1/11/2011
1
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgCenter for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
Update on Research and Other Projects
Steve Bloser - Danielle Lombardi
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
9/2010
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Introduction
Goals:
Update you on things going on outside the
Center’s D&G Program support.
Open potential avenues for future
collaboration.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Introduction
Outline:
Steve: Overview and update on past and
current research – hold on tight, note projects of interest
Danielle: Update on two current projects:
• DOE oil access road sediment study
• Aggregate research for Thesis
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Introduction
Center’s Dirt and Gravel Road Tasks:
• Annual Workshop
• ESM Training: creation, updating, presenting, etc.
• GIS Program: creation, upkeep, trainings
• Technical Assistance to Districts on road projects
• General help resource for Program issues.
• Demonstration Projects
• Annual Summary Reports: Collection and analysis
• Seasonal newsletter
• Technical bulletins and other educational documents
• Website: creation and upkeep
• Maintain Program Advisory Groups
• Other activates as requested by SCC and Bureau of
Forestry
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Introduction
Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
• Center is NOT funded by PSU.
• Center’s “core funding” is from D&G Program.
• State Conservation Commission
• Bureau of Forestry
• Center needs to pursue outside research &
education grants and contracts.
Dirt and Gravel funding is NOT used for research or outside projects.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgCentre interest outside PA
text
1/11/2011
2
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgPROJECT NAME
YEAR COMPLETED
TYPE: Demo, Research, Education etc.
Brief Summary
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgWhite Deer Creek2003
Demo and Research
Side by side comparison of Dust
Suppressants in Union County.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Purpose:
Compare effectiveness of different topical
dust suppressants.
- Side by side
comparisons
- Done in 2002
- Union County
Done: White Deer Creek Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
2A - tailgatedDSA - paver
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Done: White Deer Creek
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgCrowfield Road
2006
Demo and Research
Side by Side Comparison of Surface
Aggregates in Centre County.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
2ADSA 2RC
Aggregate specifications
Done: Crowfield Road
1/11/2011
3
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Placement Methods Tested
Paver-placement Tailgating
Done: Crowfield Road Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
2A - tailgatedDSA - paver
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Done: Crowfield Road
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgDust Effect Study
2008
Research
Master’s Thesis by Center graduate student to
determine long term effects of dust on
forest soils and plants.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Purpose:
Determine effects of road dust on the soils and
plants along the road.
Done: Dust Effects
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Purpose:
Determine effects of road dust on the soils and
plants along the road.
- Is there a significant difference upwind and down?
- Is there a difference caused by limestone dust?
- on soils? Yes!
- on plant species? Yes!
- on invasive species? Likely!
- Done in 2007 by Center Grad Student
- In Centre County (Bald Eagle SF)
Done: Dust Effects Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
2A - tailgatedDSA - paver
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Done: Dust Effects
1/11/2011
4
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgGreat Lakes Grant
2008
Demo and Education
Grant through Great Lakes Basin
Commission:
• Demo road and trail project in Erie, PA
• Two ESM trainings, on in PA, one in MI
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
• Through Great Lakes Basin Commission
• Demonstration of ESM practices in Erie County’s
Headwaters Park
• Two ESM trainings
– One in Erie (including demo walkthrough)
– One in Michigan
• Completed in 2008
Done: Great Lakes Grant
You will see this project on
Wednesday and receive an
information packet about it.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
parking
parkingConveyor diversions
