ABSTRACT

AIRPORT PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION: A SET OF DEFINED PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING, ANALYZING, MAINTAINING AND REPORTING PAVEMENT DATA
 

The APMS is using visual condition data to predict next year Maintenance and Rehabilitation (M&R). In addition to the visual rating, PCI is using structural and functional data as well.

The system utilises technologically advanced mechanistic pavement performance models, based on all available measured data. This is generally considered the best tool available to quantify current pavement condition, anticipate future problems, and select and schedule the best long term rehabilitation strategy at the proper time.

An important feature of this type of APMS is that it makes use of historical data. The simulation of pavement deterioration is started at the first point in time where information is available on the pavement structure (material types, layer thicknesses and moduli). Any available data on structural condition, roughness, skid resistance, visual condition, or required repair that dates after the start of the simulation will be ploted in a graph, together with the deterioration predicted by the performance models. This allows the performance models to be validated (and adjusted, if need be) and also serves as a quality check on the measured performance data.

The implemented APMS may be used as a project level tool for calculating the effects of different rehabilitation strategies on a particular section, and different levels of reliability may be used on individual sections. It may also be used at the network level to automatically determine the most efficient rehabilitation strategies for a large number of pavement sections, from which the optimal combination may then be determined for given budget levels over a number of years (the structural design life). These types of analysis are also known as Life Cycle Costs Analysis (LCCA). The methodology is based on using mechanistic-empirical techniques for modelling performance and effects of rehabilitation. These will be used in detailed effect/cost analysis over the chosen period, and make it possible to evaluate and find the best maintenance plans section by section, which can be used in a network based optimisation with budget constraints.

An Airport Pavement Management System enables the Airport Authority to:

• Monitor the condition and deterioration using both the visual and structural condition of the pavements and compare this with the requirements

• Make use of historical information implemented regarding overall pavement structural strength, roughness, rut depth, skid resistance and visual distresses in order to calibrate the performance and improve accuracy of subsequent analysis

• Evaluate the effects of different M&R strategies at various stages in the life of the pavements

• Plan future maintenance and rehabilitation measures that can be stored in the database and further considered by the programme