Measuring and visualizing hot mix asphalt concrete paving operations

This paper presents AsphaltOpen, a visualization tool for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) paving operations and a data collection process to collect the input data for AsphaltOpen from HMA paving operations. In detail, AsphaltOpen visualizes collected site-specific GIS data and GPS path tracing data of equipments' motions together with the HMA's temperature behavior. In this way, AsphaltOpen allows HMA paving professionals to understand and learn about the relation of machine operations and HMA temperature and its impact on the HMA compaction. To ensure the practical usability, we developed AsphaltOpen and the data collection process by conducting action research with HMA paving operators. Overall, AsphaltOpen offers an easy-to-use tool for HMA paving companies to visualize previous asphalting operations. In this way, it opens up new ways for HMA paving contractors to improve and professionalize their paving operations.