Resource Mapping of Highway Materials Along with Their Characteristic Properties and Desirability

Abstract

Highway construction materials are precious resources as the quantum of construction has been on the rise and there is a scarcity for these resources. There is also an urgent need to step up research and development efforts to enhance the use of locally available materials and create a database on their characteristic properties, performance and cost-effectiveness for adoption in road construction in a big way. This paper is oriented on resource mapping in order to map the resource locations with attributes such as physical characteristic properties, material availability, distance from the nearest primary road in geo-referenced map, thereby creating a scientific information on the availability and suitability of construction material in the southern districts of the Kerala state along with a scientific and comparative analysis on the engineering properties of the same. The resources available for construction works have a wide variation in their characteristic properties, and they are invariably required to be tested for all their physical characteristics. The findings of the study which include the comprehensive information regarding the occurrence, distribution, lead distance, quantum of materials, material properties and its suitability for various applications in construction works, accessibility, etc., are attached as attribute data on geo-referenced maps in GIS platform. The various findings of the study are useful for licensing authorities and execution departments and other stakeholders. The database with the quantum of materials available in each quarry and their desirability can be effectively used for optimum material planning.