Events

Events

MATC visits since 1988

The circles on the interactive map show the FHWA project, visit date, location, and other information on all of the 178 site visits through 2024. The map is also searchable for the following mixture type information, as shown in the legend below.

AR	Asphalt rubber
ARB	Asphalt rubber base
BMD	Balanced mix design
FC	Friction course
Hi-RAP	High percentage of RAP (30% plus)
PRS	Performance related specification project
PMA	Polymer modified asphalt
RAP	Reclaimed asphalt pavement
RAS	Recycled asphalt shingles
SMA	Stone matrix aggregate mix design
WMA	Warm mix asphalt

The MATC provides a unique and crucial link between agencies, private industry, and academia by encouraging and supporting agencies in adopting innovations.

The accessible version

All locations are approximate.

How can I request that the Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) visit my State?

Federal employees

Reach out to the MATC Program Manager (leslie.myers@dot.gov)! There are many ways that the MATC can provide assistance:

Providing information on asphalt technologies and materials
Offering training sessions and field demonstrations as part of a scheduled Open House
Sharing of case examples and practices

The Federal agencies MATC could work with include US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Maritime Administration, and more.

For FHWA Division Offices and FHWA Federal Lands Highway Divisions, our introductory conversation will include the State DOT to establish which technologies are of interest in your State; how a visit typically works in terms of in-person meetings/tours, training and sampling; and general scheduling information.

Also, the MATC offers a Rotational Program for FHWA Division Office and FHWA Federal Lands Highway Division engineers interested in expanding their experience with asphalt materials, mixture, and field testing. This real-time education is effective in that the program uses the host State DOT's (or AASHTO, if host State does not have) specifications and materials. In addition, the FHWA DO Rotational Program has been revamped to include a formal syllabus for the 2-week learning opportunity as part of the MATC project site visits. The objectives of the rotational assignment are to:

Develop a fundamental knowledge of pavement field activities including: pavement mix design, work site safety, construction/materials specifications, materials testing, inspection, and evaluation of quality data (from both testing and inspection);
Acquire hands-on experience with new and innovative technologies used for pavement mixture design, sampling, testing, and pavement construction;
Promote national initiatives and facilitate technology transfer activities supported by the MATC; and
Empower the rotational assignment participants to better identify opportunities to more independently assist in strengthening or improving the performance of pavements.

If you are interested in an assignment with the FHWA DO rotational program, please contact the MATC Program Manager (leslie.myers@dot.gov).

State DOT employees

Reach out to the FHWA Division Office's Pavement and Materials Engineer in your State, who will schedule a discussion with the MATC Program Manager to learn about your agency's interests and needs and how the MATC visit would benefit your stakeholders. Our introductory conversation will include the FHWA Division Office to establish which technologies are of interest in your State; how a visit typically works in terms of in-person meetings/tours, trainings and sampling; and general scheduling information.

Private or academic stakeholders

Consult with the FHWA Division Office's Pavement and Materials Engineer in your State, along with your State DOT, about their interest. We work closely with the project hot mix asphalt producer, paving contractor, and the State DOT on each visit. If the State is interested in pursuing a MATC visit, have the FHWA Division Office Pavement and Materials Engineer contact the MATC Program Manager and we will begin to define your interests and make arrangements!

On-Site Project Visits

The MATC visits active field construction projects at the State DOT's request. Each field visit typically lasts about three weeks. The State DOT selects which project(s) will be visited and assists with arranging the logistics for locating the trailer on site. The goal is for the MATC to visit five projects during a typical performance year.

In the preparation and conductance of a project site visit, the chart shows the activities that take place.

This graphic contains a flowchart which shows the schedule and events involved in a typical site visit by the MATC.

This graphic contains a flowchart which shows the schedule and events involved in a typical site visit by the MATC. The total time spend by the MATC on each state site visit is approximately 6 months, with the onsite time lasting 3 weeks. Here is what the graphic is telling along the sequential timeline: First, a Planning call is held between the DOT, FHWA Division Office and the MATC staff which takes about an hour over webinar. Then over the next 60 days or so, emails regarding logistics of the visit are shared between the MATC staff, the DOT, and the Contractor who is hosting the MATC on their project. Second, a Kickoff meeting is held (with the MATC crew onsite and the MATC Program Manager by phone) with the DOT, Contractor, and FHWA Division. This is about a 2-hour meeting and would just include discussion of the logistics, test plan, etc., and could be held at the Contractor's plant or at the Trailer or at the nearest DOT field trailer, whichever is convenient. It would also really just include the members of DOT and the Contractor(s) who we will primarily interface with, also inviting FHWA Division and the state asphalt paving association executive. It is likely this meeting would take about 2 hours. Third, an Open House is held during the second week of the site visit. This would be part presentation (at a location to be determined by the DOT, that could seat about 40 people) and would then include tours of the MATC trailer and equipment demonstrations. The MATC staff and Program Manager will all come in to that location and provide presentations. We would like to open this event up to State asphalt pavement association members, any members of the state DOT, local agencies (the counties, cities and municipalities nearby the project location), academic institutions, and possibly the local chapter of the ACEC, and any federal partners in the area which may be interested in learning more about asphalt pavements. The morning with presentations will take approx. 2 hours and then plan for 1-2 hours at the MATC Trailer. The morning portion is also accessible by web access to view remotely. Over the next 2.5 to 3 weeks, the MATC does laboratory, plant, and field testing at the paving site. Fourth, at the end of the last week of the site visit (often, the 3rd week) an on-site close-out meeting will be held in the trailer (which the MATC Program Manager will attend via Webconferencing and the MATC crew would be on-site). This would just include discussion of the test results compiled to-date, and could be held at the Contractor's plant or at the Trailer or at the nearest DOT field trailer, whichever is convenient, and will include the DOT, host Contractor, and FHWA division office. It is likely this meeting would take about 1 hour. Lastly, a final close-out Webinar meeting will be held online (which we will all attend via Webconferencing) within 90 days after the site visit. This would include discussion of all of the final test results and we can invite all any folks that you would like to be included, but at a minimum we suggest that the Contractors for the project(s), FHWA division office, DOT materials and construction engineer, and the state asphalt paving association executive be included. It is likely this online meeting would take about 1.5 hour. The webinar will also be accompanied by the submission of a technical assistance (final) report.

To find out more, contact the MATC Program Manager (leslie.myers@dot.gov).

Pavements

MATC visits since 1988

How can I request that the Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) visit my State?

On-Site Project Visits

More Information

Contacts