Analysis of an Airport Pavement Management System during the Implementation Phase

Abstract

The study analyzes an airport pavement management system (APMS) during the implementation phase. After a report on the characteristic of an APMS and a literature review on its application all over the world, the research work focuses on a case of study related to one of the most relevant airports in Southern Italy. To define a maintenance program, the evaluation of data available relating to inventory data, pavement condition and performance curves is the essential prerequisite. The latter concern the identification of critical areas, in order to subsequently define the maintenance alternatives. The obtained findings concern the planning of M&R activities over the years. Depending on pre-established scenarios, the design choices are the result of the most profitable strategy among those technically admissible. The study highlights current limitations of the implemented APMS regarding data available. For this reason, subsequent studies will improve the system through the implementation of traffic and climate conditions data as well as the evaluation of collateral costs. Moreover, it is possible to confirm that the use of an APMS is important from the first phase of implementation, as it allows to simplify and rationalize some processes, even if it is still necessary to implement the database with further data, also to solve the inevitable approximations on the performance curves. Furthermore, the calibration of the latter will improve the maximization of network conditions and the cost / benefit ratio. Anyway, the paper provides useful information to practitioners for future applications, highlighting at the same time the research steps still to be taken to get a more efficient APMS.