A Pavement Engineer designs, evaluates and manages asphalt and concrete pavement systems. The Engineer determines the pavement layer thicknesses and material composition required based on the traffic load. The Engineer collects and reviews data on existing pavements to assess deterioration and remaining service life. They understand how external conditions change the rate of pavement degradation over time. The Pavement Engineer sets the immediate and long-term repair and maintenance strategies.
Other duties typically include:
- Design pavements according to the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG).
- Develop specifications for pavement construction projects.
- Observe pavement construction and collect material samples for quality testing.
- Test pavement materials to determine compliance to specifications or standards.
- Inspect completed roadways to ensure safety and compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
- Analyze nondestructive falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflection measurements.
- Work with others to develop pavement rehabilitation plans and designs.
- Work with others to implement a pavement management system.
- Reviewing concrete and asphalt Superpave mix design data.
- Design drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.
- Develop plans to deconstruct damaged or obsolete roadways or other transportation structures in a manner that is environmentally sound or prepares the land for sustainable development.