Pavement Management Practices Research Articles

A Comparative Study of Pavement Roughness Prediction Models under Different Climatic Conditions

Predicting the International Roughness Index (IRI) is crucial for maintaining road quality and ensuring the safety and comfort of road users. Accurate IRI predictions help in the timely identification of road sections that require maintenance, thus preventing further deterioration and reducing overall maintenance costs. This study aims to develop robust predictive models for the IRI using advanced machine learning techniques across different climatic conditions. Data were sourced from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE for localized conditions coupled with the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database for comparison and validation purposes. This study evaluates several machine learning models, including regression trees, support vector machines (SVMs), ensemble trees, Gaussian process regression (GPR), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and kernel-based methods. Among the models tested, GPR, particularly with rational quadratic specifications, consistently demonstrated superior performance with the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and highest R-squared values across all datasets. Sensitivity analysis identified age, total pavement thickness, precipitation, temperature, and Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic (AADTT) as key factors influencing the IRI. The results indicate that pavement age and higher traffic loads significantly increase roughness, while thicker pavements contribute to smoother surfaces. Climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation showed varying impacts depending on the regional conditions. The developed models provide a powerful tool for predicting pavement roughness, enabling more accurate maintenance planning and resource allocation. The findings highlight the necessity of tailoring pavement management practices to specific environmental and traffic conditions to enhance road quality and longevity. This research offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and predicting pavement performance, with implications for infrastructure management both locally and worldwide.

Pilot Study to Incorporate Network-Level Structural Condition in Agency Pavement Management Practices

Pilot Study to Incorporate Network-Level Structural Condition in Agency Pavement Management Practices

A step toward improving management practices for airfield pavement infrastructures: a mechanistic-based analysis approach

Conventional performance indicators commonly used to evaluate airfield pavement infrastructures focus on surface condition assessment. However, the structural soundness of pavements remains a key element in determining the best intervention measures. Methods used worldwide to design and evaluate flexible airfield pavements are often based on the Multi-Layered Elastic Theory (MLET). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also applies MLET to analyse data collected primarily with on-site Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). However, material behaviour is not always aligned with MLET assumptions. In this study, pavement analysis results are investigated from a mechanistic view considering, in particular, the viscoelastic properties of Asphalt Concrete (AC). The analysis is performed using NDT and coring data collected in-situ from a runway considering variable aircraft loading and moving speeds. Based on the response status at both critical locations of a flexible pavement plus its surface, it is observed that MLET appears to be less conservative at normal operating speeds, where higher pavement damage is expected. In addition, an integration potential of viscoelastic strains and NDT data is shown, which can accelerate the pavement evaluation process. It is expected that the presented approach can provide a framework for improving airfield pavement management practices.

Municipal street maintenance challenges and management practices in Sweden

The municipal street network acts as a multifunctional asset by providing people, vehicles and public services with a well-functioning infrastructure. To keep it in good condition, optimal maintenance measures are required which would result in an efficient use of taxpayers’ money. This paper investigates the street network deterioration processes and the management practices that the municipal administrations have applied in Sweden. The study is based on a survey with Swedish municipalities using questionnaires and complementary interviews. The answers provide insight into a wide range of common pavement distresses and deterioration factors, along with pavement management practices. The study identifies that potholes, surface unevenness and alligator cracking are the most cited challenges, while pavement ageing, heavy traffic and patches are the most noted causes. Similarly, the cold climate and population density are influential factors in pavement deterioration. Allocation of the maintenance and rehabilitation and reconstruction budget is higher in the northern part of the country as well as in densely populated municipalities. Condition data collection and use of commercial Pavement Management Systems (PMS) are limited. Addressing the challenges effectively may be possible through the enhancement of the budget, feasible/clear guidelines from municipal councils/politicians, and reducing the gap between street network administrations and utility service providers.

