The AKG 60 aims to promote emerging and state-of-the-art technology and research findings in instrumentation, monitoring and modeling of transportation geosystems along with identifying research needs in these areas. The scope of this committee includes instrumentation and modeling and, therefore, has close ties to several other TRB committees and professional groups. AKG 60 has a great potential (and interest) to work with other committees in various projects. The committee’s goal for the future (short term and long term) is to provide professional development opportunities and technical guidance/support for adoption and deployment of innovations to all stakeholders, particularly practitioners and employees of state DOTs, as well as disseminate knowledge and promote research and development on the use/application of advanced instrumentation and numerical modeling techniques for transportation geosystems. Regarding numerical modeling, the focus is on methods that have reached a level of development that can be transitioned to the practice. Regarding instrumentation, the focus is on development of new sensors, large field monitoring instrumentation arrays; rapid integration of instrumentation data into modeling and design; instrumentation for support of asset management and performance programs; and instrumentation and modeling to increase resiliency of transportation geosystems.
Currently, the committee has interest in the following technical areas, which will result in new RNSs and other research and dissemination activities:
Developing reliable frameworks for rapid synthesis of integrated instrumentation data into design/modeling software or algorithms for complex geosystems. Advancement in this research area may provide the means to better assess and control risks on large (typically urban) transportation projects and allow further system integration. The research will address the barriers that make very difficult for modelers and designers to access quickly or in real time the incoming data from large suites of instrumentation, and communicate the implications of these data to project stakeholders. This topic has potential for collaborations with AFB80, ABC40, AFP70, ASCE G-I Committee on Underground Engineering and Construction, and AASHTO SCOBS-T-19 Software and Technology.
Establishing project baseline requirements or policies for performance instrumentation. Developing minimum standard of care for select types of geosystems or structures interms of instrumentation beyond construction. Issues to be addressed include installationof survey monuments or instrumentation; how to fund instrumentation maintenance afterconstruction; how to establish the baseline before a structure or geosystem shows signs ofperformance problems; how to establish response thresholds for performance monitoring;and how to protect instruments/sensors during construction and operation of transportation geosystems. This topic has potential for collaborations with AFS30, and AASHTO SCOBS-T-18 Bridge Inspection, Repair, and Rehabilitation.
Characterization of stress-deformations of bridge foundations and retaining walls using numerical modeling. Particularly, the committee’s focus is on understanding stresses and deformations during stage construction and in construction where new fills are placed. This topic has potential for collaborations with AFS10, AFS30, ASCE G-I Committee on Underground Engineering and Construction, ASCE G-I Committee on Deep Foundations, and AASHTO SCOBS-T-15 Substructures and Retaining Walls.
Developing guidelines for instrumentation for monitoring of transportation assets exposed to geohazards, extreme events and climate changes.
Modeling of soil-structure interaction between deep foundations and MSE walls and determining the effects of lateral movement on the face of the walls. This topic has potential for collaborations with AFS30, AFS70, ASCE G-I Committee on Deep Foundations, ASCE G-I Committee on Earth Retaining Structures, and AASHTO SCOBS-T-15 Substructures and Retaining Walls.