2013 Session: 479

• Effectiveness Evaluation of Mississippi's Pavement Warranty Program
  Abstract: More and more state highway agencies have adopted pavement warranty programs in their project contracting in order to foster contractor innovation, enhance pavement performance, reduce agency costs, and preserve pavement construction investment. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) initiated its pavement warranty program in 2000. This study evaluated the effectiveness of MDOT’s pavement warranty program, using the rutting, cracking, IRI, and other typical surface distress data that were collected and stored in MDOT’s pavement management system database. The distributions of the pavement performance data at different service times were developed for both warranty and non-warranty projects to reveal the pavement performance characteristics under the two contracting methods. Furthermore, pairwise comparison of the distributions of pavement performance data at different service times was conducted to investigate the pavement deterioration patterns over time for both warranty and non-warranty pavements. Finally, two-sample t-tests were performed to compare the performance of warranty versus non-warranty pavements at the same service times. The results of the study showed that the deterioration rate of the warranty pavements was slower than the non-warranty pavements and the performance of the warranty pavements was superior to the non-warranty pavements at the same service times. Based on the statistical analyses, it could be concluded that the pavement warranty program in Mississippi can effectively improve the pavement performance for the state.
  Authors: Qi, Yan; Wang, Feng; El Gendy, Amin; Li, Yibo
  Authors: Qi, Yan; Wang, Feng; El Gendy, Amin; Li, Yibo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-3644
• Current Practices for Prioritization of Rehabilitation and Preventive Maintenance of Pavement Projects in Texas
  Abstract: With finite resources and an extensive road network to maintain, state agencies must make optimal and cost-effective decisions to prioritize roadways to receive rehabilitation (RH) and preventive maintenance (PM) treatments. Prioritization methods implemented by state agencies range from a simple ranking of projects based on judgment to comprehensive optimization by mathematical programming models. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts make RH and PM decisions based on data extracted from the Pavement Management Information System (PMIS). Each district uses a combination of approaches that rely significantly on judgment for identifying RH and PM projects. There is a pressing need to develop a simple, comprehensive prioritization method that reflects state-wide experience, while it is easy to implement using PMIS data. A state-wide survey was developed to obtain the various methods the districts use to make these decisions. The responses obtained suggested that the PMIS data combined with visual inspection are the main tools use to prioritize projects. A computer tool was developed utilizing the information obtained from the survey data. It relies on a prioritization index based on the weights assigned to various distresses, as well as other factors such as traffic levels and structural condition. This computer tool was successfully verified by comparing its output to actual decisions made by TxDOT district personnel.
  Authors: Dessouky, Samer H; Papagiannakis, A. Thomas; Krugler, Paul E.; Freeman, Thomas John
  Authors: Dessouky, Samer H; Papagiannakis, A. Thomas; Krugler, Paul E.; Freeman, Thomas John
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-3751
• Findings from International Scan on Managing Pavements and Monitoring Performance
  Abstract: Nine pavement and asset managers from the United States (U.S.) participated in an International Scan on Managing Pavements and Monitoring Performance. Four members were from state agencies, 3 from the Federal Highway Administration, 1 from a university technology transfer program and 1 consultant served as report facilitator. The scan team sought input on processes for implementing sustainable performance-based programs, effective communication methods for upper management and legislative support, agency cultures that support performance based programs, and techniques, tools, analyses and reporting that supports performance based management. Agencies selected for the visits had experience with managing their pavement networks under constrained budgets. The team traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Netherlands and England and gathered information from 15 agencies.While the initial focus of the scan was on pavement management, the team found that some of the agencies conduct pavement management within an asset management framework. The findings are thus equally applicable to assets other than pavements. The key findings include the following: agency culture supports a long-term view towards managing pavements, elected officials understand their responsibilities as stewards of public funds, the road network is managed as a service provided to the traveling public, agency priorities are known and agency personnel are held accountable for their actions, agencies recognize the importance of building internal capacity and capabilities, and efficiency and value drive program delivery approaches.The scan team selected four focus areas that it believes have value in the U.S. In developing the long term view of managing assets, the visited agencies used long term financial plans and asset management plans. The scan team highly recommends that these plans be integrated into day-to-day practice in state and local highway agencies. A goal in the area of accountability is to foster the use of asset management plans and long term financial plans to optimize short-term investments to improve asset performance, but also report the unfunded long-term liabilities so elected and appointed officials understand the degree to which the transportation system is sustainable. Understanding unfunded liability will help elected and appointed officials, agency personnel at all levels, the public and the media realize the importance of sustainable asset management programs. Visited agencies discussed recurring independent assessments of the asset management plan and the long term financial plan to improve accountability, credibility and transparency with elected and appointed officials. Finally, the scan team saw the importance of people, processes and data within transportation agencies to develop and use the asset management and long term financial plans. Broad skills in the areas of engineering, contract administration, economics and accounting are needed.
  Authors: Zimmerman, Kathryn A.; Corley-Lay, Judith B.; Wlaschin, Butch; Tetreault, Richard M.
  Authors: Zimmerman, Kathryn A.; Corley-Lay, Judith B.; Wlaschin, Butch; Tetreault, Richard M.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-1312
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Development and Implementation of a Network-Level Pavement Optimization Model for Ohio Department of Transportation
  Abstract: Optimal use of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation budget is essential in a constrained budget environment such as now. This paper presents the development and implementation of a network-level optimization model within a pavement management information system (PMIS) for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Future pavement condition is predicted based on historical pavement data using a Markov transition probability model. Such transition probabilities are updated automatically when new condition data become available each year. The network-level optimization model integrates a linear programming model and the Markov transition probability model. This optimization tool is capable of (1) calculating the minimum budget required to achieve a desired level of pavement network condition, (2) maximizing the improvements of pavement network condition with a given amount of budget, and (3) determining the corresponding optimal treatment policy and budget allocations. It can be used by highway agencies as a decision support tool for network-level pavement management decisions.
  Authors: Wang, Shuo; Chou, Eddie Yein-Juin; Williams, Andrew
  Authors: Wang, Shuo; Chou, Eddie Yein-Juin; Williams, Andrew
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-2035
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Findings from International Scan on Managing Pavements and Monitoring Performance
  Authors: Corley-Lay, Judith
  Authors: Corley-Lay, Judith
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-1312
• Development and Implementation of a Network-Level Pavement Optimization Model for Ohio Department of Transportation
  Authors: Wang, Shuo
  Authors: Wang, Shuo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-2035
• Effectiveness Evaluation of Mississippi's Pavement Warranty Program
  Authors: Qi, Yan
  Authors: Qi, Yan
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-3644
• Current Practices for Prioritization of Rehabilitation and Preventive Maintenance of Pavement Projects in Texas
  Authors: Dessouky, Samer
  Authors: Dessouky, Samer
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 479
  Paper Number: 13-3751