Temperature based GIS approach for asphalt binder specifications in Lebanon

Abstract

The Strategic Highway Research Program has developed a new system for specifying asphalt materials referred to as Superpave. Superpave mix design procedure has proved its superiority over other methods, and is now adopted in some countries including the United States. Within the system, asphalt binders are characterized according to the upper and lower pavement service temperatures. Transition to this performance grading system in Lebanon requires dividing the country into temperature zones defined by the maximum and minimum air temperatures over a typical year. These are then converted into pavement temperatures using suitable algorithms. Based on data from fourteen weather stations, temperature contour maps were developed and those served to achieve the required bitumen performance grades. In this paper, the GIS methodology adopted is illustrated. It forms an integrated approach which is also flexible and user-friendly. It can be developed further to incorporate traffic data such as vehicle speed and traffic volume.