In part 2 of our series, we talk with Hawaii DOT's Mel Chung and Kristi Grilho, to go deeper into the testing involved in this project.

Related Information

• S4 E1: Paving with Recycled Plastic – Hawaii’s Pilot Project - Part 1
• S3 E40: From the Cutting Room Floor - Questions from a DOT

We kick off a four-part series on Hawaii DOT's effort to use locally recycled plastic in their asphalt pavements. In Part 1, we are joined by Ed Sniffen, Director of Hawaii DOT to get some background on this project.

Related information:

• AASHTO Journal article: Hawaii DOT Wants Waste to Hit the Road 
• S3 E39: Hawaii DOT - Planning for Resilience 
• S3 E21: Resiliency, Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, and the Future of Bridge Construction

In our last episode this season, we take a look back over some of our favorite moments and share a little bit about what to expect in season 4. Will it include more Shakespeare references? Listen to find out!  Season 4 starts in May 2023. Email podcast@aashtoresource.org to let us know where you listen from and to suggest a topic for an upcoming episode.

Related information:

• S3 E40: From the Cutting Room Floor - Questions from a DOT
• S3 E39: Hawaii DOT - Planning for Resilience
• S3 E36: Inside AASHTO Publications
• S3 E33: Favorite Things
• S3 E29: Giving Thanks
• S3 E28: Checking In on the IIJA - 1 Year Later
• S3 E21: Resiliency, Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, and the Future of Bridge Construction
• S3 E18: Soft Skills: Authentic Networking
• S3 E11: Updates to the 42nd Edition of AASHTO Materials Standards

 Greg Uherek joins us to discuss an unusual situation with ASTM D2434: Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Coarse-Grained Soils. 

In this From the Cutting Room Floor episode, Brian is joined by Kristi Grilho and Mel Chung from the Hawaii DOT. This audio is taken from a recording session for a yet-to-be-release episode, but during their conversation, Kristi wanted to ask Brian some questions. So, in this episode, they discuss training versus certification, and Brian shares insights on what it's like as a laboratory assessor. 

Ed Sniffen, Director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, joins us to discuss the Hawaii DOT's Climate Resilience Action Plan.

Related Information: 

• https://hidot.hawaii.gov/resilience
• HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan
• https://aashtojournal.org/2022/12/02/gov-elect-names-ed-sniffen-to-lead-hawaii-dot/ 
• HDOT Climate Insights for Infrastructure
   

We share the audio from the Q & A section of our August 2021 webinar: Ready, Set, Go: How to Prepare for an Assessment. Sonya and Mike answer questions about scheduling assessments, documentation needed, and much more. 

 The full webinar can be viewed: https://youtu.be/acMYN53eth8

We dig deeper into the 2023 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange draft agenda, sharing highlights, and attendee favorites. 

Related information:

• http://aashtoresource.org/events
• 2023 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange
• Webinar: Internal Audits: What’s the Point?

We sit down with the AASHTO Publications team to talk about what goes into the materials standards.

Related information:

• http://store.transportation.org/ 
• AASHTO re:university Webinar Series: Standards as a Second Language
• Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing, and AASHTO Provisional Standards, 42nd Edition, 2022
  
  

We share audio from the November 2022 Q&A webinar, Ask the AASHTO Accreditation Program.  Senior program staff answers accreditation-related questions, explaining more about the accreditation process and internal audit requirements.

Related Information:

• AASHTO re:university Webinar Series: Ask the AASHTO Accreditation Program
• S3 E32: Changes to AASHTO R18
• S3 E7: Internal Audits - Back to Basics
• http://aashtoresource.org/contact-us 

Gary Pasquarell joins the discussion on sieve requirements for testing labs and ASTM E11.

Related Information:

• Sieves: Making the Grade, Part I
• Sieves: Making the Grade, Part 2
• AASHTO re:source Policy and Guidance on Go-No-Go Gauges
• 2023 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange
• S2 E14: Fireproofing and Special Inspection

We close out 2022 by having staff share some of their favorite tips and tricks they have seen in the lab.

Related Information:

• 2023 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange
• AASHTO's Daily Transportation Update

We discuss upcoming, and proposed changes to the AASHTO R 18 standard.

Related Information:

• AASHTO R 18 Ballot for Iron and Steel Equipment Table
• https://materials.transportation.org/
• The Birth of a Standard – Part I: Who Are AASHTO and ASTM?
• The Birth of a Standard – Part II: The Harmonization Effort
• S1 E22: AASHTO Committee on Materials and Pavements (COMP)
• S3 E11: Updates to the 42nd Edition of AASHTO Materials Standards

Bob Lutz and Tracy Barnhart join us to talk about the 2023 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange. Registration just opened, so learn what attendees can expect from this unique event. 

Related information:

• Event website
• S3 E29: Giving Thanks
• S3 E18: Soft Skills - Authentic Networking

We dive into the results of the recent Performance Graded Asphalt Binder, Viscosity Graded Asphalt Cement, and Paint proficiency samples.

