Top engineers with the California Department of Transportation (Calrans) Materials Engineering & Testing Services provide an update on various initiatives. Presenters: Jeremy Peterson-Self, Richard Hibbard and Sarah Hartz. Presentation delivered Oct. 13, 2021 at the CalAPA Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference in Sacramento.

1. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Materials
Updates
Jeremy Peterson-Self
Chief, Office of Materials Management &
Independent Assurance (OMMIA)
Sarah Hartz
Chief, Office of Central Laboratory (OCL)
Richard Hibbard
Branch Chief, IA North / Joint Training and
Certification Program

2. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Agenda Overview
• Advancing Materials Management
• METS Updates
• Impacts to Industry:
• EPDs
• JTCP
• Asphalt Materials Updates
• Questions
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3. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
METS Core Products & Services
Materials
Engineering and
Testing Services
Office of Quality
Assurance and Source
Inspection
Office of Materials
Management &
Independent Assurance
Office of Central Lab
Materials
Management
IA North/JTCP
Dist. 1, 2, 3, 4
IA Central/RSP/IP
Dist. 5, 6, 9, 10
Quality
Management
IA South
Dist. 7, 8, 11, 12
Chemical Testing
Lab
Asphalt Binder/Hot
Mix Asphalt Lab
Structural Materials
Testing Lab
Cement & Concrete
Materials Testing
Aggregate Testing
QA & Source Insp
LA
QA & Source Insp
Sacramento
Electrical QASI
QA & Source Insp
Vallejo
Field & Forensic
Services
METS Functional Organizational Chart
• Corporate Products
• Independent Assurance
• Lab Quality Management
• Project testing
• AML Management
• Integrate with DES, PMPC, Districts
• Industry Engagement
• Materials Engineering Expertise
• District Outreach
• Source Inspection
• Non Conformance
Mgt
METS provides quality, material engineering solutions for California s
transportation infrastructure that are safe, sustainable, and efficient.
Statewide Materials
Support
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4. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
METS Core Products & Services
Project Delivery
• Materials Engineering
• Source inspection
• Material testing
• Lab
• Field
• Employ quality management
tools to lead to project success
• Support PD partners
• DMEs
• REs
• Other CT Divisions
• We make timely decisions to
move projects forward!
Corporate Products
• Independent Assurance Program
• Materials Quality Management
• Refine test methods, Specifications,
Authorized Material Lists
• Seek innovative improvements
• DIME/e3101, Prequalification
Programs, Product Evaluation
Program
• Collaborate
• Pavement & Materials Partnering
Committee
• DES Committees
• National Engagement
• Legislative Affairs
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5. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
METS Strategic Priorities
1. Integrate and align project delivery and corporate materials
engineering products and services across Caltrans
2. Ensure METS operations and decision processes are effective
3. Manage the Department's materials data to improve our
acceptance decisions
4. Sustain our materials engineering expertise and
knowledge through teams rather than individuals
5. Create a culture that sustains an energized and
engaged workforce
6. Foster innovation in materials
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6. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Key Industry Partnerships
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• Pavement and Materials Partnering Committee
(PMPC)
• Joint Training and Certification Program (JTCP)
Advisory Council and Technical Committee
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/maintenance/pavement/pavement-materials-partnering-committee

7. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Collecting Environmental
Product Declarations (EPDs)
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• Department Goals and Policy
• Legislation: Buy Clean California Act (BCCA)
• Public Contract Code 3500 - 3505
• Data Collection
People
Planet
Partnerships
Programs
and
Projects

8. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Buy Clean California Act
(Public Contract Code § 3500 et seq.)
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Flat
Glass
Carbon
Steel
Rebar
Mineral
Wool
Board
Insulation
Structural
Steel
Phase
Timeline
(as of Bid Opening)
Requirement
Phase I Prior to Dec 1, 2019 Request existing EPDs
Phase II Dec 1, 2019 – May 31, 2021 Require EPDs
By Jan 1, 2022 DGS establishes GWP limits
Phase III Jun 1, 2022 and after
Require EPDs with materials within GWP
limits prior to installation
We are
Here
AB 262 approved October 15, 2017
Amended by AB 137 approved July, 2021

9. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Pilot Projects: 2019 – Present
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Active
Inactive
Rebar
Structural
Steel
Concrete Asphalt Aggregate
Project
EA
02-1H110
02-4G500
05-1F740
07-31040
08-0K121
08-1F690
12-0N490
Source: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/engineering-services/environmental-product-declarations
Self-Piloted Materials

10. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Joint Training & Certification
Program
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11. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
JTCP – So Far . . .
• 4 years
• 194 sessions
• 3000 students
• 20 instructors
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12. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Program Changes?
• JTCP Technical Committee
• Includes advisors from
industry, Caltrans and
academia
• Intended to examine
technical changes
• Training materials
• Test method interpretations
• Module content and structure
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13. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Program Changes?
• Questions to address:
• Recertifying testers?
• Cycle for full training?
• Should modules be restructured?
• How to handle potential spec
changes?
• Time savings?
• Assuring the future success of
JTCP
13

14. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
The Core of JTCP
Sharing of Knowledge
Open Discussion
Networking
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Not just a training program!

15. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
The Core of JTCP
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What do you consider to be the strengths of the course?
What contributed most to your learning?

16. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
The Future of JTCP
• Recertification – Mandatory 2-day course
• Day 1 – review, discussion, lab practice
• Day 2 – written & practical exams
• Full training required every 6 years
• Tester may choose re-cert session attendance at
3-year mark after any full training
• All modules will remain the same
• Vetted through a full review
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17. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Recent Asphalt Updates
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18. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
CT 125 & CT 306 Implementation
• JTCP: Now included in HMA I
• CT 125 HMA: Technicians will
Remain Certified
• CT 306: Technicians can Obtain
Certification through Local IA
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19. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
CT 306 ad hoc Working Group
• Test Method posted Dec. 2019
• METS Collecting Comments/Data Points
• Ad hoc Working Group recommendations:
• Short-term: Develop Training Videos
• Long-term: Perform Interlab Studies
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20. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
• Demonstration Project with FHWA
• Three mainline roadway asphalt
projects
• Two sampling events per project
• Final deliverable 1 report/project
• Support from FHWA, University Nevada
Reno, UCPRC, Asphalt Suppliers
• Opportunities:
• Caltrans to develop expertise
• Understanding of balanced mix designs
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Asphalt Mixture Performance
Tester (AMPT)

21. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Job Mix Formula / Aggregate
Prequalification Program
• Job Mix Formula Prequalification Program
• 32 JMFs Received
• 18 Verified
• 13 Failed
• 1 in Process
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22. Materials Engineering and Testing Services
Questions?
Websites and Contact Information:
EPDs: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/engineering-
services/environmental-product-declarations
JTCP: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/engineering-services/joint-
training-certification-program-jtcp
Jeremy Peterson-Self: (916) 261-4910
jeremy.peterson-self@dot.ca.gov
Richard Hibbard: (916) 926-7459
richard.hibbard@dot.ca.gov
Sarah Hartz: (916) 719-0527
sarah.hartz@dot.ca.gov
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