Re-profile outlets
Erie
Cons
District
Loop road
French
Mattress
French
Mattress
French
Mattress
0+00
0+00 6+90
0+10
1+30
1+90
3+40
0+70
4+35Widen Existing Ford
Geogrid
landing
5+10
5+906+70
Fr Mattress
pavilion
8+25
8+56
9+25
Install 12”
plastic pipes
Headwaters Park
Great Lakes Grant
Fr. Mattress
with 6” pipe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
89
10
11
12
7 Numbers refer to items on bid
document
You will see this project on
Wednesday and receive an
information packet about it.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Done: Great Lakes Grant
You will see this project on
Wednesday and receive an
information packet about it.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgArkansas Nature
Conservancy
2008
Demo and Education
Educational effort to “jumpstart” a similar
effort to D&G Program. Basically held a
“workshop” in Arkansas.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgArkansas Nature Conservancy
“Workshop-like” event sponsored by the Nature
Conservancy in Arkansas
1/11/2011
5
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgArkansas Nature Conservancy
2010
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgCBC Sediment Study
2009
Research
Research effort to quantify sediment
reductions achieved by implementing ESM
practices.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Spray nozzles
½” Riser
1½” Line
Sample Points
Water flowing in wheel tracks
Dry Road
pond
Rainmaker Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Procedure: one run of rainmaker
-Set up rainmaker
-Wet road until runoff reaches
sample point
-Let dry for 15 minutes, or until no
runoff
-Run 1, 30 min
-Drying Time 60 min – 20 car passes
-Drying Time 60 min – 20 car passes
-Run 2, 30 minutes
-Run 3, 30 min
Repeat procedure with
sediment and flow
samples
Diehl Road - Columbia
Rainmaker
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Flow (cfs) - limestone- after
0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Run 1
Run 2
Run 3
TSS (mg/l) - limestone - after
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Run 1
Run 2
Run 3
Sed
imen
t co
nc
FL
OW
LEBO ROAD Driving Surface Aggregate
Sediment Loss (lbs/min)- averages for 3 runs
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0 10 20 30 40
Time (min)
Sedim
en
t Flo
w (lb
s/m
in)
after - limestone
timetime
3 runs are combined
and averaged for
total sediment yield.
Sed
Lo
ss (
lbs/m
in)
time
Rainmaker Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
• Quantify the sediment reduction of specific
environmentally sensitive maintenance practices:
– Road Surfacing with DSA - Raising the Road
– Additional Discharge Points - Grade Breaks
– Berm Removal
• Extrapolate sediment reduction findings to Dirt and
Gravel projects statewide
• Began in 2006, runs through 2008.
Done: CBC Sediment Study
1/11/2011
6
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Done: Lebo Road
LimestoneLimestone
SandstoneSandstone
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Preliminary Results – Lebo DSA
Native SurfaceSandstone DSA
(1 month)
Done: CBC Sediment Study
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Native SurfaceLimestone DSA
(1 month)
Preliminary Results – Lebo DSA
Done: CBC Sediment Study Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
LEBO ROAD Driving Surface Aggregate
Total 30 Minute Sediment Loss - averages for 3 runs
Native Surface
pre-DSA
Native Surface
pre-DSA
DSA
1 month
DSA
1 monthDSA
1 yearDSA
1 year
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
limestone sandstone
Avg
To
tal
Sed
ime
nt
So
ss
(lb
s)
5.2
6.8
1 month
DSA
1 year
sandstone
1 month DSA
1 year
limestone
0.50.7
DSA
1 month
limestone
DSA
1 month
sandstone
1.8
1.2
Done: CBC Sediment Study
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Preliminary Results - DSA
Percent Reductions from native surfaces
Sandstone DSA
Limestone DSA
1 month 1 year
76%
75%
87%
93%
no difference in performance of limestone –vs- sandstone
Done: CBC Sediment Study Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
SUB-SOIL
ROADWAY
IDEAL
CROSS-
SECTION
SUB-SOIL
ROADWAY
FILL
Raising the Road Elevation
Before After
Done: CBC Sediment Study
1/11/2011
7
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
ditch
no ditch
Done: CBC Sediment Study Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Preliminary Results – Raising the Road Elevation
Existing Elevation
After Raising the
Road Elevation
9.6 lbs sediment
2.3 lbs sediment
*erosion rate kept constant in calculations
Done: CBC Sediment Study
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
2A - tailgatedDSA - paver
