Switching to International Roughness Index

Abstract

The International Roughness Index (IRI) has become a well-recognized standard for measurement of pavement roughness. The main objectives of the study were to evaluate the consequences of switching to IRI roughness measurements, and to develop a procedure for switching from measuring roughness with a response-type device, used for more than 10 years, to an IRI device. The study consisted of two parts. In the first part, the repeatability and consistency of roughness measurements obtained by three different IRI-measuring systems using a 10-section calibration circuit was evaluated. In the second part, transfer functions relating IRI with a subjectively measured ride condition rating for a large pavement network consisting of asphaltic concrete, rigid, and surface-treated pavements were developed. Based on the results of the calibration circuit, the three IRI-measuring systems were proved equally capable of providing repeatable and reliable roughness measurements for network-level monitoring purposes, and their individual results correlated very well. However, because of systematic differences between the results, the IRI-measuring systems cannot be used interchangeably and without proper calibration. Based on the results obtained for the network, different transfer functions were required and developed for the four pavement types (asphaltic concrete, composite, jointed portland cement concrete, and surface-treated). IRI roughness measurements provided better prediction of the ride condition rating than the response-type roughness measurements. These results support the switch to IRI roughness measurements.