Asphalt pavement technicians from throughout the Midwest will learn aspects to improve the condition and life expectancy of roadways by attending the Hot Mix Asphalt Quality Assurance/Quality Control Certified Technician Program this week, Jan. 22-26, at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Learning New Ideas: Rose-Hulman's Roland Hutchins Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering Jim McKinney (right) helps a certified technician program participant learn about new laboratory equipment that examines the quality of asphalt. McKinney has organized the course for the past 22 years.

Sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in classrooms and laboratories throughout the Civil Engineering Department on campus.

Key areas covered include hot mix asphalt sampling and testing, quality control issues and a significant presentation of the Federal Highway Administration's Superpave (Superior Performing Pavements) program, a design procedure used to improve the performance of asphalt, increase the pavement life of asphalt and increase the cost-effectiveness of asphalt maintenance.

This marks the 22nd year that Rose-Hulman has hosted the program, which is the only one in Indiana that certifies asphalt industry personnel, attracting materials and test engineers from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky. It is conducted by Rose-Hulman in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana.

Jim McKinney, professor of civil engineering, is the course organizer. He is assisted by Keith Royer, department technician.