March 4: ConExpo-Con/Agg Top Educational Picks

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This once-every-three-years show is the perfect opportunity to look at the latest equipment, network and increase your industry knowledge. Here’s a guide to the most useful sessions for Better Roads readers.

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ConExpo-Con/Agg 2014 is North America’s biggest construction equipment trade show with about 2,400 exhibitors and more than 2.3 million square feet of exhibits. Slated for March 4-8, 2014, in Las Vegas, agencies and contractors have the chance to see and test equipment as well as enhance their knowledge with the show’s education track. The Better Roads editors have chosen the sessions that would be most of interest in the education tracks, specifically the Asphalt and Concrete track sessions as well as some sessions in Earthmoving & Site Development and Recycling and Preservation.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Economic Update
Speaker: Anirban Basu, Sage Policy Group, Inc.
This session will give attendees economic updates for the global, national, and regional economies to help you learn the global, national, and regional economy affects your business and how the performance of labor and housing markets are affected by governmental finances.

Control and Prevention of Concrete Cracking
Speaker: Tim Cost, Holcim (US) Inc.
Learn how to recognize the typical influence of cracking in concrete flatwork as it relates to design, materials, environmental conditions, site preparation, and construction methods. Best practices for mitigation or moderation of each influence will be discussed, as well as systematic management of cracking potential and specification of cracking protection measures. Project examples will be used in discussions of how both typical and elusive cracking can be avoided. Successful approaches used to reducing cracking in bridge decks and other types of slabs will be presented and software tools for evaluation of cracking potential will be reviewed.

Screen Shot 2014-03-04 at 11.25.01 AMAutomated Grade Control GPS
Speaker: Bruce Barnhart, past president, Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA)
This panel discussion focuses on the Automated Grade Control toolbox interface; including RTK GPS, large equipment and machinery, hydraulics, software, formats, maps, background data, designs and more. You’ll learn how Automated Grade Control GPS can take your productivity to the next level, how to apply the GPS toolbox interface and how it applies to grade control applications and how to integrate GPS technology to your grade control applications.

Partner Insights
Information to advance your business from industry suppliers
How High Fuel Prices hurt Your Business
Presented by EquipmentWatch
Selecting the Correct Construction Tire Solution
Presented by Michelin North America
8 Crucial Elements of a Tire Safety Program
Presented by Michelin North America

The AASHTO Equipment Management Technical Services Program
Speaker:  Larry Galehouse, director, National Center for Pavement Preservation (NCPP)
This session will help attendees understand the changing role of Department of Transportation equipment managers and provide a chance to learn about new equipment performance measures adopted by DOT equipment managers. Details about the 2014 National Equipment Management Conference to be held in Florida will also be revealed.

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Troubleshooting Concrete Surface Defects: Causes, Prevention, and Cure
Speaker: Michelle Wilson, director of the Portland Cement Association
In this session, participants will learn how to survey concrete in the field and see how poor construction practices lead to concrete defects. Learning about real-life problems caused by inadequacies in design, construction, and maintenance practices, participants will understand how construction materials affect concrete performance and discover practical solutions to correct existing problems.

Go Green With Cold Central Asphalt Recycling
Speakers: Richard Schreck, Virginia Asphalt Association; Buzz Powell, National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University
Attendees will learn to develop and produce cold central plant recycling (CCPR) materials from recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and track the performance of the CCPR mixes. This session will also give participants a chance to learn how other contractors are using this technology.

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for Asphalt Contractors
Speaker: TJ Young, T2ASCO
Attendees of this session will learn how to apply and measure key performance indicators (KPIs) for the asphalt pavement industry to more effectively manage business and achieve specific company goals. They’ll also learn how to develop a measurement for key performance indicators.

Concrete Overlays for Highways, Local Roads, Streets and Parking Lots
Speaker: Michael Ayers, Global Pavement Consultants, Inc. and  Jon Hansen, National Ready-Mix Concrete Association
This session will help participants identify the six basic types of concrete overlays and their intended use, how to perform a concrete overlay survey and prepare an evaluation, and how to assess and determine proper concrete overlay thickness based on your intended use.

Paydirt:  Mass Excavating
Speaker: Mike Boyle, John Deere Construction & Forestry Company and Bryan Tallyn, John Deere
This session will help participants compare the cost of moving different types of material with various types of equipment, how to choose different configurations of the same machine to increase efficiency on the job and how to choose the right combination of equipment an application — sand vs. clay vs. mud vs. rock.

Use of Pavement Preservation Treatments in the U.S.
Speaker: Larry Galehouse, director, National Center for Pavement Preservation
The presentation will focus on the current preservation treatments used in 43 state Departments of Transportation and examine the successes and the challenges experienced by agencies, suppliers, and contractors. Participants will learn about common issues facing all state DOT and local highway agencies and the advantages and disadvantages of various pavement preservation treatments.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Concrete Pavement: How to Get the Biggest Bang for the Buck in Street/Local Road Applications
Speaker: Brian Killingsworth, National Ready-Mix Concrete Association
Learn about the mistakes designers make when designing and specifying concrete pavement in street and local road applications such as overdesign and adding unnecessary construction details. Attendees will learn how to design and specify concrete pavements in city and county environments,  develop standard details for low-volume concrete roadways and how to identify testing pitfalls to avoid claims from inaccurate test data.