On the Applicability of Laser Scanning for Evaluation of the Pavement Serviceability Parameters

Pavement performance is influenced by man factors such as climate and environmental conditions, traffic and operational conditions and type of pavement. These factors cause a pavement deterioration what leads to the restriction of the pavement serviceability or pavement efficiency. The pavement serviceability is the ability of the pavement to fulfil the service function represented by the actual values of variable parameters such as pavement surface roughness, surface evenness, pavement surface condition. The state of the pavement is assessed using different performance indicators when International Roughness Index (IRI) is most used. This approach allows to classify the state of the pavement in the pavement management system as a most used indexing, generalizes the pavement surface to the response of the testing car tire and the pavement. Laser scanning presented in this paper is able to bring the knowledge about the real pavement surface considering the accuracy of the method and equipment. Realized laser scanning proved the applicability of this method for the measurement of the pavement surface. Because of the complex knowledge of the pavement surface morphology, we can evaluate the pavement serviceability in terms of roughness, surface evenness or even pavement surface condition (rutting or cracks).

Monitor Activity for the Implementation of a Pavement—Management System at Cagliari Airport

The conditions of airport movement-area pavements play a primary role on safety and regularity of airport operations; for this reason, the aerodrome operator needs to periodically survey their condition and provide their maintenance and rehabilitation in order to ensure the required operational characteristics. To meet these needs efficiently and effectively, the Airport Pavement-Management System (APMS) has proved to be a strategic tool to support decisions, aimed at defining a technically and economically sustainable management plan. This paper aims to investigate the theoretical elements and structure of the APMS; the appropriate methodologies to guarantee a constant updating of the system in all its aspects are presented, focusing on the specific case study of a medium-dimension Italian airport. The article describes the methods and the equipment used for the high-performance surveys and the condition indexes used for collecting and analyzing the data implemented to populate the APMS of Cagliari airport. Two major survey campaigns were carried out: the first in 2016 and the second in 2019. Both surveys were carried out using the same subdivision into sample units, following the ASTM D5340-12 criteria, to correctly compare data collected in different years. In order to sufficiently populate the APMS database, the measured and back-calculated data were stored and integrated using daily acquired pavement reports since 2009 and stored with the specific intention to develop customized decay curves for Cagliari Airport pavements. Preliminary results on the sustainable use of the APMS were reported even with data collected in a limited period and successfully applied to runway flexible pavement.

Proposal and Implementation of a Heliport Pavement Management System: Technical and Economic Comparison of Maintenance Strategies

Maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) scheduling for airport pavement is supported by the scientific literature, while a specific tool for heliport pavements lacks. A heliport pavement management system (HPMS) allows the infrastructure manager to obtain benefits in technical and economic terms, as well as safety and efficiency, during the analyzed period. Structure and rationale of the APSM could be replicated and simplified to implement a HPMS because movements of rotary-wing aircrafts have less complexity than fixed-wing ones and have lower mechanical effects on the pavement. In this study, an innovative pavement condition index-based HPMS has been proposed and implemented to rigid and flexible surfaces of the airport of Vergiate (province of Varese, Italy), and two twenty-year M&R plans have been developed, where the results from reactive and proactive approaches have been compared to identify the best strategy in terms of costs and pavement level of service. The result obtained shows that although the loads and traffic of rotary-wing aircrafts are limited, the adoption of PMS is also necessary in the heliport environment.

Performance of Interstate Rubblization in Illinois

In Illinois, hot-mix asphalt overlaid concrete pavements typically exhibit reflective cracking of joints and cracks from the pavement below, resulting in shortened life and maintenance issues. Over the years, various patching, fabric, and crack and seat techniques were attempted with few positive results. This led to more aggressive techniques to eliminate the slab action of the concrete pavement where the pavement would be broken or rubblized into pieces typically less than 12 inches. Since the first rubblizing project in 1990, policy, procedures, and specifications have evolved to the point that rubblization is the mainstream option in dealing with problematic concrete pavements. This report summarizes the performance of several interstate rubblizing projects in Illinois by analyzing available data in Illinois Department of Transportation’s pavement management system. Condition rating survey data allowed the serviceability of these projects to be evaluated by surface mix types and asphalt performance grades. Traffic in the form of 18,000 lb equivalent single axle loads was determined for the projects to evaluate fatigue and rutting as well as compare section performance to the design procedure. The research team reviewed plans, design procedures, and specifications to determine best practices and identify where improvements might be made. Data showed that the use of stone matrix asphalt surface mixtures and mixes using PGXX-28 asphalt binders provides improved performance. Overall, rubblizing has shown good to excellent performance. To provide additional life with improved performance, recommendations include adopting softer asphalt grades, increasing the use of stone matrix asphalt, and improving procedures for protecting culverts.