Related Information: 

• http://aashtoresource.org/psp/schedule
• http://aashtoresource.org/psp/reports
• http://aashtoresource.org/psp/sample-round-analysis

We celebrate Thanksgiving week (in the US) by having past guests share what they are thankful for in the industry.

Related Information:

• Speaking In Code: Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing Special Inspections CONUNDRUM
• S3 E28: Checking In on the IIJA - 1 Year Later
• S3 E23: September PSP Insights
• S3 E18: Soft Skills: Authentic Networking
• S3 E11: Updates to the 42nd Edition of AASHTO Materials Standards
• S2 E39: Steel Inspection and Code Compliance
• S2 E32: Infrastructure Bill Update
• S2 E14: Fireproofing and Special Inspections
• S1 E40: Winter Weather Effects on Roads and Paving Materials
• S1 E30: Inside PSP with Guest Host, Oak Metcalfe
• S1 E22: AASHTO Committee on Materials and Pavements (COMP)

Joung Lee, AASHTO Deputy Director, sits down with us to talk about some of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) implementation successes and challenges one year after being passed into law.

Related Information:

• https://d2d.gsa.gov/report/bipartisan-infrastructure-law-bil-maps-dashboard
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/build/maps-of-progress/

In this From the Cutting Room Floor episode, Brian is joined by Jon McCabe, Quality Analyst, and Russell Dabbs, Senior Laboratory Assessor. This audio is taken from their discussion on ASTM D 4318 and AASHTO T89/T90.  During their recording session, Brian, Jon, and Russ went down some rabbit holes, and while their discussions weren't really relevant to the main podcast topic, we thought there was some value in sharing it with you in a separate episode. So in this episode, they discuss using reliable sources for training, the expectations during the assessment, and the importance of ethical lab practices.  Plus, listen to the end to learn how you can be a part of our upcoming Thanksgiving episode!

Related Information:

• Top Nonconformities for ASTM D4318 and AASHTO T89 and T90 -https://www.buzzsprout.com/1246739/11553120
• False Claims of Accreditation http://aashtoresource.org/aap/false-claims

Russell Dabbs and Jon McCabe join Brian to discuss the most common nonconformities for liquid limit and plastic limit of soils and how to resolve them.

Related information: 

• Soil Classification - The Bigger Picture: http://aashtoresource.org/university/newsletters/newsletters/2016/08/05/soil-classification-the-bigger-picture
• Three Musketeers in Soils Testing: Atterberg, Casagrande, and Terzaghi: http://aashtoresource.org/university/newsletters/newsletters/2016/08/04/three-musketeers-in-soils-testing
• VIDEO: Soil Classification and Compaction Sample Preparation:  https://youtu.be/1Xl8O-997sk
• How to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report Findings: http://aashtoresource.org/university/newsletters/newsletters/2017/08/17/how-to-resolve-aashto-re-source-and-ccrl-report-findings
• Get to the Root of the Problem: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Explained: http://aashtoresource.org/university/newsletters/newsletters/2016/08/02/get-to-the-root-of-the-problem

Meet the AASHTO re:source Admin Team and learn more about our processes in this FAQ episode.

Related information:

• PSP Unboxing Video - https://youtu.be/C3LcyiWfWRI
• Changes to the Hveem samples -  http://aashtoresource.org/news/2022/08/26/changes-to-the-asphalt-mixture-hveem-design-samples  
• http://aashtoresource.org/contact-us 

In this episode peek behind the scenes of the award-winning podcast, The Extra Mile, presented by the Mississippi DOT, as we talk with co-hosts Will Craft and Paul Katool.

Related information:

• https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/theextramile
• https://communications.transportation.org/home/skills-contest/
• https://communications.transportation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/05f-Mississippi.pdf

We take a look at the results of the new Aggregate Gradation & Gravity samples, as well as what's in the works for the Proficiency Sample Program.

Related information: 

• AASHTO Accreditation Policy on PSP Participation (http://aashtoresource.org/docs/default-source/publicdocuments/aap-rules-for-psp-participation.pdf)
• Sample Round Analysis (http://aashtoresource.org/psp/sample-round-analysis)
• Sample Types and Tests (http://aashtoresource.org/psp/samples-types-and-tests)
• Datasheets and Instructions (http://aashtoresource.org/psp/datasheets-and-instructions)
• AASHTO re:source on Twitter (https://twitter.com/aashtoresource/status/1562775257928318976)
• Extra Proficiency Samples (http://aashtoresource.org/psp/xps)

In this Mail Call episode, we answer questions about certification exams and accreditation program fees. 

 Related Information:

• S1 E16: Understanding Technician Certification Requirements
• AASHTO Accreditation Policy on Certifications
• S1 E31: FAQ - How long does it take to get accredited?

Dr. Azizinamini, with Florida International University, joins us to talk about resiliency, UHPC, and the future of bridge construction.

Related information: 

• https://abc-utc.fiu.edu/

We discuss how as AASHTO members, state DOTs can best use AASHTO re:source’s services.

Related information: 

• http://aashtoresource.org/specifiers
• http://aashtoresource.org/events
• Companion document