Features

Stringless concrete paving systems are easy to use for contractors - Daniel C Brown. With just a few days of training, Hawkins Construction is now up and running with stringless concrete paving technology. This year Hawkins started using the stringless technology on two Interstate highway paving projects, with a total contract value of US$78 million. The projects were on I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska and the first section was for a 9.25km, 18.3m wide stretch of 330mm thick concrete pavement.

A Power Curbers 5700C machine is being used underground in Turkey to slipform the U-shaped concrete platforms on the walls of a new tunnel project.

HTS now offers a sophisticated vehicle identity recognition (VIR) package, which offers key benefits over basic LPR technology. The VIR patentpending technology provides a comprehensive profile of each car including make, model, colour, country or state name and special plate icons.

BASF claims that its latest innovation will help improve efficiency in tunnel construction operations. Developed by BASF's Construction Chemicals division the new Crystal Speed Hardening system (CSH) is an advanced admixture technology aimed directly at the tunneling market.

Blastcrete Equipment Company says that its novel new Mason Mate system provides an innovative solution for concrete repair and shotcreting in tunnelling applications.

Manufacturers are producing innovative asphalt equipment, and operators are benefiting from this as Patrick Smithreports. Asphalt plant manufacturers and operators are understandably placing great emphasis on higher productivity but with lower costs. At the same time they are aware of environmental issues and the ever-increasing use of recycled material in mixes.

Oregon Department of Transportation's James Whitty spoke with Jason Barnes on the state's progress with VMT fee-based charging

PAVING CONTROL specialist MOBA is offering a new system said to be able to boost surface quality and longevity. Called the PAVE-IR, this unit can be used to identify segregation issues during paving processes, a problem that is a major cause of premature failure in asphalt roads. Numerous studies have identified the relationship between thermal segregation and density and the new PAVE-IR package from MOBA is said to offer contractors a non-destructive method for detecting thermal segregation in real time

The strong market for shotcreting technology has led BASF to hold a workshop for waterproofing specialists. The firm's latest system can be used to provide a permanent waterproof single-shell tunnel lining based on sprayed concrete and double-bonded waterproofing membrane.

New generation wheeled pavers aimed at use in territories such as the UK, Italy, South Africa and Southern Germany are now coming to market. Pavers in these countries are often expected to be driven from one part of a site to another or for short distances, which is why the additional mobility of the wheeled machine is preferred in many instances over similarly-sized tracked models. This preference for wheeled units comes in spite of the greater stability offered by tracked machines. BOMAG, Caterpillar and

The Riga Northern Transport Corridor is an ambitious transport E1.5 billion infrastructure development project involving a new 30km long inner city highway. Its aim is to provide a fast connection between the east and west of Riga City and integrate the city and Riga port into the Trans-European road network. It will include another major new crossing of the Daugava River which is 420m wide at this point. The project will lead to a substantial improvement of transport efficiency in the Riga region and will

Tunnel technology advances will make driving through underground links considerably safer, writes Mike Woof

Wirtgen has developed a novel control system for use on its concrete paving equipment. Matthias Fritz is the product engineer at Wirtgen tasked with developing the system. The new AutoControlpackage uses GPS technology to provide guidance for the machine's steering functions. Fritz added, "It has an augmentation centre for vertical control because it requires millimetre accuracy for height." This 3D control system is for use with the firm's SP15 and SP25 slipform pavers and is said to be a user-friendly, co