Flexible Pavement Performance Evaluation in Ontario: an Overview

Measuring pavement performance is a major component of the pavement management system. It assists in decision-making for finding the optimum strategies to provide, evaluate, and maintain serviceability in an acceptable condition cost effectively. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has been systematically rating pavement performance since the mid-1960s. Pavement condition survey involves measurement of two physical parameters: ride quality of pavement surfaces, and the extent and severity of pavement distress manifestations. The pavement ride quality can be measured with an acceptable level of consistency and repeatability through automation. However, achieving consistency in the evaluation of pavement distress manifestations is a challenging task because the automation that could accurately and consistently detect, quantify and record surface distresses is not fully developed is spite of rapid advances in video imagery and non-contact sensing devices. This report evaluates the progress made over the past three decades in the key areas of Distress Manifestation Index, Riding Comfort Rating, Pavement Condition Index and second generation Pavement Management System (PMS2). A review of the Ministryʼs network-level pavement performance database is presented, emphasizing pavement condition surveys, prediction models and main factors influencing assessment of long-term pavement performance. Several key issues related to the quality control and quality assurance of the pavement roughness are discussed with reference to the verification techniques used by the MTO. Based on the literature review, future recommendations for possible improvements of the prediction models and techniques used for the evaluation of pavement performance are presented in order to obtain more consistent values.

Flexible Pavement Performance Evaluation in Ontario: an Overview

Measuring pavement performance is a major component of the pavement management system. It assists in decision-making for finding the optimum strategies to provide, evaluate, and maintain serviceability in an acceptable condition cost effectively. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has been systematically rating pavement performance since the mid-1960s. Pavement condition survey involves measurement of two physical parameters: ride quality of pavement surfaces, and the extent and severity of pavement distress manifestations. The pavement ride quality can be measured with an acceptable level of consistency and repeatability through automation. However, achieving consistency in the evaluation of pavement distress manifestations is a challenging task because the automation that could accurately and consistently detect, quantify and record surface distresses is not fully developed is spite of rapid advances in video imagery and non-contact sensing devices. This report evaluates the progress made over the past three decades in the key areas of Distress Manifestation Index, Riding Comfort Rating, Pavement Condition Index and second generation Pavement Management System (PMS2). A review of the Ministryʼs network-level pavement performance database is presented, emphasizing pavement condition surveys, prediction models and main factors influencing assessment of long-term pavement performance. Several key issues related to the quality control and quality assurance of the pavement roughness are discussed with reference to the verification techniques used by the MTO. Based on the literature review, future recommendations for possible improvements of the prediction models and techniques used for the evaluation of pavement performance are presented in order to obtain more consistent values.

Low-Cost Pavement Management System for Developing Countries

Governments face numerous challenges in sustaining road network conditions. This is attributed to road authorities’ shortages of financial and physical infrastructure. As a result, low-cost automated solutions are being pursued to solve these problems and provide people with appropriate road conditions. Several attempts have been made to improve these technologies and incorporate them into a Pavement Management System (PMS) but limited attempts are made for developing countries. This study aimed to design a low-cost pavement management system for flexible pavement maintenance. A detailed literature review has been carried out, followed by a qualitative assessment of the various indicators considered for PMS. The priority ranks of the PMS indicators were made using an Analytical Network Process (ANP) and each rank was validated by a sensitivity assessment test using the Super Decision-Making tool. This paper also provides the conceptual framework for the low-cost PMS, followed by a fishbone diagram of the indicators and sub-indicators. It is concluded that an emergency maintenance plan with an ANP weight of (0.41) is one of the most significant plans for a low-cost PMS, followed by a routine with an ANP weight of (0.39) and periodic maintenance plans with a (0.20) ANP weight. Moreover, the functional indicators with an ANP weight of (0.32) are the most significant indicators for a low-cost PMS, followed by structural (0.26), safety (0.24), and serviceability(0.18) indicators. This model will assist the road planners in making better decisions on pavement maintenance management plans. The model will suggest the pavement sections on a higher priority to be added in the maintenance plans, especially where the maintenance budget is limited.