O&M
   

Technology 

Future-focused, & technology-driven operations ensure smooth movement of traffic at toll plazas, quick response to incidents, etc. We employ web and mobile-app-based tools for real-time reporting and resolution of O&M issues.

Hot-in-Place Recycling for Patchwork 

Top-down cracks are prevalent in India – probably because of high horizontal tensile stresses in surface layer due to overloaded trucks and high inflation pressures. They lead to accelerated pavement distress unless sealed immediately. While crack sealing with emulsion is a prevalent practice at Cube, we now use Hot-in-Place Portable Recycling for preventive maintenance.

  • Specialized portable infrared heater are used to heat the pavement surface
  • It helps in healing the cracks, repair potholes with seamless patch and patch repair for isolated patches
  • This method avoids crack sealing with emulsion and pothole repair with cold mix
  • Cube Highways is experimenting this method at two assets – NAMEL and WUPTL

Cold-in-Place Recycling (CIPR)  

While CIPR is one of the commonly used methods for full-depth reclamation of asphalt pavements word wide, it is not so common in India. As per the maintenance philosophy of Cube Highways – for resource optimization and sustainable environment – CIPR was used experimentally for about 24 lane km on Mahua – Bharatpur section where stripping of lower DBM layers were observed.

  • Cold in-place recycling involves specialized plants (processing trains), where the existing pavement surface is milled to a depth, processed, mixed with asphalt emulsion (or foamed asphalt), and placed and compacted in a single pass
  • Quality control during execution is a challenge; but it is one of the most economical and sustainable method for rehabilitating complete bituminous crust
  • CIPR section is under observation and the performing satisfactory in the last 14 months

Hot-in-Plant Recycling (HIPR)  

When the pavement has varying depths of distress, Cube Highways considers Hot-in-Plant Recycling (HIPR).

  • HIPR involves production and laying of hot mix materials but not with all virgin aggregates and binder. It is a combination of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and virgin materials
  • We have successfully implemented HIPR during Periodic Maintenance of Mahua – Bharatpur section and have followed cold method for feeding RAP
  • Since, amount of virgin materials requirement goes down; makes this a sustainable and cost-efficient technology

Road Mesh to Prevent Reflection of Cracks  

When the pavement has extensive cracking but has good remaining life, to avoid milling and reflection of cracks, road mesh is used below the overlay.

  • A steel mesh is used within bituminous layers to enhance tensile strength and reduce the chance of reflective cracking
  • It has been executed as an experiment on 8800 sqm area on Jaipur – Mahua section
  • This could eliminate the need for milling during maintenance of highways; and therefore would be resource optimal and environmental friendly
  • It also helps in optimizing thickness for a new project; as it has high tensile strength
  • During execution, proper care shall be taken to avoid any safety issues in future

MacGrid AR 10.7 to Prevent Reflection of Cracks  

MacGrid is a specialized geogrid for asphalt reinforcement, made from glass fiber strands, with a polymeric coating.

  • MacGrid is laid below the overlay on cracked surface, which has sufficient remaining life
  • Prevents reflection cracking
  • Executed on a three lane-km length during APEL periodic maintenance on a cracked surface
  • Performance is being monitored closely

RoadAID – Realtime O&M Monitoring Toll 

RoadAID is a centralized platform which allows O&M Team and Managers to real-time report and monitor O&M activities.

  • RoadAID App allows site team to report pavement defects, incidents and accidents, issues with road assets, etc.
  • Site teams can upload all O&M DPRs

Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) 

Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) is a state-of-the-art pavement testing unit for determining structural parameters of the pavement

  • Cube is the first to use FWD in India for testing Highway pavements
  • FWD is used for all Technical DD studies
  • Cube uses FWD at-least once every year on every asset
  • FWD is used to assess pavement strength and remaining life
  • Pavement maintenance strategies at Cube are always based on FWD
  • Based on Cube’s experience, FWD has now become a norm in India for testing Highway pavements

Network Survey Vehicle 

Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) is a state-of-the-art pavement testing unit for determining functional parameters of the pavement.

  • Cube uses NSV for pavement assessment – generally twice every year for all assets in the portfolio
  • NSV is used for all Technical DD studies
  • NSV is used to measure pavement roughness, texture, skid resistance, etc.
  • Cube is the first road operating platform to use NSV in India
  • Based on Cube’s experience, NSV has now become a norm in India for testing Highway pavements

Data Centre for Monitoring Toll Plazas and O&M 

Cube Highways has a state-of-the-art data center with a 750sqft video wall; where 24*7 streaming of toll plaza feed is monitored.

  • It helps in centralizing the toll plaza operations
  • A team of professional's monitor continuous data feed and constant analysis is carried out to optimize operational efficiency
  • It also helps in minimizing invalid exemptions and misclassifications
  • It also helps in continuous monitoring of Incident Management Vehicles Movements and helps in minimizing unusual running
  • It also helps in monitoring Toll Management System (TMS) equipments at sites through surveillance system
  • Live audio feed is processed to identify the toll collectors behavior