Center for Transportation Research and Education

About the research

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) utilizes hot mix asphalt (HMA) software tools, including the Plant Report and Charting programs, to support asphalt production documentation, reporting, contractor payment processes, and construction administration activities. Over time, software tools that evolve through operational use tend to become increasingly complex due to incremental feature additions, changes to the interface due to user preferences, and operational drivers such as changes in specifications, reporting needs, workflows, and user requirements. As a result, there is value in periodically reviewing such systems to better understand their operational logic and evaluate opportunities for simplification and modernization. This project aims to assist Iowa DOT in evaluating the current versions of these tools, documenting their operational structure and data flows, assessing redevelopment and simplification opportunities, and preparing a path toward a more streamlined standalone solution.

A preliminary review of the tools, which are developed on MS Excel platform, showed that the existing tools are operationally mature but technically complex. The workbooks include numerous visible and hidden worksheets, protected sheets, VBA macros, extensive formulas, lookup tables, validation sheets, print/report areas, and embedded charting/reporting logic. This indicates that the tools support multiple business processes beyond simple data entry, including mixture documentation, production reporting, quality control/quality assurance review, chart generation, pay-related records, and standardized reporting. Because of this complexity, Phase I of this project will focus on carefully understanding the tools’ functional structure (workflows, data dependencies, calculation logic, reporting outputs, etc.) and user needs before any simplification or redevelopment decision is made. Phase II will be scoped following Phase I findings and discussions with the Iowa DOT and will focus on implementation of either a simplified or fully redeveloped standalone solution.