Pavement and Materials Engineering
The key services provided by Pavement and Materials Engineering Section include:
Pavement Structural Design and Analysis
- Developing pavement construction strategies and structural designs for new pavements.
- Assessing existing pavement condition, determining feasible treatments, developing construction strategies and providing structural designs for rehabilitation or reconstruction, as appropriate.
- Performing life cycle economic analysis of alternative pavement surfacing options.
- Reviewing quality management system (QMS) drawings and tenders for highway construction projects.
- Performing structural analysis for the remaining life at the current loading and due to a proposed special hauls.
- Determining structural enhancement requirements for upgrade to highway loading classification.
- Performing pavement structural and material analysis for construction deficiencies and providing recommendations for remedial or resolution.
- Conducting overweight axle impact assessment and establishing the pavement damage fees for surfaced and gravel roads.
- Reviewing pavement design and construction drawings for access from provincial highways to roadside developments.
Pavement Assessment and Design Manual (PDF)
Pavement Research and Assessment
- Assessing pavement for structural capacity and establishing the allowable seasonal load limits.
- Developing and monitoring field/laboratory pavement and materials research projects to assess and implement new methods, materials, technologies and procedures.
- Collaborating with national and international stakeholders in pavement and materials research/initiatives.
- Representing Manitoba on different local, national and international committees related to pavement and materials.
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions
- Assessing special vehicles permit requests.
- Providing pavement damage fees for special vehicle configurations.
- Evaluating and recommending the allowable axle and gross weights for different vehicles, tires and axle configurations including their seasonal limitations.
- Participating in the development/update of vehicle weights and dimensions standards, policies, regulations and maps.
Management of Seasonal Weights Programs
- Updating the list of spring weight restricted highway sections and maps on an annual basis.
- Monitoring thermistors and weather data, and assessing the pavement surface condition, and freezing and thawing trends.
- Determining the start and end dates for the highway winter seasonal weights and spring road restrictions programs.
- Preparing ministerial orders, and managing website, print media and social media updates.
- Developing/updating the relevant polices and procedures.
Data Collection and Pavement Management
- Managing pavement strength and surface condition (distresses) data collection programs including scheduling, routing and quality assurance.
- Processing pavement strength and surface condition data, and managing the databases.
- Maintaining pavement management system including the development of condition/performance curves, determination of treatment effectiveness and forecasting network and sub-network conditions.
- Determining the service life of different treatments to establish the optimum timing of application.
- Selecting projects for preservation and rehabilitation programs for different sub-networks.
- Reporting network level pavement condition including map development.
Construction, Specifications and Standards
- Designing/reviewing materials and mixes for pavements and bridges.
- Developing design/analysis standards and guidelines through the evaluation of in-service pavements, materials and new developments.
- Developing specifications for various materials/products and their construction.
- Developing materials sampling and laboratory/field testing standards, and providing guidance to different stakeholders including regions, internal/external laboratories, suppliers, consultants and contractors.
- Reviewing construction quality control/assurance test results and payment adjustments, and managing the appeal testing.
Sampling, Testing and Engineering Analysis Standards
Standard Construction Specifications
New Product Approval and APL
- Evaluating new products including laboratory testing, field trial and performance monitoring in Manitoba condition.
- Managing the Approved Products List (APL) for highway and bridge construction, preservation and maintenance applications.
Contact Pavement Engineering
Alauddin Ahammed, Mohammad, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Manager, Pavement Section
204-792-1338
Alauddin.Ahammed@gov.mb.ca
