EVOLVING AUTOMATION IN THE ASPHALT PAVING INDUSTRY

The asphalt pavement construction industry, spurred by competition and the desire to improve quality, has responded by adopting automation concepts and contributing to the development of rugged, dependable automation components. Although other areas of construction have struggled to fund automation costs, the paving industry has developed incentives and quality control processes that encourage investment. This article discusses automation in the following areas: asphalt plants, material delivery, and paving machines. Areas of potential application of automation in the asphalt paving industry are also discussed.