Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-04-023
Date: March 2004

Enter the World of Asphalt

The state of the art in asphalt technology will be on display at the World of Asphalt 2003 Show and Conference, scheduled for March 17-20, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will include exhibits, live paving demonstrations, and a range of educational programs. Running in conjunction with the World of Asphalt is the Asphalt Pavement Conference: Superpave 2003, which is sponsored by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA). The APA is an industry coalition comprised of the Asphalt Institute (AI), National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations (SAPA). The Superpave conference is supported by the Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT).

The Asphalt Pavement Conference: Superpave 2003 will highlight a decade of evolution and improvement in the Superpave system, looking at such topics as mix design and performance testing; production, placement, and compaction; and the impact of the AASHTO 2002 Design Guide. "We're focusing on all aspects of Superpave, including design, construction, and what the future holds," says Kent Hansen of NAPA. "And it's not just highways or freeways-We're looking at the use of Superpave for local roads and airports too."

Asphalt Pavement Conference participants receive free registration for the World of Asphalt, where more than 150 exhibitors will present the latest equipment and services, including asphalt production and recycling equipment, milling machines, compaction equipment, and testing devices. A live paving demonstration will showcase correct paving techniques, covering topics such as job planning, surface preparation, smoothness measurement, safety, and traffic control.

The education program at the World of Asphalt will also feature the People, Plants, and Paving Training Program, which details effective paving techniques, information on improving plant operation and performance, how to better manage a workforce for greater productivity, and how to raise employee awareness of work zone safety. These sessions are targeted to paving superintendents, plant superintendents, and other middle managers.

World of Asphalt 2003 is supported by AASHTO, FHWA, TRB, SAPA, NAPA, the Tennessee DOT, Tennessee Road Builders Association, National Association of County Engineers, American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association. Additional supporters include the Asphalt Institute, Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Rubber Pavements Association, the International Slurry Surfacing Association, and a number of international organizations.

For more information or to register, visit the World of Asphalt 2003 Web site at www.worldofasphalt.com or contact the World of Asphalt Management Office at 800-355-6635 (fax: 800-979-3365; email: info@worldofasphalt.com).

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