The Role of In-Service Pavement Studies on the German Highway Network in the Innovation Process

Abstract

Innovations in the road construction sector are key to tackling the major challenges that the transport infrastructure sector is currently facing. In-service pavement studies (ISPS) are a vital component of the innovation process in the highway infrastructure sector. This paper defines the role of ISPS in the innovation process of the German highway construction sector and identifies suitable criteria to assess and evaluate the innovation characteristics of the in-service test tracks. In conclusion it provides generalisable recommendations how ISPSs can be improved as a tool to foster further innovations in the sector. To gain insights into the innovation characteristics of the ISPS qualitative expert interviews were conducted with the researchers that were responsible in setting-up, monitoring and evaluating the ISPSs.