The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1m via an Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration Grant for a project to modernise Iowa's rural infrastructure using advanced geospatial mapping.
The project is being carried out by construction technology and civil engineering services provider Ingios Geotechnics, in collaboration with Buena Vista County and the Iowa County Engineers Association Service Bureau (ICEASB).
The geospatial data collection project aims to improve the maintenance and management of more than 11,000 miles of unpaved roads.
The project is set to utilise Ingios' advanced roller mapping technology, COMP-Score RT.
The objective of the project is to equip Iowa's county engineers with comprehensive data on the structural support conditions of unpaved roads. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about future maintenance and upgrades, ensuring that budget allocations are directed towards the most needed areas.
Ingios' technology comprises advanced sensors, a high-powered computer, mobile communication, and a display screen, which allows roller operators to access data immediately during mapping operations.
Ingios CEO David White said: "Our technology delivers engineering measurements of modulus and permanent deformation using easy-to-understand analysis and standardised AASHTO [American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials] road classification from good to bad support conditions. We record and store all sensor signal inputs for independent verification and quality assurance audits.
“Whether it's fixing structural support problems, upgrading to pavement, or continuing with regular unpaved maintenance, our data will guide engineers toward the best long-term solution.”
Ingios' COMP-Score RT technology upgrades traditional compaction equipment into sophisticated real-time measurement systems that assess ground quality.
Using Ingios' technology, a geographic information system solution will be built to provide a comprehensive record of the unpaved road conditions for the region.
ICEASB executive director Brian Moore said: “We will capture an unprecedented 500 million data points during this project and are working to complete this programme for the entire network of unpaved roads across the state of Iowa.”