These FHWA online courses are designed for a variety of professionals working within local agencies and tribal governments, focused on those who are responsible for geotechnical work, pavement and design engineering, and materials engineering.
Course Descriptions and Registration
You can take any of the courses or all of them, in whichever order you prefer. All courses are free.
Expand the sections below to see detailed information and register for each course.
New! Aggregates for Asphalt Mixtures
Course Description
Aggregates have many varied uses in transportation systems. The desirable properties and appropriate specifications are typically governed by the end use of the materials. In other words, aggregates that are well suited to a stabilized permeable base material may not be suitable for use in a PCC mixture.
Aggregates play a primary role in the ability of asphalt concrete to carry traffic loads. The interaction between the aggregate particles is responsible, in large part, for the strength and deformation characteristics of the asphalt. This course will relate the physical properties of aggregates to the performance of asphalt mixtures. It will also cover the most important coarse and fine aggregate properties for asphalt mixtures and the tests used to determine those properties. Lastly, it will explain the role of aggregates in providing skid resistance on asphalt concrete pavements.
Who Should Take This Course
This course is intended for a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, with an emphasis on those involved in the construction, maintenance, and testing process for highways and structures.
Credit
- .25 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit
- 0.25 Continuing Education Credit
- 1.0 PDHs
New! Fundamentals of Quality Concrete
Course Description
From the houses we live in to the buildings we work at and all the places in between, we use concrete structures every day. You may think that concrete is just concrete, but the concrete for a high-rise building, a retaining wall, a road, and a storage tank are all very different. How can a material that makes all these structures so similar be so different? The answer starts with the ingredients that go into a concrete mix. In its most basic form, concrete is a mixture of portland cement, water, and aggregates such as rock and sand.
This course covers the fundamental properties associated with mixing, placing, finishing, and curing concrete for all types of concrete construction. Topics covered include concrete ingredients, the importance of structure location, and how and when concrete should be placed.
Who Should Take This Course
This course is intended for a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, with an emphasis on the role of the materials engineer, as well as anyone involved in the mixing, placing, finishing, and/or curing of concrete for all types of concrete construction.
Credit
- .25 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit
- 0.25 Continuing Education Credit
- 1.0 PDHs
New! Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil: Integrated Bridge System Series
Course Description
This is a series of six modules integrated into a single course. Participants are welcome to register and complete whichever course modules are most applicable to them.
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) design is an innovative method of bridge support that blends the roadway into the superstructure to create a jointless interface between the bridge and the approach. In just weeks instead of months, states and local public agencies can build low-cost, durable, single-span bridges with the help of the GRS-IBS.
Modules 1 and 2 cover the basics, such as project design steps, site investigation, and material sampling and testing. Modules 3, 4, and 5 cover more intermediate information. Topics include hydraulic modeling, load and resistance factor design, planning, construction, and inspection. Module 6 contains advanced information and example calculations for an actual GRS-IBS construction, including project layout, loads, and stability analyses.
Who Should Take This Course
The training supports local agency and tribal transportation personnel who are looking to design or pursue GRS-IBS projects. There are various expertise levels within this training course. Modules 1 and 2 contain beginner information for anyone interested in a GRS-IBS project. Modules 3, 4, and 5 benefit positions that work closely with GRS-IBS design specifics. Module 6 is ideal for engineers and designers with advanced math skills.
Credit
For each course module completed, attendees will receive:
- 1.0 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit
- 1 Continuing Education Credit
The entire course is eligible for up to 15.5 PDHs.
Soils and Foundations
Course Description
The origin of rocks and soil—and how the processes that formed them may influence their engineering properties—is critical to understand, since you use that information to make design and construction decisions on your transportation projects. This course will cover basic information on soils and foundations with a focus on geotechnical issues in the real world.
Who Should Take This Course
Primarily professionally certified engineers with a great deal of prior knowledge and expertise. It is also intended for professionals in a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, with an emphasis on the role of the materials engineer, as well as those providing input and information in support of geotechnical work.
Credit
3.0 PDHs.
Asphalt Materials and Paving Mixtures
Course Description
The correct asphalt mixture can provide several benefits for a road, including resistance to permanent deformation, durability, and good surface texture. This course will review the characteristics and engineering properties of asphalt mixtures when utilized in highway applications, as well as overall mix design concepts and how construction operations can affect the ultimate performance of asphalt mixture pavements.
Who Should Take This Course
Professionals in a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, with an emphasis on the role of the materials engineer, as well as anyone involved in the mix design, placement, or rehabilitation of asphalt pavement.
Credit
4.5 PDHs.
Fundamentals of Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS)
Course Description
Targeted overlay pavement solutions (TOPS) integrate innovative asphalt and concrete overlay procedures into practices that can improve performance, lessen traffic impacts, and reduce the cost of pavement ownership. This course will provide an introduction to TOPS—including mix types and applications, construction and inspection, and quality control and best practices.
Who Should Take This Course
Professionals in a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, focused on those in pavement and materials engineering, design engineering, and supervisory roles, as well as those providing input and information in support of agency decision makers, such as consultant engineers.
Credit
3.0 PDHs.
Accessing the Courses
These trainings are offered via the course management system Canvas. Upon completing your online registration for each course, you will receive an email confirmation. To access the courses, please visit Canvas and log in with your University of Minnesota internet ID and password. Once you have been enrolled, the courses will appear on your Canvas dashboard.
If for any reason you do not have access to the courses after enrolling, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Technical Requirements
Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer work best for these courses.
Credit
- To earn the Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Operations and Technical Certificate credit, students are required to send a copy of the course completion certificate to [email protected].
- For more information on PDHs and the continuing education requirements for professionals as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107, see the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID website.
Questions?
With questions, or if you require accommodations to make this course accessible to you, please contact [email protected].
Sponsors
These courses are sponsored by Minnesota LTAP at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Course curriculum was developed and compiled by:
- The FHWA Center for Local Aid Support in conjunction with a technical advisory panel of experts including representatives from local agencies and state DOTs.
- The FHWA Office of Innovation and Workforce Solutions, provides diverse products, programs, and information to national training and technical assistance networks that help local governments, tribes, and federal land management agencies enhance roadway networks and create economic opportunity.