Section 3: District Pavement Engineer’s Role
Anchor: #i10081683.1 History
The district pavement engineer (DPE) is a licensed professional engineer who serves as the district point of contact for the evaluation, preservation, and structural design of pavements. This position was formalized by the department in 1993 as a district-level staff position.
The DPE serves as the coordinator for district staff. The DPE’s responsibilities include planning activities, such as, forensic studies; participating in design concept conferences; reviewing performance histories of materials; studying processes for pavement construction; maintaining databases for subgrade and pavement material stiffness or structural properties; assessing pavement performance with maintenance staff; and coordinating design strategies for pavement rehabilitation with district staff.
The development of the pavement design and rehabilitation strategies should jointly involve material engineers, maintenance engineers, planning engineers, construction engineers, design engineers and area engineer staff.
The DPE should also coordinate and participate in the development of district pavement preservation plans in conjunction with district maintenance plans.
Anchor: #i10081983.2 Responsibilities
The DPE is responsible for:
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- producing cost-effective district structural pavement designs and reviewing district pavement design reports for technical content Anchor: #RYLYNBCQ
- recommending pavement preservation policies to maximize the condition of district pavements within budget constraints Anchor: #TMJHGAIU
- identifying pavement-related research needs, and Anchor: #USUBDUMC
- participating in technology transfer and pavement- related training activities (refer to "Job Functions for the District Pavement Engineer").
The DPE is charged with being the district expert on all matters pertaining to:
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- the evaluation of functional and structural aspects of existing pavements Anchor: #QXAMRYFM
- traffic loading characteristics Anchor: #AJRGULYO
- prevailing geologic/soils conditions within the district Anchor: #DOJOIPWS
- suitability of proposed materials (new and recycled), and Anchor: #QHEPUFBK
- use of structural evaluation and design software.
The DPE may be asked to direct the activities of the district’s pavement data collection efforts (visual distress, rut/ride, deflection surveys). These data collection efforts are integral to maintaining the network-level Pavement Management Information System (PA) and in evaluating project-level structural properties.
Because of the importance of understanding material properties and evaluation of materials used in pavements, some districts have assigned DPE duties to the district lab/materials engineer.
An expanded list of DPE responsibilities is shown below.
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JOB FUNCTIONS FOR DISTRICT PAVEMENT ENGINEER |
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I. Produce cost effective project level designs for new, rehabilitated, and reconstructed pavements based on best practices and life-cycle cost analysis.
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II. Recommend pavement preservation policies to maximize condition of the system within District budget constraints.
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III. Identify pavement related research needs.
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IV. Participate in Technology Transfer and Training Activities.
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Anchor: #i1008276
3.3 District Pavement Engineer (DPE) Skills
A list of required and recommended training courses is given in Table 2-1. To develop the final pavement thickness design, courses have been identified to provide the basic skills necessary for engineers to understand the design process and complete viable, cost conscious pavement design.
The DPE or other district staff may develop a design; however, it is suggested that the DPE and other key district staff review pavement design inputs, material requirements, strategies, and thickness prior to the final PS&E submission (e.g., Pavement Design Concept Conference).
Newly assigned DPEs are encouraged to schedule attendance of the required training sessions for flexible and rigid pavement design as soon as practical.
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Training |
Category |
Comment |
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MODULUS |
Flexible Structure Evaluation |
Designed as a workshop and is combined with FPS 21 training. Combined training is usually arranged at district request to MNT – Pavement Asset Management. Hands-on approach used to emphasize evaluation techniques, capabilities, and limitations of the software. A 2 1/2-day period should be scheduled. Required for flexible pavement design. |
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FPS 21 |
Flexible Structural Design |
As above. Required for flexible pavement design. |
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Visual Distress Rater’s Course CON110 CON111 |
Identification of visual distress:
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The goals are:
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PMIS Concepts for Administrators CON107 |
New PMIS (PA) |
The goals are:
*Course material required for certification can be found on the Pavement Management Information System webpage. |
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PMIS Data Interpretation and Analysis CON109 |
New PMIS (PA) |
The goals are:
*Course material description can be found on the Pavement Management Information System webpage. |
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Pavement Analyst (PA) |
New PMIS (PA) |
Web-based software that allows the user to plot various pavement condition indicators on district maps. Formal training is available on request. |
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Ride Quality Software |
Pavement Evaluation – Roughness (IRI) |
Software available at http://www.txdot.gov/business/resources/engineering-software.external.html. The DPE may receive guidance on how to use the Ride Quality evaluation software by contacting the Maintenance Division, Pavement Asset Preservation Section. |
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TxCRCP-ME, DARWin® 3.1 |
Rigid Structural Design |
Designed as a workshop. Contact MNT – Pavement Asset Management, Pavement Analysis and Design Branch. Required for rigid pavement design. |
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Materials Course |
Materials Properties |
National Highway Institute (NHI) sponsored web-based course addressing fundamental properties and testing of highway materials (NHI 131117). |
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TxDOT Materials Academy |
Materials properties |
Five-week web-based and classroom course. Contact MNT – Pavement Asset Management Section for more information. |
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Selecting Rehabilitation Strategies for Flexible Pavements |
Rehab of existing pavements |
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) administered course taught through an interagency contract (IAC). This course is hands-on oriented – uses department software. Contact MNT – Pavement Asset Management, Pavement Analysis and Design Branch for more information or refer to Crossroads, Maintenance Division, Pavement Engineering link to download the course. |
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Selecting Rehabilitation Strategies for Concrete Pavements |
Rehab of existing pavements |
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) administered course taught through an interagency contract (IAC). This course is hands-on oriented – uses department software. Contact MNT – Pavement Asset Management, Pavement Analysis and Design Branch for more information or refer to Crossroads, Maintenance Division, Pavement Engineering link to download the course. |
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Other NHI Web-based Opportunities |
Multiple (pavement preservation, maintenance, recycling, pavement materials, etc.) |
Frequently updated; most courses are free after setting up an account: |
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*Available through the TxDOT Intranet only. |
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New PMIS (PA) program and pavement design assistance from MNT – Pavement Asset Management will be provided upon request.
The DPE list is also posted on the Maintenance Division website, Pavement Preservation link.