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Done: CBC Sediment Study Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgConservation Innovation
Grant
2009
Demo and Research
Several ESM projects implemented on farm
lanes in Mifflin County. Sediment sampling
of storm runoff to quantify sediment and
nutrient reductions.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
• Through NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation
Service in US Department of Agriculture)
• Three Year Project
– Implement Projects on Farm Lanes in Kish
Valley
– Study Sediment and Nutrient runoff
– Hold trainings for local landowners
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Farm Lanes also transport Farm Runoff
Sediment & Nutrients
Farm Lanes also transport Farm Runoff
Sediment & Nutrients
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant
1/11/2011
8
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Yoder Farm
- Vegetated swale
- Durable road surface
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Stuck Farm
-Raised Road
-Durable Road Surface
BEFORE AFTER
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Snyder Farm
-Shaped road
-Conveyor Belt Diversions
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Pruss Farm
-Hardened road
-Broad Based Dip
Current: Cons. Innov. Grant
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: Cons. Innov. Grant Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: Cons. Innov. Grant
1/11/2011
9
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgInvasive Species
Ongoing
Research
Partnership with PSU Weed Ecology
Department on the spread of Japanese
Stiltgrass via unpaved roads in Rothrock
State Forest.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Purpose:
To better understand Japanese
Stiltgrass (Microstegium):
• Road maintenance factors that affect
the spread of along forest roadways
• How it spreads from roadways into
forested lands.
Current: Invasive Species
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
Stiltgrass is everywhere!
Current: Invasive Species Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
• Road maintenance– Grading
– Mowing
– Snowplowing
• Vehicle traffic– Cars, bicycles, off-road vehicles
• Foot traffic
• Bringing in infested material– Gravel, fill containing seeds
A photograph of my boot exiting a study site. Coveredwith Taraxicum and Stellaria seeds, my boots serve as an effective seed dispersal agent
Current: Invasive Species
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
http://www.cityofpickering.com
Quantify the spread of seeds
along roads during grading
Quantify movement of seeds
off roads into the forest by
culverts
Model the resulting spread of Microstegium through forests
Current: Invasive Species Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgMarcellus
Ongoing
Triage
1/11/2011
10
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Marcellus Shale
2 main concerns
- Impact of hauling on existing roads
- Impact of new access roads
The Center has presented to gas organizations and
is discussing the potential for training road crews
on several fronts.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgAcid Rain Remediation
Ongoing
Research
Partnership with PAFBC and ANF to see if
limestone road surface and ditches can
remediate the effect of Acid Rain in McKean
County.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgCurrent: Acid Rain Remediation
- Joint Project with PAFBC & PSU college of
engineering
- Effect of DSA and “Modified Underdrain” on runoff
from acidic precipitation
- Work done in 2009
- Study still underway
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgATV Trail Improvements
Ongoing
Demonstration and Education
DCNR project to implement ESM practices on
several miles of ATV trail in Michaux State
Forest
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Michaux ATV Trails
Proposed Project
on Log Sled Trail
SR 233
Piney Mountain Ridge Road
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Michaux ATV Trails
ESM Practices on ATV Trail System
- reduce maintenance costs and erosion
- Michaux State Forest
- beginning in 2011
- Funded by Community Conservation
Partnership Program (C2P2) through DCNR
1/11/2011
11
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgTrail Mix
Ongoing
“hobby”
Development of a trail surface aggregate to
reduce maintenance costs and sedimet
generation from trails (think DSA for trails).
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
TRAIL MIX
Penn State’s Center for
Dirt and Gravel Roads
has developed a mixture
of aggregate specifically
designed for surfacing
trails.
