DEVELOPMENT OF A FORMAL FORENSIC INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE FOR PAVEMENTS

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) supported a research project designed to develop formal procedures for conducting forensic investigations on failed pavements. This report describes such a procedure, one based on a scientific method that can ensure that future investigations are completed more efficiently and effectively. The main advantages of a successful forensic investigation include (1) determining the cause of the distress, (2) selecting the appropriate repair strategy, (3) determining how fast the distress is propagating, (4) prioritizing distressed pavement sections, (5) improving design practices, and (6) updating construction techniques. This report discusses the uses and benefits of the resources that are available to TxDOT. These resources include the field diagnostic manual, the detailed diagnostic manual, the electronic version of the diagnostic manual, and the ForenSys database. Finally, regarding the future direction of pavement investigations, the researchers recommend, among other things, the creation of a Knowledge-Based (KB) Engine.

• Record URL:
  http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/1731_3F.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Crampton, D
  • Zhang, Z
  • Fowler, D W
  • Hudson, W R
• Publication Date: 2001-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 108 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Databases; Forensic medicine; Knowledge acquisition (Expert systems); Manuals; Pavement design; Pavement distress; Pavement maintenance; Road construction; Strategic planning
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00970597
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-03/1731-3F,, Summary Report 0-1731-3F
• Contract Numbers: Research Project 0-1731
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 30 2004 12:00AM