Real-Time Smoothness (RTS) measures pavement surface profiles during paving using sensors mounted on the back of a paver. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has supported implementing RTS technology for concrete pavements through the SHRP2 Solutions program since 2014. Its study indicated that RTS technology's real-time diagnosis allows changing the paving operation to improve smoothness. This "proof-of-concept" research study aims to extend concrete RTS technologies to asphalt paving applications. The field demonstration results from two field projects show the feasibility of using asphalt Real-Time Smoothness (ARTS) to capture the roughness from various paving events. These results indicate some limitations of the ARTS prototype's measurements since the sensors were uncertified and mounted on a paver screed. The lessons learned from the demonstration projects are valuable for future ARTS technology and for further studies to improve asphalt pavement smoothness.
