ROAD MAINTENANCE COSTS AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS OF LOW-VOLUME LOGGING ROADS IN NEW ZEALAND

Road maintenance costs are a significant consideration in the management of pavements for logging traffic. Cost and volume data have been gathered from a number of logging roads, within a common forest area, over a 15-yr period. Axle loads were usually close to the legal highway limits (8.2 tonnes equivalent single-axle) and volumes ranged from 2,000 to 250,000 tonnes/yr. A regression analysis of the data confirmed that maintenance costs on unsealed gravel pavements increase as the volume of logs carted over the road increases. A sealed road that was constructed to a standard that gives low Benkelman beam deflections showed an expected decrease in maintenance cost; this relationship is quantified. Overall, the data showed a wide range of maintenance costs versus volume hauled, with no strong statistical correlation between the two. The observations presented can be readily upgraded to allow for inflation (using a construction cost index). As more data become available, they can be used as one component in a multivariable model to optimize the design, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of a road, and improve the economics of a log transportation system. Even without this sophisticated modeling, they can provide valuable indicators for roading economies. Research directions within the New Zealand logging industry are detailed with particular emphasis on the means by which the industry can be effectively informed of known techniques in planning, economics, and construction. General comments are made on current and expected research and extension work.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1106v2/1106v2-025.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ROAD+MAINTENANCE+COSTS+AND+RESEARCH+DIRECTIONS+OF+LOW-VOLUME+LOGGING+ROADS+IN+NEW+ZEALAND&author=D.+Robinson&author=P.+Farley&publication_year=1987
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309044545
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record N1106, Fourth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, Volume 2. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Robinson, D M
  • Farley, P J
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Low Volume Roads, 4th, 1987, Ithaca, New York, USA
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 210-216
• Monograph Title: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LOW-VOLUME ROADS. VOLUME 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1106
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Economics; Logging roads; Low volume roads; Maintenance management; Maintenance practices; Mathematical models; Planning; Regression analysis; Research; Traffic volume
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Research; I10: Economics and Administration; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00473151
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309044545
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM