Highways editor Dominic Browne speaks to Dr Campbell Waddell, managing director of surface testing experts R3, and John Scott, senior civil engineer for road structural maintenance at Transport Scotland (pavement manager for BEAR Scotland at the time of the project), about their award-winning work on the A889 using 'SmoothRide' technology.
A winner of last year's Highways Award for Best Use of Technology, this UK-first project saw the use of a fully integrated digital workflow.
R3 was able to use high-speed LiDAR scanning, digital twins and automated variable-depth milling to replace traditional resurfacing methods with an approach most common with Formula 1 racetracks and international airports.
Listen in to learn how R3 approached some of the challenges specific to Scotland and the A883, and how this project could serve as a model for the future of highways maintenance, resurfacing and road construction.
