Mark Blow

Senior Regional Engineer
P.E.
Education | Engineering
Time at Asphalt Institute: 29 years

Mark Blow, P. E. is a registered professional engineer and a member of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists. Mark has been a District Engineer for the Asphalt Institute since 1996. He has developed and conducted many training sessions at the national, state and local level. Prior to the Asphalt Institute, Mr. Blow was the Bituminous Engineer for the SDDOT, where he developed and implemented QC/QA specifications, guidelines and training programs. Mark has been actively involved in the HMA Industry since 1979.

Mr. Mark Blow provides the team with an exceptional level of materials, mix design, and field construction experience. He is the current lead instructor and developer of the Asphalt Institute Mix Design Technologies Certification Course and founder of the AI Mix Design software program SW-2.

He began his career as a mix design laboratory technician in 1979. He rose to the level of Chief Bituminous Engineer in the South Dakota DOT until 1996, when he joined the Asphalt Institute. During his tenure with the SDDOT, he developed, validated, and implemented a statewide Quality Control / Quality Assurance Specification that incorporated contractor-furnished quality control and mix design testing, random DOT quality assurance testing, and a statistical PWL acceptance procedure. This 3-year effort proves Mr. Blow with the pinpoint experience necessary to assist in AAPTP 06-05.

He is also the lead instructor for the Asphalt Institute 1-day Bailey Method course entitled “An Introduction to the Bailey Method: Achieving Volumetrics and Compactability.” This course teaches students to analyze HMA mixtures in a way that provides an in-depth understanding of volumetric changes, thereby increasing the success rate of meeting VMA criteria in airfield pavements.

My Courses

Mark's Articles

Mark Blow, P.E. Archives - Asphalt magazine The Magazine of the Asphalt Institute

  • Thoughtful design and pavement management systems enhance sustainability initiatives
    by Mark Blow, P.E. on March 22, 2025 at 2:38 pm

    As the asphalt paving industry moves toward more sustainable paving processes, pavement design remains the most important role in building sustainable pavement systems. The FHWA has laid out four pillars that define sustainable pavements: performance, environment, economy and social. These four pillars are closely intertwined. It is important to recognize that three of these pillars The post Thoughtful design and pavement management systems enhance sustainability initiatives appeared first on Asphalt magazine.

  • Dielectric Profiling Systems (DPS) prepare to hit the road
    by Mark Blow, P.E. on May 23, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    Research advances implementation  Using intelligent construction technology to enhance asphalt pavement durability through increased pavement density is one of the most economical methods to extend pavement life and increase the sustainability of our roadways. Dielectric Profiling Systems (DPS) can assess nearly 100 percent of a new pavement surface placed during construction in real-time.  It all The post Dielectric Profiling Systems (DPS) prepare to hit the road appeared first on Asphalt magazine.

  • Solving density problems with paver screed settings
    by Mark Blow, P.E. on June 1, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    In 2012 the Asphalt Institute,  in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), rolled out research findings concerning longitudinal joint density. The results were presented to over 40 DOTs in the U.S. and the recommendations were adopted in whole or in part by many. The increased focus on longitudinal joints led one Kansas asphalt superintendent The post Solving density problems with paver screed settings appeared first on Asphalt magazine.

  • Understanding pavement distress in asphalt
    by Mark Blow, P.E. on March 19, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    The majority of pavement distresses fall into two major categories: rutting and cracking. Both of these distresses have been around since the dawn of asphalt pavement construction. The Marshall mix design procedure was developed over 80 years ago and attempted to account for these distresses using a stability test to deter rutting, along with a The post Understanding pavement distress in asphalt appeared first on Asphalt magazine.

  • Maximizing pavement life over the years
    by Mark Blow, P.E. on July 22, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    Over 50 years ago, the Asphalt Institute introduced full-depth asphalt. These full-depth pavement structures were thick (often 10-20 inches on high volume roadways) and were built directly on the subgrade as opposed to modern layered pavement design that typically includes granular base. Pavement distresses such as fatigue cracking and potholes were nearly non-existent on these The post Maximizing pavement life over the years appeared first on Asphalt magazine.

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