Mechanistic Assessment of Flexible Pavements in Wisconsin Using Traffic Speed Deflectometer

The traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) has been gaining interest for pavement management practices, as it can continuously collect deflection data at traffic speed without requiring traffic control. TSD data have been typically used to provide an estimate of the structural condition of pavements with a limited range of significant parameters considered in the analysis. To date, limited studies have been conducted in or for cold regions to consider the potential use of TSD data for pavement structural assessment. This study aimed to bridge this gap by developing a twofold approach to: (1) mechanistically characterize the structural integrity and remaining life of pavements; and (2) compare TSD and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data collected in the field, considering the features of pavement facilities in Wisconsin. A field testing plan was developed to characterize the site-specific features of eight representative pavement sections, with a total length of about 30 mi and distinct pavement structures, truck traffic patterns, and climatic conditions. The postprocessed results underscored the significance of the TSD data and their potential for the structural evaluation of underlying layers in a multilayered pavement system when integrated with the site-specific pavement profile and truck traffic information derived from field testing. A comparison of the normalized deflections and structural parameters characterized by TSD and FWD data showed similar trends, while the average FWD-based deflections were 12%–37% higher than the TSD-based deflections.

How to Integrate On-Street Bikeway Maintenance Planning Policies into Pavement Management Practices

As more on-road bikeways are built, the timely application of maintenance treatments becomes critical to ensure safe and comfortable conditions for bicyclists. Longitudinal and transverse cracks that evolve to potholes, rough cut utility patching, raveling, and weathering are flexible pavement distresses that pose safety threats to bicyclists. Faulting and spalling are also safety hazards to bicyclists on rigid pavements. Despite of the need to adopt preventive maintenance policies to preserve on-street bikeways in good condition, bikeway maintenance practices are mostly reactive. The main contribution of this paper is to integrate bikeways maintenance criteria into a policy planning approach for pavement management practices. This planning approach articulates inventory data, condition assessment, maintenance treatment selection, budget needs, funding prioritization, and reports for the implementation of enhanced pavement management systems. Information Technology Systems (ITS) should also support data collection and analysis in the implementation of an integrated maintenance approach. With the adoption of ITS tools, traffic flow, space occupancy and congestion information can be registered in real-time for efficient management. As a result, transportation agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and cities should make better-informed maintenance decisions for the benefit of all road users.

An Economic Pavement Management Framework for Extremely Budget- and Resource-Constrained Agencies in Canada

Regional pavement management agencies often suffer from inadequate resources and technical people to carry out maintenance tasks efficiently. Though funding shortage is an issue for most agencies, regional agencies confront it primarily for various reasons such as the class of the roads managed by them, traffic intensity, the size of service population, and the jurisdiction. Regional agencies generally manage lower functional classes of roads that usually carry smaller traffic. Though low-volume roads (LVRs) take just 20% of the traffic, LVRs include approximately 80% of transportation system mileage. With only 20% of the traffic volume and 80% mileage in transportation, LVRs can barely compete with the return on investment of highways. As a result, regional road networks are always subject to less attention from policymakers. In this context, this research proposes a pavement management framework for the regional agencies which is economical, requires minimum technical expertise, and is easy to implement. This study includes two surveys: The Canada-wide Pavement Management Survey and the Road Users Feedback Survey. The Canada-wide Pavement Management Survey provides an overview of pavement management practices in Canada at the regional level. The concept of Pavement Management System (PMS) score is also developed utilizing the same survey responses. Findings from the Road Users Feedback Survey have been used to understand the feasibility of using road users’ feedbacks in making management decisions. Overall results from these two surveys have been utilized to develop various components of the proposed PMS framework.

How to Integrate On-Street Bikeway Maintenance Policies into Pavement Management Practices

How to Integrate On-Street Bikeway Maintenance Policies into Pavement Management Practices

Laboratory Compaction Study and Mechanical Performance Assessment of Half-Warm Mix Recycled Asphalt Mixtures Containing 100% RAP.

