Minnesota Department of Transportation Mn/DOTs Gradual Shift from Profile Index to IRI
Chronology of Shift to IRI 1999: Participated in FHWAs Lightweight Profiler Study, hosting various vendors at MnRoad site Overall, LWP devices involved in study demonstrated moderate repeatability and poor reproducibility
Chronology of Shift to IRI 2001: Purchased Ames Lightweight Profiler and ARRB Walking Profiler Began performing random Quality Assurance on projects with ride incentive determined from 0.2 blanking band Profile Index
Mn/DOTs Lightweight Profiler
Chronology of Shift to IRI 2002: Initiated Profile Index Smoothness Measuring Device Program in spring During QA on job sites, experienced problems replicating contractors 0.2 blanking band Profile Index values
Empirical Data: Projects with 0.2 blanking band PI value of 0.0 possessed IRI values ranging from roughly in/mi Projects with 0.2 blanking band PI value of 1.0 possessed IRI values ranging from roughly in/mi 0.2 Blanking Band PI vs. IRI
Chronology of Shift to IRI : Analyzed extensive certification and construction data, finding a very weak correlation between 0.0 and 0.2 blanking band Profile Index results
Chronology of Shift to IRI 2005: Let 13 additional bituminous IRI pilot construction projects 2004: Let three bituminous IRI pilot construction projects
Chronology of Shift to IRI 2006: Let three concrete IRI pilot projects (results pending) Switched to IRI exclusively on bituminous construction projects Began using Pathways High Speed Profiler for Quality Assurance purposes
Mn/DOTs High Speed Profiler
Bituminous Ride Incentive Equations
Incentive per 528-Foot Segment Bituminous Ride Incentive Equations
Bituminous IRI % Improvement Table
Incentive/disincentive calculated for each 528-foot segment Payment is based on right wheel path IRI values (9 feet from left stripe) IRI data collected by contractor with certified profiler Bump/dips established with profilograph Ride Incentive Information
2007: Will use IRI exclusively to determine ride incentive for all construction projects Chronology of Shift to IRI
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