Current: Trail Mix
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
4 parts unwashed AASHTO #10
(or B3 sand)
4 parts AASHTO # 8
1 part -#200 fines (collector fines)
Instructions: Add water and mix well
Current: Trail Mix Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
4 parts AASHTO #10
(or B3 sand) 4 parts AASHTO # 8
1 part -#200 fines
(collector fines)
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: Trail Mix Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: Trail Mix
1/11/2011
12
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: Trail Mix Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgESM Field Guide
Ongoing
Educational
Working with USFS to develop a “ESM Field
Guide” based on the ESM training and
technical bulletins the Center has produced.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: USFS Manual
Sample Technical Bulletin:
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: USFS Manual
Project Through US Forest Service
- Write Technical Bulletins into a 8.5”x 5.5”
FIELD GUIDE with nationwide applicability.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Current: USFS Manual
Project Through US Forest Service
- 8.5”x 5.5” FIELD GUIDE
- nationwide applicability
- Organized by
Problem – Cause – Solution
- expected late 2010 completion
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgWestern Pa
Conservancy
Ongoing
Demo and Educational
Oversight on a number of “dirt and gravel-
like” projects in Fulton and Bedford
Counties.
1/11/2011
13
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org WPC
- Implementation of ESM practices in
watersheds in Fulton and Bedford County
-Begins this fall, most of work to be done in
2011.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgDOE Sediment
Reduction
Ongoing
Educational
Quantification of sediment from oil and gas
roads in the ANF. Funded by DOE NETL
and in cooperation with ANF and Clarion.
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
OLD oil roads in ANF
-Two Watersheds
-Grunder: 50+ miles of gas roads
-Hedgehog: <5miles of gas roads
-Stream comparison being conducted by
Clarion University
-Flow regimes
-Macro Invertebrates
-Quantification and comparison of sediment
generation from roads- CENTER
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
Rainmaker 2.0
- New nozzle configuration
- New type of nozzles (rotary)
- More even rainfall
distribution
- Larger (and more
realistic) drop size
- Less “misting”
- More consistent
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org VIDEO
1/11/2011
14
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
18 total road segments
COMPLETED
- 14 “as-is” segments
- Native material and “pit run” aggregate
- Slopes range from 3% to 21%
TO DO
- 4 “after aggregate” segments
- Will give comparison of sediment from
native material to limestone and sandstone
DSA
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
Preliminary Findings
Sediment from one 30 minute storm of 0.6” (1.5
month return interval) on 100’ of road:
Low: 7 pounds*
High: 60 pounds*
Average: 25 pounds*
25 pounds = 1,300 pounds per mile
in one storm
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org DOE Sediment Study
Status
14 “as-is” segments complete
Aggregate currently being placed
4 “after aggregate” sites to go in 2010
Study ends in November
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.orgAggregate Research
Ongoing
Thesis
Testing Rural Road Surfaces Using the
One-Third Scale Model Mobile Load
Simulator (MMLS3)
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Scope
•Crowfield Road vs Laboratory
•Himrod Road
•Other scenarios
•Your roads
1/11/2011
15
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Motivation
•Time
•Money
•Controlled road surface testing
•Prediction
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Pavement Testing
Full-scale vs. One-third Scale
•LTI Test Track
MMLS3 Picture(s)
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Pavement Testing
Full-scale vs. One-third Scale
•MMLS 3
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
One- Third Scale Pavement Testing
•MMLS3
•Field and Laboratory
•Hot/Cold
•Wet/Dry
Picture
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Comparison Study
•Crowfield Road
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Comparison Study
•Laboratory
1/11/2011
16
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Results
•Profile of Rut Depth
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Su
rfa
ce P
rofi
le (
mm
)
Cross Section Distance (mm)
100,000 Cycles
50,000Cycles
10,000 Cycles
1,000 Cycles
500 Cycles
0 Cycles
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Results
•Picture of Rut Depth
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Results
What this means:
•Very strong material when relatively dry
•Environment plays a big role in the fatigue
of aggregate surfaces
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org Aggregate Research
Future
Comparing other surface material:
•Manufactured DSA
•PennDOT 2a
•Non-surface treated
Exposed to “elements”
Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program
www.dirtandgravelroads.org
PSU Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
Steven Bloser [email protected]
Danielle Lombardi [email protected]
www.dirtandgravelraods.org
9/2010
QUESTIONS?