Publication Number: FHWA-SA-96-022
Date: November 1996

AASHTO Takes Lead in Software Support

The future of the 14 software packages developed under the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) is a lot less uncertain now, thanks to action by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). A resolution to set up procedures for establishing projects to support and enhance SHRP software was passed by the AASHTO member departments in response to recommendations from the AASHTO Special Committee on Software Systems (SCOSS), Task Force on SHRP Implementation, and Standing Committee on Highways. The procedures will ensure that support and management of the SHRP software packages will be determined based on the needs and priorities of the AASHTO member departments.

Potential users are often reluctant to use a program for which there is no technical support or training and no assurance of maintenance. The Transportation Research Board (TRB)-SHRP Committee had recommended that provisions be made for long-term support of SHRP software. Acting on that recommendation, the Task Force on SHRP Implementation asked SCOSS to develop mechanisms for determining which packages should be embraced by AASHTO, as well as procedures for ensuring their long-term support.

Once a software package has been refined and field validated, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will make it available to AASHTO. Some of the SHRP software packages are ready for evaluation by AASHTO; others, such as the Superpave software, are still undergoing further refinement and validation. Each of the SHRP software packages will eventually be reviewed by appropriate AASHTO subcommittees and task forces to determine if AASHTO sponsorship is warranted. When a subcommittee or task force recommends support for a SHRP software package, a proposed work program and budget for the project will be developed. The proposed project will then be reviewed by SCOSS and the AASHTO Executive Committee. If the project is approved, the AASHTO member departments will be asked to provide funding to support the project. If the project is funded, AASHTO will distribute and licensethe software under its AASHTOWare banner.

The AASHTO Subcommittee on Materials has recommended that HWYCON be the first software package to go through this review process. HWYCON is an expert system that helps highway agencies diagnose the cause of distress, select construction materials, and determine repair and rehabilitation strategies for concrete pavements and structures.

As SHRP software becomes available, it will be announced in Focus.

SHRP Software Packages

HWYCON-Designed to assist highway engineers in the diagnosis, materials selection, repair, and rehabilitation of concrete pavements and structures. A prototype of the software is packaged with the SHRP report, User's Guide to the Highway Concrete Expert System, SHRP-C-406; available from the TRB Business Office (202-334-3214; fax: 202-334-2519).

CORRODE-Provides guidance in selecting the most cost-effective methodology for the repair and rehabilitation of bridge decks that are deteriorating as a result of corrosion of the reinforcing steel. A prototype of the software is packaged with the SHRP report, Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Protection and Rehabilitation of Concrete Bridges Relative to Reinforcement Corrosion, SHRP-S-377; available from the TRB Business Office (202-334-3214; fax:202-334-2519).

Superpave Software-The software is currently undergoing further refinement and evaluation. A Windows-based version of the Superpave volumetric mix design procedures is scheduled to be available in April 1997. AASHTO has distributed a limited-feature prototype of the software, which runs under DOS, to State materials engineers. For more information, contact Katherine Petros at FHWA (202-366-1340; fax: 202-366-9981; email: katherine.petros@fhwa.dot.gov).

FWDREFCL-Guides the calibration center operator through a series of menus and interactive data entry screens for calibrating the falling weight deflectometer (FWD).*

FWDCAL-Determines measurement errors and computes final calibration adjustment factors for calibrating FWDs.*

FWDSCAN-One of two FWD quality assurance software packages, FWDSCAN provides a quick, reliable means to check FWD data for readability and completeness.*

FWDCHECK-One of two FWD quality assurance software packages, FWDCHECK identifies statistical outliers in pavement deflection data.*

PROFCAL-Compares automated profile measurements with those obtained manually.*

PROFSCAN-A field quality assurance tool that identifies profile data exhibiting run-to-run variations in International Roughness Index or large elevation differences between two successive points.*

PROFCHK-Implements a final series of quality checks for pavement deflection data and computes a number of summary statistics.*

Dipstick Profile Software-Assists in the manual entry of pavement profile data collected with the Face Construction Technology Dipstick.*

LTPP Traffic Monitoring Data Reduction Software-Provides a consistent method of storing, manipulating, and aggregating data collected at automated traffic data collection stations.*

Microcomputer Version of the LTPP-IMS (Information Management System)-Allows access to data collected from the long-term pavement performance test sites.*

* The software package is available from FHWA's Pavement Performance Division (703-285-2355; fax: 703-285-2767; email: ltppinfo@fhwa.dot.gov).

Back to Articles in this Issue