The investigation led to the identification of three formulations that did not crack for a period of 10 months in field exposure to NJ climate conditions. Typically, rapid set formulations do not shrink after 6 months. The formulations that did crack revealed that an addition of 1 percent of PVA fibers could significantly reduce the maximum crack width. The maximum crack widths observed in all the formulations were an order of magnitude less than the maximum allowable crack width specified by NJDOT (1/32″).

Contemplated Legislation

The research projects were completed at a time when pothole repairs have attracted critical attention from motorists and legislators within the state. In the current legislative session (2024-2025), the New Jersey State Senate voted unanimously to advance a bill that is intended to address concerns about pothole damage to roads and bridges in the Garden State. 

The NJ Senate bill, S862, would require the state DOT to include information about pothole repair projects and their cost in the annual report. The additional information would include reporting on the number of repair projects going on around the state and their cost. The bill includes a separate provision that would require a lifecycle cost analysis to be conducted.  The information would be required to be made available to the public on the NJDOT’s website.  An identical bill, A2596, was introduced in the NJ Assembly during the legislative session.

AASHTO Recognition 

The research project is not only primed to inform the serious legislative issues being raised in Trenton but was recently recognized by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) for its contribution to innovation. Every year, the High Value Research Task Force of AASHTO Research Advisory Committee (RAC) holds a national competition to find “high value” research projects throughout the country. In 2024, the Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques research project was recognized in the Maintenance, Management, and Prevention supplemental category, as described here.


RESOURCES

Wang, Hao, and Xiao Chen. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume I: Asphalt Pavement.” (2024). Final Report. Retrieved here.

Wang, Hao, and Xiao Chen. Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume I: Asphalt Pavement. (2024). Technical Brief. Retrieved here.

Najm, Husam, Bala Balaguru, Hao Wang, Hardik Yagnik, and Alissa Persad. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume II: Concrete Structures.” (2024). Final Report. Retrieved here.

Najm, Husam, Bala Balaguru, Hao Wang, Hardik Yagnik, and Alissa Persad. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume II: Concrete Structures.” (2024). Technical Brief. Retrieved here.

Asphalt Pavement Pothole Repair with Recycled Material and Preheating. Presentation at NJDOT Research Showcase by Xiao Chen and Hao Wang. Retrieved here (Presentation) and here (Recording).

 

Join the NJ Mileage-Based User Fee Pilot for EVs!

If you live in New Jersey and drive an electric vehicle (EV),* you are invited to participate in the four-month New Jersey Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) Pilot for EVs. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and The Eastern Transportation Coalition (Coalition) are looking for EV owners to share their opinions on an MBUF system and the future of New Jersey’s transportation funding.

The state and federal gas taxes have been a main source of transportation funding for more than one hundred years. As newer vehicles are going farther on less fuel and some have stopped using fuel at all, drivers are contributing less per mile to transportation funds. The Coalition is partnering with NJDOT to explore an MBUF, where each EV driver would contribute to our transportation system based on the miles they drive instead of the annual EV fee enacted in July 2024.

The Pilot is easy to join and free to participate in, and there are strict privacy measures in place to safeguard your data.

**Notice: Enrollment in the New Jersey Mileage-based User Fee Pilot for Electric Vehicles is now closed.**

Enrollment for the Pilot begins October 1, 2024

Visit NewJerseyMBUFpilot.org to learn more.

Courtesy of the Eastern Transportation Coalition. Learn more here.


*Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are not eligible to participate in the Pilot.

26th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase – Register Now!

AGENDA

9:30 AMIntroduction and Housekeeping

David Maruca, Program Development Administrator
Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation
9:40 AM  Welcoming Remarks

Eric Powers, Assistant Commissioner Statewide Planning, Safety and Capital Investment
New Jersey Department of Transportation
9:45 AM  Opening Remarks 

Francis “Fran” O’Connor, Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Transportation
9:55 AM  Opening Remarks

Sutapa Bandyopadhyay, Planning and Program Development Manager
Federal Highway Administration New Jersey Division
10:00 AMKeynote Address

Jim Tymon, Executive Director
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
10:40 AMBreak
10:50 AM    Panel Discussion: How is NJDOT creating pathways to sustainability?

Moderator:  David Maruca, Program Development Administrator Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation  

Panelists:
Alex Borovskis, Director, Construction and Materials
Robert Blight, Executive Manager, Pavement & Drainage Management and Technology Bureau
Krishna Tripathi, Project Management Specialist, Project Management
Mohab Hussein, Supervising Engineer, Bureau of Structural Design & Geotechnical Engineering
Sushant Darji, Principal Engineer Planning, Bureau of Statewide Strategies
Giri Ventikeela, Innovation Officer, Bureau of Research, Innovation & Information Transfer
11:45 AM  Presentation of 2024 Awards  
Pragna Shah, Acting Manager
Bureau of Research, Innovation and Information Transfer
New Jersey Department of Transportation

2024 Outstanding University Student in Transportation Research Award
2024 NJDOT Research Implementation Award
2024 Best Poster Award
2024 Research Champion Award
2024 NJDOT Build a Better Mousetrap Award
2024 National High Value Research Award
12:00 PM  Buffet Lunch/Break
1:00 PM   Concurrent breakout sessions  

Safety
Infrastructure
Sustainability
Poster Exhibit

The NJDOT Research Showcase is an event of the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Research and organized by the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT).

