Pavement Design Construction and MaterialsMichigan Technological University

PDCM OverviewPavement Design Construction and MaterialsGroup Member | Spring 2006 through Spring 2008

The goal of the Enterprise program is to get students involved and working with industry on real industry projects. This Enterprise was formed by a generous donation from Bob Thompson in 2000. Visit www.pavementscholars.mtu.edu for more information.

The Enterprise two year project based curriculum compensates for the Senior Design project. Each year PDCM also hosts in-house versions of the national level Bidding and Asphalt Design competitions that the Enterprise has seen strong success in winning regional and national first place finishes.

LeadershipExecutive BoardTreasurer | Fall 2007Class Representative | Several Terms

AwardsScholarship Recipient | Spring 2008Scholarship Recipient | Spring 2007Scholarship Recipient | Fall 2006Member of the Month| Two Times

-Scholarship availability varied from year to year

Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer | Two Times

Project TeamPavement Management Business PlanTeam Member | Spring 2008

Objective:To develop a profitable business plan for the Enterprise based on Asphalt Pavement Management using PASER rating methodology and to identify associated startup costs, overhead and labor expenses, and related client fees related to a venture of this sort.

Outcome:A recommendation report was submitted to the PDCM Advisory Board. The project was later eliminated due to complexities not desired by the Enterprise at this time.

Project TeamReal Time Quality Control Roadbed Assessment TransmitterProject Manager | Spring 2007 Project Manager| Fall 2007

Objective:To develop a wireless concrete maturity meter in collaboration with the Integrated Microsystems Enterprise. The PDCM commitment was to develop a casing that would protect the electronics from the corrosive environment of concrete while helping it fit into the aggregate matrix.

Outcome:A dodecahedron shape casing molding process using epoxy was developed and the electronic was cased and successfully transmitted test signals from within a small batch of concrete.

Project TeamReal Time Quality Control Roadbed Assessment TransmitterProject Manager | Spring 2007 Project Manager| Fall 2007

Images of Casing:

Project TeamCity of Houghton Capital Improvement PlanTeam Member| Fall 2006

Objective:To PASER rate the City of Houghton road network and input the data into RoadSoft GIS for analysis to develop a pavement asset management plan.

Outcome:Fall 2006 was the third year of data points where a deterioration curve was starting to present itself. A report and pavement management recommendations were submitted to the PDCM Advisory Board

Project TeamCity of Houghton Capital Improvement PlanTeam Member| Fall 2006

Images:

Project TeamMadeline Island Capital Improvement PlanTeam Member| Spring 2006

Objective:To PASER rate the Madeline Island road network and input the data into RoadSoft GIS for analysis to develop a pavement asset management plan for specific roads.

Outcome:The data was collected and analyzed. A recommendation for the requested roads was formed and submitted to the PDCM Advisory Board.

In ClosingOverall the time I spent in PDCM was very educational. I was exposed to asphalt pavement design, asphalt pavement management, estimating, and to electronics and concrete maturity meters during the interdisciplinary work with the Integrated Microsystems Enterprise.

I am willing to share more information on the program at your request. If you have work that the Enterprise may be able to conduct of just want to learn more, their contact information can be found at www.pavementscholars.mtu.edu or I can refer you to a contact in the organization.