BUILT ON QUALITY, KNOWN FOR SOLUTIONS.

Fact: We have more materials-focused Professional Engineers on staff than any other firm in the region.

Chicago didn’t become the nation’s transportation hub by accident. It happened because of bold ideas and the civil engineering innovations that made them possible—from the world’s tallest buildings to the country’s busiest rail network, from O’Hare Airport to the Deep Tunnel project, and so many other “firsts” and “biggest” projects along the way.

Being located right in the middle of that legacy gives us a unique advantage. We get to learn from the engineers and builders who came before us, and we carry that forward—adding to the body of knowledge and sharing what we learn with our clients and the construction community.

At STATE Testing, we’ve also been fortunate to work with some incredible clients who have trusted us to be part of some truly fascinating and innovative projects.

Magnetic Image Tomography (MIT) Scanning

Misaligned or side-shifted dowel bars are a major contributor to the premature failure of transverse construction joints in concrete pavements. This can lead to dangerous pavement buckling in the summer months. It is critical to hold the paving contractor accountable for the proper alignment of dowels, and if remediation must be made, this should not be at the agency’s expense.

MIT scanning technology allows us to precisely determine the orientation of in-place steel dowel bars in pavement joints to verify they are constructed per specifications. We routinely scan over 10,000 joints annually to protect the integrity of the pavement joints - establishing STATE Testing as the most experienced MIT scanning crew in the Midwest.

Pavement Profile Testing

Numerous studies have shown what the motoring public cares the most about: it’s not what material they’re driving on, or what it looks like, but how smooth the pavement they’re driving on is. Smoothness matters!

STATE Testing has state of the art IDOT ICART certified pavement profile testing equipment, accompanied by the engineering expertise to evaluate those findings. With decades of experience in concrete and asphalt paving, we have the knowledge and understanding to interpret pavement profile data, identifying issues and helping agencies construct the smoothest possible pavements.

Our testing equipment is specifically designed not only for high-speed interstate systems, but also for slow speed urban areas. Our equipment has GPS, cameras, and “zerospeed” functionality which allows us to perform testing in stopped or slow-moving, congested traffic (other equipment commonly requires a minimum continuous speed of 45 mph).

Our pavement profile analysis provides a Mean Roughness Index (MRI) for streets and highways. The value to the public is clear - drivers have a better experience and burn less fuel on smooth streets with a lower MRI. Smooth streets also last longer, as the increased impact forces on rough-riding streets can directly reduce a pavement’s life-span.

Sustainability

STATE Testing’s materials engineering expertise was critical to launching the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Green Alley Program back in 2006. We conducted the research, testing, mix design, and construction oversight services required to construct the first pervious asphalt and concrete mixes in the Chicago area. STATE Testing was also the inaugural recipient of the prestigious IRTBA Green Achievement Award for leadership, innovation, and commitment towards a more sustainable transportation industry.

Now, over two decades later, STATE Testing’s sustainability group has grown to a team of full-time staff that provides sustainable construction materials expertise for transportation agencies and other clients. We are passionate about constructing projects that are durable, long-lasting, and built sustainably in harmony with the natural environment. Our sustainable materials services include assisting clients with navigating the following topics:

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
- Assistance with concrete and asphalt EPD development
- Specification language recommendations
GWP (Global Warming Potential) Benchmark development
Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM)
- Low Carbon Concrete
- Low Carbon Asphalt
- Low Carbon structural steel and reinforcement
- Assessment of new and innovative products
Whole Project Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Conducting cradle-to-grave LCAs for pavement and infrastructure projects
Education and training

FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy)

STATE Testing has made its reputation by being at the forefront of utilizing cutting edge technology - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is one such technology. FTIR can be used to create a “chemical fingerprint” of various materials. This gives us the unique ability to determine what specific chemical compositions reside within a specific material. For example, in an asphalt mixture, we have the ability to pinpoint the presence of contaminants like diesel fuel, truck release agent, or hydraulic fluid. We can also identify the presence and relative quantity of additives such as polymers or asphalt modifiers.

This powerful forensic technology allows us to verify if materials are comprised of the elements that should be present, and those that shouldn’t be.