The use of low-carbon and energy-efficient paving technologies is gaining worldwide acceptance in recent years as a means to encourage commitment towards more sustainable pavement management practices. However, there still remain some technical gaps regarding mix design procedures for the half-warm mix asphalt (HWMA) mixtures’ preparation and characterization in the laboratory. To this end, three different laboratory compaction methods (e.g., static load, Marshall impactor, and gyratory compactor) were selected and put into assessment to define the most suitable compaction test method for half-warm mix recycled asphalt (HWMRA) mixtures with 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Posteriorly, the effect of four-accelerated curing treatments (0, 24, 48, and 72 h) on the mixtures’ mechanical performance was investigated. Then, advanced mechanical characterization of the mixture performance was conducted to quantify the indirect tensile strength (ITS), stiffness modulus, rutting, and four-point bending (4PB) fatigue test. Thus, based on the authors’ findings, the HWMRA mixtures with 100% RAP and emulsified bitumen exhibited proper volumetric (e.g., air voids and density) and mechanical behavior in terms of moisture damage, ITS, stiffness modulus, rutting, and fatigue cracking. These findings encourage greater confidence in promoting the use of these sustainable asphalt mixes for their use in road pavements or urban streets.

Deterioration trends of asphalt pavement friction and roughness from medium-term surveys on major Italian roads

Deterioration models are the key factor for effective Pavement Management Systems, helping out road agencies to assess the actual pavement condition and forecast future performance of the asset. Among pavement condition characteristics, friction should be taken into account due to its important effect on user safety, while roughness could be used to express user comfort. The purpose of this study was to provide a reasonable case study for future improvements of Italian road management, even if the length of the analyzed highways was not intended to be representative of the overall Italian network.This research studied the friction trend (Side Force Coefficient) depending on traffic levels (ESALs) and pavement aging for Italian highways, combining the data with roughness and macrotexture. Surface characteristics were monitored during a seven-year time span. A selection of different road sections with homogeneous traffic levels, similar environmental conditions and surface material was performed and high-speed/high-quality road surveys were used for distress data collection. Pavement deterioration models for Italian road sectors were developed at project level, as starting point to advance pavement management practices in Italy. Degradation curves showed the same trends for similar pavement structures, materials and traffic levels; on the other hand, differences in pavement characteristics, increased ESALs and various maintenance treatments significantly altered those trends.

Cost-Effective Performance Management for Washington State Pavement Assets

The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) manages 18,230 lane miles (29,332 lane kilometers) of main-line roadway. In the past several years, the Washington State DOT has gone through an evaluation and modification of its pavement management practices. This paper presents the historical perspective on past Washington State DOT pavement practices and several strategies that were developed to improve the management of pavement assets. The Washington State DOT has been successfully preserving the long life of flexible pavements by applying thin hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mill and inlays on the basis of the concept that cracking in thicker HMA sections will primarily be top-down. Furthermore, using the framework developed by the evaluation of cost-effectiveness, several strategies have been implemented to improve the management of Washington State DOT pavement assets. These strategies are ( a) converting 3,000 lane miles (4,827 km) from asphalt to chip seal resurfacing before the year 2025, ( b) planning $850 million to $1.0 billion for rehabilitation and reconstruction for the aging concrete pavement network for the next 10 years with 50% of the concrete slated for reconstruction to be converted to flexible pavement using a crack and seat plus asphalt overlay process, and ( c) applying strategic maintenance to reduce the annual cost by extending the service life of flexible pavements. These cost-effective strategies are expected to generate an overall annual cost savings of $80 million per year by 2025.

Environmental and economic assessment of pavement construction and management practices for enhancing pavement sustainability

Stakeholders in the pavement sector have been seeking new engineering solutions to move towards more sustainable pavement management practices. The general approaches for improving pavement sustainability include, among others, reducing virgin binder and virgin aggregate content in HMA and WMA mixtures, reducing energy consumed and emissions generated in mixtures production, applying in-place recycling techniques, and implementing preventive treatments. In this study, a comprehensive and integrated pavement life cycle costing- life cycle assessment model was developed to investigate, from a full life cycle perspective, the extent to which several pavement engineering solutions, namely hot in-plant recycling mixtures, WMA, cold central plant recycling and preventive treatments, are efficient in improving the environmental and economic dimensions of pavement infrastructure sustainability, when applied either separately or in combination, in the construction and management of a road pavement section located in Virginia, USA. Furthermore, in order to determine the preference order of alternative scenarios, a multicriteria decision analysis method was applied. The results showed that the implementation of a recycling-based maintenance and rehabilitation strategy where the asphalt mixtures are of type hot-mix asphalt containing 30% RAP, best suits the multidimensional and conflicting interests of decision-makers. This outcome was found to be robust even when different design and performance scenarios of the mixtures and type of treatments are considered.

