12th TRB International Conference on Low Volume Roads

Workshops will take place Sunday, September 15. Lunch is not included on Sunday.

Workshop attendance is included in the registration fee, but space is limited; please select your workshop during registration. Most workshops will include demonstrations of software apps and/or web-based tools; bring a laptop computer or tablet with you.

Morning Workshops: 9:00am to 12:00pm

Workshop #1: Converting Distressed Paved Roads to Engineered Unpaved Roads
Presenters: Laura Fay and Ashley Kroon (WTI), David Jones (University of California Davis)
Based on a guidance document prepared for the Minnesota Local Roads Research Board, this workshop will provide a step-by-step guide for road agencies and practitioners on converting distressed low volume paved roads to an engineered unpaved road standard. Participants will learn how to: determine whether a road is a suitable candidate for unpaving, deal with the public, administrators and politicians; do a site investigation; complete a design; understand material performance; select a chemical treatment; do a cost analysis; as well as key considerations for construction.
Take home: Copy of the PowerPoint presentations, copy of the guide including checklists, experience with using web-based tools associated with the guide. (Please bring your own laptop).

Workshop #2: Timber Bridge Rating Using Load and Resistance Factor Rating
Presenter: Scott Groenier (US Forest Service)
This replaces the previously announced Pavement Preservation and Recycling Alliance Interactive Website Demonstration
Aging bridges on low volume roads and how to manage them is major issue for many road agencies. This workshop on rating bridges will be presented in three parts. The first covers the principles of Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for timber bridges. The second covers Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) using the US Forest Service Timber Bridge Analysis and Rating Software. The last part will demonstrate the USFS GIS application for mapping bridge load rating capacities. Attendees will be given a copy of the software to load on their computers and will have the opportunity to practice in the workshop.
Take home: Knowledge on the use of LRFD and LRFR approaches to low volume road bridge management. (Please bring your own laptop).).

Workshop #3: Steps for Making Low Volume Roads More Climate Resilient
Presenters: Gordon Keller (Genesee Geotechnical), Asif Faiz (Faiz and Associates, LLC), Glen Legere (FPinnovations), Mark Partington, and Alex Campbell (Anyway Solutions)
Low volume roads are especially susceptible to the effects of climate change, and low volume road agencies are faced with making them more resilient to these effects. Participants will be introduced to low volume road climate change resilience and vulnerability adaptation, how to do a risk assessment, and how to incorporate climate resilience into asset and geohazard management systems. Examples of appropriate drainage, road and slope stabilization, and erosion control activities that can be implemented to make low volume roads more climate resilient will be demonstrated.
Take home: Copy of the PowerPoint presentations, sources of information, steps to making low volume roads more climate resilient.

Afternoon Workshops: 1:00pm to 4:30pm

Workshop #4: Unstable Slope Management Program (USMP) for Low Volume Roads Ticket Required
Presenters: Eric Bilderback (National Park Service) and Doug Anderson (FHWA Western Federal Lands)
Slope failures are a common problem for low volume road agencies. Participants will learn how to use the recently developed USMP tablet app with course modules covering an overview of the USMP, the “Six Steps to USMP Success”, how to rate an unstable slope using guidance from standardized category descriptions, and to use the USMP slope rating form sections (site information, slope hazard, and slope risks). The USMP will also be demonstrated during the field trip on Tuesday.
Take home: Copy of the PowerPoint presentations, hands-on experience using the app. (Please bring your own laptop and/or tablet).

Workshop #5: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Low Volume Road Management
Presenters: Colin Brooks and Rick Dobson (Michigan Tech University), James Gray (FHWA)

UAVs (drones) are being used more and more for inspection, data collection, and research. While much of the focus has been on applications on high volume highways, UAVs have wide application in low volume road management as well. Participants will be introduced to the types of equipment and analysis software available, what it takes to set up a UAV program, and a range of UAV applications including but not limited to gravel and sealed road assessments, and bridge and slope inspections. UAV applications will also be demonstrated during the field trip on Tuesday.
Take home: Copy of the PowerPoint presentations, sources of information, pointers for setting up a UAV program.

Workshop #6: Low-Cost Safety Improvements for Low Volume Roads
Presenters: Keith Knapp (Iowa LTAP), Rosemarie Anderson (FHWA), Nicole Oneyear (Iowa State University)

This workshop will guide participants on low-cost, ready-to-use improvements that can enhance the safety of low volume roads. Participants will learn the application of both conventional and systemic safety improvement location screening, where to find data sources to evaluate roadway safety, and how to “read the road” from a safety point of view. A synthesis of countermeasures that may be relevant on rural paved and unpaved roadways, along with examples of their associated crash reduction factors (from the CMF Clearinghouse or other relevant publication) will also be covered. Examples and hands-on case study exercises will be incorporated throughout the workshop.
Take home: Copy of the PowerPoint presentations, sources of information, experience with identifying safety issues on low volume roads and the best ways to mitigate them.

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