Implementing Pavement Management Systems for Local Agencies

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Systematic management of pavements has become increasingly important as pavements continue to age and deteriorate and funding levels have decreased due to reduced funding or increased competition for funds. The use of a pavement management system (PMS) is intended to provide roadway managers with a systematic process for generating answers to many of their pavement management questions. Pavement management can be simply defined as the process of maintaining the pavement infrastructure cost-effectively. The American Public Works Association (APWA) defines pavement management in the following way (1993): Pavement management is a systematic method for routinely collecting, storing, and retrieving the kind of decision-making information needed to make maximum use of limited maintenance (and construction) dollars. Pavement management is, in essence, a process that includes a series of steps that will help the user analyze work plan alternatives. Combined with practical judgment and local knowledge, the pavement management recommendations can be used to help make final roadway investment decisions.