PRESS

Woolpert to Collect, Process Data for Highway Assets Throughout Virginia

The firm is working for Leidos, who was contracted by the Virginia Department of Transportation, to conduct an evaluation and process data in support of maintaining safe roadways across the state.

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 30, 2018) — Woolpert has been hired to collect and process data of highway condition assets for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), as a subconsultant to Leidos. Woolpert will conduct a random sampling of assets on roadways throughout the state, evaluate the assets according to standard VDOT criteria and grade the performance of those assets. The firm will then process all of the data collected for this project and submit it to Leidos for the final analysis.

Woolpert Project Manager Keith Tolison said there are more than 40 types of assets being collected and assessed, including guardrails, signs, pavement markers, ditches and fences. He noted that this information not only allows the state to identify assets in need of repair, but also to understand whether funds are being appropriately allocated.

“Assets have to maintain a certain criteria level to ensure that the roadways function safely,” Tolison said. “Some assets are being maintained really well and meeting the required criteria, while others fall below the minimum acceptable levels. These inspections allow officials the flexibility of shifting their funding to bring those assets in line. It shows the department where they’re spending money, if it’s warranted, and how they should budget for the long term.”

Woolpert has performed condition analyses across the state for several years, dating to when VDOT contracted for its interstate maintenance work. The firm evaluated the contractors’ performance using the same criteria, which was developed by VDOT.

“They know us, they know we have a clean safety record, and that we are efficient and accurate,” Tolison said. “We know what they’re looking for and understand stormwater structure, transportation engineering, asset management, etc. We can take their criteria and apply it in the field, and we can turn the data over quickly.”

This project under Leidos is one of many that Woolpert is performing for VDOT. Woolpert also is the prime contractor on a statewide surveying contract with the department, as well as a statewide contract to provide construction closeout services, recording and auditing materials used for roads and bridges throughout Virginia.

“All of these contracts are built around safety,” he said. “VDOT does an outstanding job of making sure the people of Virginia are traveling on roadways that deliver them home, safe and sound. We are just glad to be a part of it.”

This contract will get underway in March and is scheduled to be completed in November 2019.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is the fastest growing architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm in the country, delivering value to clients in all 50 states and around the world by strategically blending innovative design and engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic research and development department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners such as Google and Esri; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, building information modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. The firm, which is among the ENR’s Top 100 Design Firms, supports a mission to help its clients progress and become more progressive. For over 100 years and with 27 offices across the U.S., Woolpert serves federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the U.S. Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258