Phase I: Windshield Survey Data
Accurate pavement deterioration models, as well as appropriate system weight factors used in the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) process, are critical to enabling state highway agencies to conduct effective performance and funding analyses and make informative investment decisions. This study was conducted to develop more accurate deterioration models and weight factors for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Pavement Management System (PMS), which has been used by the Pavement Management Unit (PMU) to maintain 79,000 miles of roadways across the state of North Carolina. In this study, manually collected windshield pavement condition data were cleaned, pavement ages were reset, categorical and non-linear regression analyses were performed to develop pavement deterioration models. In addition, weight factors were determined by conducting sensitivity analysis of CBA simulation results of all 14 divisions. The performance and distress models and new weight factors developed in this research project have been implemented in the NCDOT PMS by the engineers in the PMU. An entirely separate decision tree has been created using the update performance models.
Part II: Automated Survey Data
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Pavement Management Unit (PMU) has recently begun collecting pavement distress data using automated data collection techniques. Automated distress data differ from manual distress data in that there is more detail, greater quantity, better quality, and higher repeatability. The NCDOT PMU is charged with effectively conducting performance and funding analysis of the state's pavements using a Pavement Management System (PMS). Differences between manual and automated data create a need to develop a new set of performance models and distress indices based on the automated data. This study was conducted to identify an appropriate composite distress index development method and develop performance and distress models for Primary and Interstate roadways that can be used by the NCDOT Pavement Management System (PMS).
