Improving pavement marking performance through contrasting new methods to quantify marking presence and increasing installation efficiencies through an evaluation of prototype bead guns

Agencies continue to search for ways to measure and improve pavement marking performance. With regard to measuring performance this research first conducted a comparative study on the pavement marking evaluation process through a comparison of subjective and objective pavement marking durability rating techniques. The subjective and objective performance evaluation processes reported slight differences. In an effort to address pavement marking quality and efficiencies during installation another study was conducted to develop a methodology for evaluating different bead guns used in the pavement marking application process. An experiment evaluated the performance of the bead guns at various speeds. The SpeedBeader(TM) application gun dispensed more beads than the Zero-Velocity(TM) prototype in most cases, however, the Zero-Velocity(TM) gun worked effectively to reduce bead roll.