SURFACE EVALUATION FOR BUDGETING AND PLANNING

CALIFORNIA, FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF OTHER STATES, DECIDED IN 1969 TO ESTABLISH SYSTEMS FOR RATING THE CONDITION OF EXISTING ASPHALT PAVEMENTS, DETERMINING THE RATE OF DETERIORATION OF THE PAVEMENT, AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAINTENANCE EFFORTS. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE RELEVANT FACTORS FOR DETERMINING PAVEMENT CONDITION WERE RIDEABILITY, ALLIGATORING OR BLOCK CRACKING, POTHOLING, AND RAVELING. THE INITIAL SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY TWO-MAN TEAMS FORMED BY BORROWING ONE EMPLOYEE FROM EACH OF THE 11 HIGHWAY DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA (TWO FROM ONE DISTRICT). TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVED TWO WEEKS TRAINING IN PAVEMENT EVALUATION GUIDELINES, RIDE RATING EQUIPMENT, AND RATING CRITERIA. THEY EVALUATED SELECTED ROADS UNTIL REASONABLY UNIFORM RATINGS BY ALL TEAMS WERE ACHIEVED. TEST METHODS AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ARE DESCRIBED. THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS CALIBRATING THE ROAD METER FOR THE CARS USED. HEADQUARTERS MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL SUPERVISED THE STUDY AND MADE PERIODIC FIELD TRIPS TO OBSERVE THE VARIOUS TEAMS IN ACTION. RATED SCORES WERE COMPUTED AND MAILED TO THE DISTRICT. SAMPLE EVALUATION SIX MONTHS LATER FOUND VARIATIONS THAT WERE LESS THAN THE HUMAN AND MECHANICAL ERROR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN REEVALUATING THE ROADWAY. ACCORDINGLY, THE SCHEDULE OF PAVEMENT EVALUATION SURVEYS HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A BIENNIAL BASIS. THE SYSTEM IS NOW BEING EXTENDED TO PCC PAVEMENT EVALUATION SURVEYS---1/2 OF 1% OF THE DIVISION'S ROADBED MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION BUDGET---IS SMALL FOR THE DATA ACQUIRED AND ITS VALUE.

• Authors:
  • Forbes, C E
  • Currier, D E
• Publication Date: 1970-11

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 184-90
• Serial:
  • Am Assoc State Highway Officials Proc

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alligator cracking; Asphalt concrete; Asphalt pavements; Evaluation; Highway maintenance; Methodology; Pavement performance; Pavements; Ratings; Riding qualities
• Old TRIS Terms: Alligatoring
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219023
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 2 1973 12:00AM