Uniting Safety and Pavements: Global Insights into Friction-Informed Asset Management

August 2025

Join Andy Mergenmeier, WDM USA’s Director of Pavement & Safety Engineering, and a panel of global experts for an interactive panel discussion at the 15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management, Aug 25th – 28th in Chicago.

The session will highlight how organizations can reduce crashes before they occur by integrating pavement friction data into asset management strategies. Panellists will showcase real-world success stories, discuss how pavement friction management strategies were tailored to their organizations’ needs, and how predictive analytics help optimize safety investments and friction-informed asset management.

The Program

Safety performance measures collected by SCRIM®, such as continuous pavement friction, macrotexture, and roadway geometrics, can help agencies integrate safety across the asset lifecycle.

Moderated by industry leader, Andy Mergenmeier, Director of Pavement & Safety Engineering at WDM USA, former Pavement and Materials Engineer for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and former State Materials Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Andy brings decades of experience in pavement management, safety performance, and national policy development to the discussion. His deep knowledge of both US and international friction programs will ensure a focused, insightful discussion that draws out actionable lessons and touches on research, policy, and implementation.

Featuring Global Success Stories

Mark Stephenson, WDM – The Scottish Experience & Success in New Zealand
Roland Spielhofer, Austrian Institute of Technology – A German/Austrian Approach to Friction-Informed Asset Management

Expert Panel Discussion: U.S. and International Perspectives

A panel discussion featuring transportation leaders who are advancing pavement friction management using continuous pavement friction measurement across the United States follows the presentations.

Panellists:

John Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Sarah Tamayo, Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)
Jeff Shaw, HNTB
Roland Spielhofer, Austrian Institute of Technology
Mark Stephenson, WDM

The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with experts and explore practical steps for implementing friction-informed asset management in their own organizations.

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