ASSESSING COMPOSITE DISTRESS EVALUATIONS

Composite indices provide a convenient means of standardizing the effects of incongruous parameters, such as those encountered in the management of pavement distress. With these indices, the relative needs of one pavement can be compared with the needs of another even though they experience different distresses. This particular application often leads to a priority list for resource allocation. Composite index development is studied to learn the extent to which statistical analyses will support objectivity in the management of pavement distress. The major findings include the following: (a) The systemwide average composite index is an excellent estimator of the true value. (b) Composite indices are generally effective in sorting pavements according to their relative need. (c) On an individual, section-by-section basis, composite indices do not and cannot reliably identify the upper population percentiles generally sought. Approximately one-third of the systemwide worst 20% may fail to be identified as such. (d) Relatively coarse increments of measurement can be used in multiple parameter indices with small practical effect on index efficiency, facilitating systemwide data collection. (e) Statistical analyses will indeed help--but must not be allowed to hide--the extremely subjective process of composite index development.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1311/1311-028.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ASSESSING+COMPOSITE+DISTRESS+EVALUATIONS&author=R.+Barros&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051509
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1311, Pavement Management: Data Collection, Analysis, and Storage 1991. 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:
  • Barros, Ricardo
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 205-213
• Monograph Title: Pavement management: data collection, analysis, and storage, 1991
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1311
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Defects; Pavement distress; Pavement management systems; Pavements; Ratings; Resource allocation; Strategic planning
• Old TRIS Terms: Composite distress indices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00621645
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051509
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 30 1992 12:00AM