New Product and Technology Evaluations

Our team routinely evaluates new products and technologies for Illinois transportation agencies and other clients. If you have an interest in a new material or construction technology, our expertise can help you evaluate feasibility of implementation.

Examples include the usage of foamed glass as a lightweight aggregate, finding a solution for the use of waste recycled glass.

Research Assistance

STATE Testing’s highly qualified staff of engineers, materials experts, and field technicians have routinely provided, assisted, and participated in numerous research initiatives for our agency clients. Our unique skills and experience help bridge the gap between pure academic research and practical implementation in the field. We can assemble the most qualified team of subject matter experts to meet your research needs.

We are currently assisting the Illinois Tollway in their ongoing research to find suitable Supplementary Cementitious Materials for pavement and infrastructure applications. We are very excited about promising new developments such as reclaiming fly ash from landfills for usage in concrete, finding a circular solution for toxic waste that the Illinois region has an abundance of.

Specification Development

Let’s face it – the devil is in the details. Every successful project starts with solid specifications. Our team takes pride in our extensive knowledge of the contract specifications used by our clients. With our detail-oriented approach, our clients can be confident that their construction materials will conform to every requirement of the contract specifications. We also can help design and customize specifications – helping spec books to stay current, make the best use of local materials, and provide future flexibility with new and innovative practices.

Forensic Investigations

Visible pavement distresses—like cracking, rutting, or potholes—are easy to see, but hard to pin down to a specific cause. We approach forensic investigations with an open mind and an independent perspective. This is where experience truly helps – having a bench of engineering expertise that spans decades translates to faster conclusions. If there has been an infrastructure failure in Chicagoland, we’ve seen it – and we’ve identified the cause and designed the solution to fix it.

STATE Testing has provided field and laboratory investigative services for public agencies, contractors, and developers, helping to identify the root causes of pavement and infrastructure performance issues such as:

Asphalt fatigue
Concrete scaling
Drainage-related pavement failures
Material inconsistencies
Light pole welding failures

Instruction and Training

We believe that sharing our experience not only benefits the construction industry, but helps our community stay at the forefront of knowledge and best practices. For decades STATE Testing has developed tailored presentations for clients and industry seminars, keeping the content relevant, practical, and immediately applicable in the field.

Internal studies done by local union apprenticeship programs have indicated that one half of our existing technicians will retire within the next seven years. Quality training for our industry, especially on the technician side, is going to become more paramount. This presents a great opportunity to open up our industry to the next generation.

Since 2003 we’ve taught the QC/QA Trained Technician Program for the Illinois Department of Transportation, including the following courses:

Materials Management for Resident Engineers
PCC Level III Mix Design
HMA Level III Mix Design
Superpave for Local Agencies
ACI Level I Practical Examination

By combining formal education, customized workshops, and industry events, we help teams across the region improve their skills, apply best practices, and advance the quality of constructing transportation and infrastructure projects.

We also deliver customized sessions for a wide range of agencies, organizations, and industry events.

Miscellaneous Engineering

Pavement Markings

Adequate reflectivity is essential for pavement markings to be visible at night. Reflectivity is a direct function of the amount and quality of the reflective glass beads applied to the pavement markings during placement. STATE Testing has the equipment and expertise to evaluate the reflectivity of new pavement markings ensuring safer roadways for evening motorists.

It’s important to hold the contractors applying these pavement markings accountable in meeting the performance criteria. This ensures the longevity of the pavement markings, meaning the agencies will not have the expense of re-applying markings at an earlier-than-anticipated date.

Albedo

As the heat island effect, prevalent in metropolitan areas, continues to impact the quality of life of urban residents, paving with materials that reflect the heat back into the atmosphere rather than being absorbed into the pavement truly makes a difference for these communities. Every little bit helps. STATE Testing offers concrete albedo testing to evaluate and report the solar reflectivity of pavement surfaces throughout the asset’s life.

Decibel Testing

All pavements are not created equal, especially when it comes to the noise generated from vehicle traffic. Agencies spend a lot of money on soundwalls to protect nearby residents from excess noise pollution. Designing and constructing pavements for reduced noise from the start with noticeably lowered decibel readings can help alleviate the need for these expensive mitigation strategies.