Using Pavement-Management System Data to Evaluate Benefits from Design and Construction Improvements

Abstract

Pavement-management data can be a valuable resource to evaluate the impact that changes in bituminous mix design, production, or placement have on pavement performance. The development of pavement distresses by type and severity can be tracked from data in pavement management systems. The rate of distress development for some distress types changes, depending on the year of construction. The change in the development of some of the distresses corresponds to changes in mix design, production, or placement that have taken place over the years. Pavement-management data can also be used to determine which distress type is causing the biggest reduction in pavement-condition ratings. Once the most dominant distress is identified, research can be conducted to find ways of reducing that distress and thereby improve pavement performance. Pavement-management data, when used in this manner, are a valuable resource that can track the performance benefits from changes in mix design, mix production, and placement; in addition, pavement-management data can be used to identify opportunities for future improvement.