Dr. Giri Venkiteela, Research Scientist, BRIIT, accepted two awards on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

NJDOT Research Projects Receive High Value Research and Supplemental Awards by the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee

The Bureau of Research, Innovation and Information Transfer (BRIIT) is active in many national transportation efforts, including the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Dr. Giri Venkiteela, Research Scientist, BRIIT, is the Vice Chair of Region 1 of AASHTO’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) that serves the Special Committee on Research & Innovation (R&I).

In late July 2024, he attended the RAC’s National Meeting in Columbus, Ohio and accepted two awards on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.


Every year, the High Value Research Task Force of AASHTO RAC holds a national competition to find four “high value” research projects from each of the four AASHTO regions in the country. In 2024, two research projects sponsored and managed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation were recognized nationally with awards.

Several experimental and numerical research activities were carried out to assess the mechanical properties and long-term durability of Advanced Reinforced Concrete materials
Several experimental and numerical research activities were carried out to assess the mechanical properties and long-term durability of Advanced Reinforced Concrete materials

The first project, Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure, was recognized as one of top 16 projects in the country and was managed by Dr. Venkiteela. The Principal Investigator for the study was Dr. Matthew Bandelt from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and championed by NJDOT’s Bureau of Materials.

Transportation infrastructure systems must resist conditioning from the natural environment and physical demands from service loading to meet the needs of users across the state. Reinforced concrete, which is widely used in bridge decks, pavements, super- and substructures, and other systems, deteriorates under environmental conditioning due to electro-chemical processes that cause expansive mechanics stresses at various length scales (e.g., reinforcement corrosion, freeze-thaw, etc.), leading to costly and timely durability and maintenance challenges.

The project report, which provides a background on the state-of-the-art of advanced reinforced concrete materials that are being investigated to improve reinforced concrete transportation infrastructure. A series of experimental and numerical research activities were then carried out to assess the mechanical properties and long-term durability of these systems. Results show benefits across a range of metrics and have the potential to substantially improve the in-service behavior of reinforced concrete transportation infrastructure.

Methods to preheat an excavated pothole prior to repair were described to improve the interface bonding between existing pavements and hot filling material.
Methods to preheat an excavated pothole prior to repair were described to improve the interface bonding between existing pavements and hot filling material.

The second project, Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques, was recognized in the Maintenance, Management, and Prevention supplemental categories and was also managed by Dr. Venkiteela. Separate research reports were prepared for asphalt (Volume I) and concrete structures (Volume II). The Principal Investigator for the study was Dr. Hao Wang from Rutgers-Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation.

Pothole repair is one of the most important and frequent maintenance activities for highway agencies. Significant amounts of costs and resources are spent in pothole repair for material, labor, equipment, and traffic control. Cost-effective pothole repair methods can reduce or eliminate the possibility of re-patching and save future repair costs. The good condition of pothole repair with less cracking will also prevent reflective cracking when asphalt overlay is placed. Preheating the excavated pothole prior to repair has been found to improve the interface bonding between existing pavements and hot filling material, which can help enhance the overall performance of asphalt patches.

The long lifespan of a durable patch will reduce travel delay due to work zone and safety risk of highway users and workers. They will better preserve the condition of highway infrastructure and provide better service to the traveling public. The feasible usage of recycled materials can reduce the production of new material, which can contribute towards a more sustainable approach of roadway repair with economic and environmental benefits.

Additional information about the research teams for each research project and links to Final Reports, Technical Briefs, and select presentations given at the NJDOT Research Showcase or at Lunchtime Tech Talk can be found in the resources section below.


Resources

Bandelt, Matthew J., Matthew P. Adams, Hao Wang, Husam Najm, Andrew Bechtel, Seyed Masoud Shirkorshidi, and Jin Fan. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure. No. FHWA NJ-2023-003. New Jersey. Department of Transportation. Bureau of Research, 2023. Final Report. Retrieved here.

Bandelt, Matthew J., Matthew P. Adams, Hao Wang, Husam Najm, Andrew Bechtel, Seyed Masoud Shirkorshidi, and Jin Fan. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure. No. FHWA NJ-2023-003. New Jersey. Department of Transportation. Bureau of Research, 2023. Technical Brief. Retrieved here.

Lunchtime Tech Talk! Webinar: Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructure. Webinar. Presentations by Matthew Bandelt and Matthew Adams. Retrieved here.

Wang, Hao, and Xiao Chen. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume I: Asphalt Pavement.” (2024). Final Report. Retrieved here.

Wang, Hao, and Xiao Chen. Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume I: Asphalt Pavement. (2024). Technical Brief. Retrieved here.

Najm, Husam, Bala Balaguru, Hao Wang, Hardik Yagnik, and Alissa Persad. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume II: Concrete Structures.” (2024). Final Report. Retrieved here.

Najm, Husam, Bala Balaguru, Hao Wang, Hardik Yagnik, and Alissa Persad. “Innovative Pothole Repair Materials and Techniques Volume II: Concrete Structures.” (2024). Technical Brief. Retrieved here.

Asphalt Pavement Pothole Repair with Recycled Material and Preheating. Presentation at NJDOT Research Showcase by Xiao Chen and Hao Wang, Retrieved here (Presentation) and here (Recording).