Reliability in Network-Level Pavement Management Systems
The network-level Pavement Management System (NPMS) relies upon performance models to forecast needs and develop multi-year programs. These models are dominantly empirical and often utilized without considering the error surrounding them. Some local models have been shown to provide an R2 as low as 14%. Without demonstrating reasonable accuracy, these models cannot be considered as a rational means of supporting decisions in the NPMS. Furthermore, engineers must be provided a method of quantifying the risk associated with performance models before using them to make decisions. In a survey sent to all U.S. and Canadian state/regional highway agencies, 95% of the responding agencies reported neglecting model error in the NPMS. While material variability and model uncertainties are addressed in project-level pavement design, these concepts are absent at the network level. Using the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) as a model case, this research implements a reliability concept in the NPMS. The proposed concept utilizes a recent study which implements mechanistic-empirical (M-E) modeling in the NPMS. In a retroactive 5-year needs assessment of 86 sections, field data shows 23 of the 86 sections would have qualified for entry into the 5-year program. Estimating needs with M-E models would have resulted in 44 candidate sections compared to 85 estimated with linear models. Results show a reliability concept can improve the estimated needs. When using an 85% level of reliability, the estimation provided by the M-E models improves to 32 sections, a 70% increase in accuracy with respect to estimated needs.
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Schram, Scott Alan
- Abdelrahman, Magdy
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
- Date: 2010
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: DVD
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 17p
- Monograph Title: TRB 89th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Decision making; Design; Pavement design; Pavement management systems; Pavement performance
- Identifier Terms: Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
- Uncontrolled Terms: Performance modeling (pavements)
- Geographic Terms: Nebraska
- Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01152302
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 10-2294
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Mar 16 2010 6:12AM