NSSGA Engineering and Technical Committee Seeks Solutions

NSSGA’s Engineering and Technical Committee met during the association’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas to provide workable solutions to the industry’s challenges.

Committee Chair Darin Matson, president and CEO of Rogers Group, Inc., said that committee members are working to encourage consistent design and product specifications between federal and state agencies.

“Who better than engineers from the aggregates industry to provide advice on the correct use of our products? This committee will build on existing relationships with federal and state agencies so the end products—roads, bridges, buildings, runways, and other critical infrastructure components—can be constructed in the most efficient and economical way,” he said.

High on the committee’s priority list is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve runway design. It is difficult, if not impossible, for many of our members to produce aggregates that meet some of the current specifications for runway surface and base layers. Consideration should be given in specifications for differences in the local stone, and stone, sand and gravel geology without jeopardizing the overall performance of the pavement structures.

“As we work with the FAA to revise its durable runway specs, we encourage any engineers who are passionate about any issue to provide their knowledge and expertise to any government agency involved with the built environment,” Matson said. 

The FAA runway issue is just one of many challenges that the committee will address through expanding into taskforces and subcommittees. Matson encouraged engineers with a particular passion for a given issue to get involved and help drive an agenda that strengthens the aggregates industry.

Matson announced the addition of Randy Weingart, former materials director at Luck Stone, to the newly-created position of director of engineering and technical policy at NSSGA. In this role, Weingart will coordinate the efforts of the committee and serve as NSSGA’s point-of-contact for any members with technical or engineering questions.

The E&T Committee will next meet during the Legislative and Policy Forum/Fall Board Meeting, on Sept. 25 in Washington, D.C. The meeting will not only give engineers a chance to discuss ongoing projects, but discuss industry challenges with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and advocate for the proper use of aggregates as the nation rebuilds its infrastructure.

For more information on the committee or to participate, please contact Randy Weingart at [email protected].

Related posts