Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide

management tool and as the basis for future risk assessment
and development of the division’s stewardship report. This
practice is not mandatory but discretionary, based upon each
division’s needs. It is also recommended that this type of
evaluation report be coauthored by the division and the STA’s
central office.
Information Sharing and
Technology Transfer
The division office’s construction monitoring program
should include procedures for reporting on special, experimental,
or innovative construction materials, methods, or
equipment. These procedures should be directed toward
encouraging technology transfer (T2) and information
sharing.
Experimental features are considered a material, process,
method, equipment item, or other feature that (1) has not
been sufficiently tested under actual service conditions to
merit acceptance without reservation in normal highway
construction, or (2) has been accepted but needs to be
compared with alternative acceptable features for
determining their relative merits and cost-effectiveness.
FHWA procedures for incorporating experimental features
can be found in www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/contr
acts/expermnt.htm.
General reporting procedures should include these
actions:
▼ Identifying appropriate features
▼ Working cooperatively with the STA
▼ Encouraging adequate monitoring and data gathering
▼ Ensuring report preparation
▼ Ensuring report distribution
▼ Followup as needed
Construction Program Management
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION GUIDE (5/01/04)
Information on many valuable features, methods, and
procedures is frequently not reported because people at the
project level may not be aware of what is significant; because
the information is not officially tagged with an experimental
or similar title; or because the information is relatively new
to the contracting agency. FHWA field engineers, as
independent observers, need to make a conscientious effort
to overcome these roadblocks to information sharing.
A natural reluctance to write reports is also a problem.
Emphasis needs to be placed on the fact that reports need not
be long, detailed, or prepared in a formal style to be of value.
FHWA field engineers are encouraged to report on such
features in normal or special construction inspection reports.
Where appropriate or needed, FHWA should identify
alternative resources to assist in data gathering and report
writing. This may include other STA, FHWA, or industry
resources, use of T2 funds, or other mechanisms. Engineers
should coordinate with the division T2 engineer, division
specialist, or other appropriate offices for information,
technical assistance, and report distribution.
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