Life cycle environmental benefits of pavement surface maintenance

To achieve sustainable road networks, long-term environmental costs and benefits should be recognized and incorporated in the decision making process of pavement management units. This paper provides an assessment of life cycle environmental benefits of pavement maintenance and discusses their incorporation in pavement management systems (PMS). A case study regarding a 1 km long section of an urban collector road shows that pavement surface maintenance provides environmental benefits ranging from $700 000 to $18 000 000 over a 40 year analysis period, depending on the maintenance treatment applied and the discount rate used. Preventive maintenance was found clearly more sustainable than corrective maintenance. Noise benefits represented the major component of the environmental benefits. Reversely, although pavement management practices often consider greenhouse gases, the results show that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to pavement management strategies is minimal. The paper also discusses the incorporation of environmental costs in pavement management practices and highlights the importance of an appropriate discount rate, specific to environmental impacts and the need to assess the influence of the discounting method on the environmental benefits.

Sustainability Analysis Based on Emissions Saving for Competitive Maintenance and Rehabilitation Practices

Although roads are preponderant in terms of extension and usage, airports and air transport entail a prominent part of emissions and energy consumption worldwide. There is a need for improving airport pavements construction and maintenance practices in order to limit greenhouse gasses and set environmental standards towards the development of more “sustainable airports.” Since environmental impact assessment of major projects is becoming mandatory in many countries, various researches are attempting to evaluate environmental impacts of different pavement materials, technologies or processes over the airport service life. There is a need to measure and describe different aspects of airport pavements sustainability to support these efforts. This paper analyzes emissions saved in reusing and valorizing existing in situ soils through a cement stabilization for improving the bearing capacity of the runway cleared and graded area and/or constructing new sub-base pavement layers. The analysis evaluates emissions due to equipment and materials comparing them with the supplying of large amounts of aggregates from nearby quarries to build granular layers. A case study of a major Italian airport is finally provided. Results show the eco-efficiency of improving pavement management practices adopting energy efficient treatments on airports. Furthermore, eco-saving factors could represent a new and innovative feature to be added in process of evaluating different strategies and investments in an Airport Pavement Management System.

Framework and Strategy for Implementing an Information Technology-Based Pavement Management System

The advent of information and telecommunication technologies has had significant effects on the development and implementation of pavement management systems (PMSs) for state departments of transportation (DOTs) and also fosters great opportunities for improving states' highway pavement conditions through increased productivity and effectiveness in managing their highway pavement information. However, it still remains a challenge for state DOTs to successfully implement an integrated PMS due to the complexity of PMS and many issues involved in the development and implementation that need to be resolved. The development and implementation of an information technology (IT)-based PMS by the Georgia Department of Transportation is presented. On the basis of existing pavement management practices by Georgia DOT, the needs and concerns for improvements are identified in light of the advent of IT. The development of the conceptual IT-based PMS framework to meet Georgia DOT’s needs is first presented. The strategies for developing and implementing an integrated PMS are then presented, and the benefits of adopting the strategies are discussed. The need for incorporating a common spatial and temporal reference system to ensure system compatibility and integration for all the databases is discussed. Seven modules of this integrated IT-based PMS have been implemented, including the computerized pavement condition evaluation system, historical pavement performance data conversion and filtering system, network-level data management and analysis system, geographic information system analysis and visualization system, rehabilitation treatment decision system, highway maintenance management system, and the knowledge-based system for diagnosing pavement distress causes. Four modules currently under development are also described.