Snow and ice removal operations in winter road maintenance are essential for state DOTs to ensure the safety, mobility, and efficiency of their transportation infrastructure systems. As an innovative snow and ice removal alternative, researchers have developed a new mix design and production methods of heated concrete (electrically conductive concrete [ECON]) and new structural and system design approaches for a heated pavement system (HPS) using the newly developed ECON. Based on the successful real-world piloting of ECON HPS, state DOTs have expressed strong interest in deploying ECON HPS into their transportation infrastructure systems. Piloting design applications through this pooled fund and developing resulting guidelines and specifications for broader deployment will enable state DOTs to adopt the ECON HPS as an innovative winter maintenance alternative, enhancing winter maintenance and management practices.

Highlighted information on ECON HPS research includes:

• Airport Pavement Pilot Installation
• Federal Aviation Association report, Hybrid Heated Airport Pavements: Volume I – Electrically Conductive Concrete for Pavement Deicing. (Published 2021).
  • https://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/Products/Airport-Safety-Papers-Publications/Airport-Safety-Detail/hybrid-heated-airport-pavements-volume-ielectrically-conductive-concrete-for-pavement-deicing
• NPR: “Winter is Coming. What if roads and runways could de-ice themselves?” (Aired October 1, 2017).
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/01/553756878/winter-is-coming-what-if-roads-and-runways-could-de-ice-themselves
• NBC’s Today Show and NBC’s Nightly News with Lester Holt: “Could heated airport runways melt away your winter travel headaches?” (Aired January 26, 2018).
  • https://www.today.com/money/could-heated-runways-melt-away-your-winter-travel-headaches-t121729
•  DOT Facility Parking Entrance Pilot Installation
• Iowa Highway Research Board, Self-Heating Electrically Conductive Concrete Demonstration Project. (Published October 2021).
  • Final Report : https://publications.iowa.gov/41096/1/TR-724_Final%20Report_Self-Heating%20Electrically%20Conductive%20Concrete%20Demonstration%20Project.pdf
  • Technology Transfer Summary : https://publications.iowa.gov/41096/2/TR-724_Tech%20Brief_Self-Heating%20Electrically%20Conductive%20Concrete%20Demonstration%20Project.pdf
•  AASHTO’s 2022 High Value Research Award Winner
  • https://publications.iowa.gov/41096/14/Iowa%20DOT%20Research%20Solutions%20-%20TR-724%20-%20Heated%20concrete%20-%20web.pdf
•  AASHTO’s 2022 Innovation Initiative Focus Technology Winner
  • https://aii.transportation.org/Pages/Electrically-Conductive-Concrete-Heated-Pavement-System.aspx
  • https://intrans.iastate.edu/news/heated-pavement-research-named-focus-technology-by-aashto/

• City Bus Stop Pilot Installation
• Iowa Highway Research Board, Advancing Electrically Heated Pavements for Sustainable Winter Maintenance. (Research project end date December 31, 2024. Deliverables linked once posted.)

The objectives of this research are to:

1. Optimize ECON mix design, develop ECON HPS system design options, and create pre-construction guidelines for pilot projects at suitable locations of interest to state DOTs participating in the TPF study
2. Develop and execute a field monitoring plan for evaluating the performance of all constructed ECON HPS over at least two consecutive winter cycles
3. Develop ECON HPS design and construction guidelines by incorporating significant findings and conclusions derived from the pilot projects. The primary outcome of this will be the ECON HPS design and construction guidelines, which will provide provisions necessary for state DOTs to create specifications for these and future ECON HPS projects.

ECON HPS design requirements and considerations are different for each specific application (i.e., driveways, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bus stop stations/loading areas, city and county roads, state highways, state DOT maintained rest/visitor areas, bridge decks, tunnels and underpasses, and so on), with each specific region warranting detailed research investigations before being fully deployed in each situation. For instance, deploying ECON HPS technology in bridges requires that the design should consider the potential for corrosion of steel reinforcement, the availability of a low-cost energy source to power the ECON HPS, finding the optimal location for placing the electrodes, and so on. On the other hand, ECON HPS deployment on a sidewalk has slightly different requirements, as reinforcement is rarely used on sidewalks.

Because of the success from previous ECON HPS demonstrations for large-scale construction applications in real airport and roadway environments, state DOTs have expressed strong interest in piloting an ECON HPS at a critical location of interest to them. Considering that the ECON HPS design requirements (e.g., winter weather conditions, local aggregate material properties, standard specifications, and so on) in other states are different from the ECON HPS pilot projects previously conducted by the research team in Iowa, a detailed research investigation is needed to ensure the successful deployment of ECON HPS for enhancing public safety and improving availability of public transportation at critical areas during wintery weather.

Pilot project locations will be determined by TPF members based on project locations of interest, funding for construction activities (not provided by TPF), construction timelines, etc. A different application will be selected for each pilot project location. For instance, one location may pilot an ECON HPS on an on/off ramp, another on a tunnel transition, a third on a bridge deck, and so on.

For each pilot project location, a repeatable research plan containing the following phases and tasks will be funded through the TPF:

o   Development of Pre-Construction Guidelines

§  Assess pilot project area characteristics and identify overall system-level requirements

§  Optimize ECON mix design and develop system design options for the pilot project

§  Produce pre-construction guidelines for installing the ECON HPS

o   Performance Monitoring and Evaluation

§  Develop and execute the field monitoring and evaluation plan during ECON HPS construction

§  Conduct seasonal evaluations for heating performance and economic efficiency for the pilot site (minimum of two winter seasons)

o   Development of Design and Construction Guidelines

§  Develop ECON HPS design and construction guidelines for use in future deployment sites of a similar application

Iowa is currently piloting an airport pavement installation (Des Moines International Airport, constructed 2016), a DOT facility parking entrance installation (Iowa DOT Facilities in Ames, constructed 2018), and a bus stop/loading installation (Iowa City, construction Spring 2025), all of which feed into the supporting background information of this TPF.

California DOT has a site selected and construction funding secured for a pilot installation on an on/off ramp, which aims to serve as the first pilot location under this TPF.

Funding:

1. Desired total commitment from each partner is $250,000 split between 2026-2030, generally achieved through five years at $50,000 per year.
   1. If a partner would like to join but the funding commitment is an obstacle, please reach out to the Lead Study Contact.
2. Cost estimate for each pilot project research plan is approximately $750,000, supporting an additional pilot project investigation for every three partners.
3. SPR Part B Waiver will be requested.

Travel:

1. In addition to virtual project meetings, it is anticipated that in-person meetings will take place throughout the project, likely centered around construction activities at each pilot location.

New Members:

1. This pooled fund is always accepting new members. Please inquire with the Lead Study Contact noted above to join this effort.