Pavement design may become more efficient and cost-effective based on enhanced data from subgrade layers obtained by an automated plate load test. The APLT system is starting to gain interest from transportation and power agencies throughout North America.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority last year saw a demonstration of the system and agreed to use it in a geotechnical exploration program for its planned rehabilitation of the Central Tri-State Tollway corridor. At more than 90 locations, the rolling electronic-hydraulic control system of loading plates, computers and a scraper blade either tested or sampled subbase and subgrades under existing mainline pavement along a stretch of Interstate 294 during night-time closures, says Brendan FitzPatrick, director of Global Services for Ingios Geotechnics Inc., the technology provider.