15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management
8/27/2025
NEXCO-West USA, Inc. (NEXCO) participated in the Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Conference in Chicago, IL. We gave two presentations.
Building Resilient Highways Through Innovation and Collaboration,
How can AI sustain safe, resilient highways in a country facing demographic challenges?
This question guided Nexco-West's pilot with Vaisala RoadAI, where patrol vehicles were equipped with cameras to capture real-time data on potholes, cracks, signs, etc. The project demonstrated how AI can complement the expertise of engineers, supporting Japan's shrinking workforce while strengthening maintenance practices.
At the 15th TAM Conference, we shared these insights and met peers such as PSI Technologies, whose technical rigor and sustainability focus reflect the values essential to resilient infrastructure.
The combination of AI-enabled workforce support and the commitment of experienced, trusted peers to sustainable pavement practices shows how innovation and responsibility can shape safer, smarter and more resilient highways worldwide.
Mobile Non-Destructive Testing (NDE) Technology Applications for Bridges and Road Pavements
NEXCO presented on the application of mobile non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for bridges and roadway pavement. The presentation included an introduction of two categories of NDE: direct coupling methods and rapid collection methods. Focusing on the rapid collection methods, NEXCO showed how visual, infrared, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) sensing can be used to quantify deficient findings in concrete and asphalt structures.
Two case studies were reviewed: a reinforced concrete bridge deck analysis by vehicular scanning and a mixed material pavement evaluation. The bridge deck involved a daytime, posted speed-limit scan of the deck surface and shallow subsurface using visual and infrared sensors, then a subsequent nighttime scan which captured GPR data by rolling lane closure at 10mph. Findings included quantities of things such as cracks, subsurface delamination, and patches of rebar corrosion.
The pavement case study featured a hybrid approach to the inspection of a strip of roadway within the city of Peoria, IL. Teaming with a reality capture partner company, NEXCO help produced a comprehensive condition assessment of the roadway, with findings being reported in a 3D manner both above and below ground. Subsurface layers were mapped, feature of interest were marked with polygons at appropriate depths (surface or subsurface), and the general location and measurements of ancillary structures near the roadway were mapped.