This episode of the AASHTO re:source Q&A podcast examines how the “digital revolution” is affecting the world of construction materials testing; creating change and disruption faster than many of us realize.
[Above image by AASHTO]
AASHTO re:source is a technical service program offered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials that provides services and tools through three major programs: the Laboratory Assessment Program, the Proficiency Sample Program or PSP, and the AASHTO Accreditation Program or AAP.
In this episode of the Q&A podcast – which originally launched in September 2020 – Mike Copeland, quality program manager at the Idaho Transportation Department, explores the remarkable ways artificial intelligence or AI is transforming how state DOTs handle testing data, quality assurance, and technical decision-making.
Copeland shares his journey from struggling with data trapped in PDFs to developing sophisticated AI tools that now save his agency countless hours of manual work.
He provides firsthand demonstrations of AI applications that extract testing data in seconds instead of hours, plots complex gyratory compactor data with simple drag-and-drop functionality, and even predicts material properties with surprising accuracy. But this isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about reimagining what’s possible, Copeland stressed.
He also explains on the podcast how “traditional approaches” to sample custody and verification testing may need fundamental reconsideration as the construction materials industry enters an era where data itself requires security and verification.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
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