A pavement engineer works closely with a team of senior engineers and is directly responsible for the design and installation of various types of pavement. This field is usually classified as civil engineering, and many people in this field have at least a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree as well as years of experience. Government agencies frequently hire pavement engineers to design highways, airways, and other large pavement layouts. This position is responsible for researching, budgeting, pavement management, and maintenance in addition to designing and constructing paved pathways.
Research is an important part of this profession, and it is usually done in depth before implementing designs. Materials behavior, pavement behavior, and pavement surface characteristics must all be thoroughly researched by the pavement engineer. Because these factors are directly correlated with the road’s stability, the findings of this study could have a significant impact on road safety. Friction, texture, noise, and smoothness are all important characteristics of the road. Before designing any type of thoroughfare, the pavement engineer receives field training and education that prepares him or her to consider all factors.
Because he or she will need to design a pavement structure that is cost effective and within the company’s budget, budgeting is also an important aspect of this profession. This task also necessitates research and may necessitate the application of various business management skills. To ensure that the project can be included in the proposed budget, he or she will need to work closely with builders and material vendors.
Pavement management is typically a post-design task that ensures the thoroughfare remains operational. Cracks are a major issue with many types of pavement, and there are several types of distress that payment can experience over time, including alligator cracks, weathering, and distortion. Alligator cracks are a type of interconnected crack that develops as a result of high traffic volumes and gradually reduces the road’s stability. Weathering is the deformation of pavement as a result of climate and weather conditions, causing the pavement’s materials to wear away and become weak. When the pavement begins to sag, distortion occurs, and the quality of the thoroughfare suffers as a result.
Pavement issues can contribute to safety issues and should be addressed by a pavement engineer on a regular basis. He or she will usually conduct a series of tests on the pavement to determine the severity of the damage and then make the necessary repairs. A pavement engineer’s responsibilities include risk assessment, providing improvement suggestions based on testing, and monitoring all construction details.