This synthesis presents information on the use of five emerging technologies for transportation construction projects: global positioning systems for layout, machine guidance, and quantity tracking; handheld computers for construction records; automated temperature tracking for concrete maturity monitoring; four-dimensional computer-aided drafting modeling for constructability analysis and improved communications; and web-based video cameras for remote project monitoring. The synthesis reports on the current state of each of the five technologies and their potential benefits for transportation agencies in the delivery of construction projects. The following characteristics are provided for each of the technologies: description, benefits, extent of use, barriers to use, instances of successful implementation and procedures, unresolved issues, and unintended consequences. It also discusses the current level of use and documents lessons learned from agencies with experience in implementing the targeted technologies. Other technologies discussed include virtual reality, building information models, and radio frequency identification. The information will form a foundation from which state and provincial highway agencies can begin the process of performing benefit-cost analysis as a first step to adopting those technologies that seem the most promising. A survey questionnaire was distributed to U.S. departments of transportation through a web-based survey application, and was also sent to select Canadian transportation agencies. Responses were received from agencies across the North American continent. In addition, a literature search was conducted of academic, governmental, industrial, and commercial resources to provide a solid theoretical and anecdotal basis for the review of each technology. (Author/publisher) This report may be accessed by Internet users at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_syn_372.pdf
Abstract