About the Center

The Center was founded as the Center for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Technology (PCC Center) in 2000 through the support of the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Concrete Paving Association. In 2005, the center evolved into the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) with the support of the American Concrete Pavement Association.

Mission

The mission of the CP Tech Center is to unite key transportation stakeholders around the central goal of advancing concrete pavement technology through research, technology transfer, and accelerated implementation of promising technologies.

Center of Partnerships

The CP Tech Center works with partners to improve pavement design, mix and materials, construction, and maintenance to produce durable, cost-effective concrete pavements.

The CP Tech Center

• Acts as a catalyst to bring together federal, state, and industry partners to leverage funds and pool interests, extending the value of research investments for a wide range of stakeholders.
• Helps build strong working relationships between the FHWA, state DOTs, ACPA, state paving chapters/associations, and the research community.
• Facilitates cooperation and encourage coordination of research and technology transfer activities taking place across the country.
• Partners with interested universities to accomplish research priorities.
• Works with all interested stakeholders to build consensus, advance research priorities of common interest, and accelerate implementation of promising technologies.

Focus Areas

The CP Tech Center’s focus areas include

• Strategic planning
• Research
• Technology transfer
• Accelerating implementation

Strategic Planning

The CP Tech Center has led a number of big-picture, long-term planning projects:

• Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology: The CP Road Map (Task 15)
• International Workshop on Sustainable Development and Concrete Technology
• Initial Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics Strategic Plan

Research

The CP Tech Center’s research efforts will be aligned with the CP Road Map research and technology plan and coordinated with other CP Road Map research partners.

The center is conducting a coordinated program of applied research totaling over $8.5 million and more than 30 projects.

Technology Transfer

The CP Tech Center is committed to moving information into the hands of people who can use it, with targeted training events and materials. The center

• Performs technology transfer of specific research projects.
• Supports and assists the industry and state/local agencies in providing technical services, publications, training, and education.

The center’s technology transfer efforts will be aligned with the CP Road Map research and technology plan and coordinated with other CP Road Map research partners. The CP Tech Center will approach technology transfer with the precept that it must be both accelerated and more inclusive of the workforce that actually builds and rehabilitates concrete pavements.

Accelerating Implementation

Among the many hallmarks of the CP Road Map is its visionary focus on accelerating implementation by including agency stakeholders in research efforts. By pooling funds and expertise up front, less effort will be needed for agencies to “prove research results to themselves” before implementing the technology.

The CP Tech Center is committed to facilitating more rapid implementation of promising concrete pavement technologies. The center will play an important role in working with the FHWA and state DOTs to expand product knowledge and acceptance, as well as to advance specifications and standards.