WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

Our approach, and key service differentiator, is based on three, time proven fundamentals:

Answer the questions that are being asked - don’t over-engineer the project or make it needlessly complicated. Databases and the application of technology are meant to simplify asset management, not make it more difficult.

Service and quality are paramount to success – the right blend of technically correct data, condition rating, and reporting will provide the agency with  long-term, stable solutions. Providing effective and reliable service to the client remains our top priority.

Local understanding and communication is key – it is important that all stakeholders understand the impacts of their decisions, and have the system outputs react accordingly. We excel in making ourselves readily available and familiar with local needs and conditions.

Preservation of existing roads and street systems has become a major activity for all levels of government. Because municipalities must consistently optimize the spending of their budgets, funds that have been designated for pavement must be used as effectively as possible. The best method to obtain the maximum value of available funds is through the use of a pavement management system.

Pavement management is the process of planning, budgeting, designing, evaluating, and rehabilitating a pavement network to provide maximum benefit with available funds.

A pavement management system is a set of tools or methods that assist decision makers in finding optimal strategies for providing and maintaining pavements in a serviceable condition over a given time period.  The intent is to identify the optimum level of long-term funding to sustain the network at a predetermined level of service while incorporating local conditions and constraints.

 The streets that are repaired while in good condition will cost less over their lifetime than those left to deteriorate to a poor condition.  Without an adequate routine pavement maintenance program, streets require more frequent reconstruction, thereby costing millions of extra dollars.

The key to a successful pavement management program is to develop a reasonably accurate performance model of the roadway, and then identify the optimal timing and rehabilitation strategy.  The resultant benefit of this exercise is realized by the long term cost savings and increase in pavement quality over time. Pavements typically deteriorate rapidly once they hit a specific threshold. A $1 investment after 40% lifespan is much more effective than deferring maintenance until heavier overlays or possibly reconstruction are required just a few years later.

Once implemented, an effective pavement information management system can assist agencies in developing long-term rehabilitation programs and budgets.  The key is to develop policies and practices that delay the inevitable total reconstruction for as long as practical yet still remain within the target zone for cost effective rehabilitation.  That is, as each roadway approaches the steepest part of its deterioration curve, apply a remedy that extends the pavement life, at a minimum cost, thereby avoiding costly heavy overlays and reconstruction.The following image illustrates the concept of extending pavement life through the application of timely rehabilitations.

Ideally, the lower limit of the target zone shown in the image above would have a minimum PCI value in the 60 to 70 range to keep as many streets as possible requiring a thin overlay or less.  The upper limit would tend to fall close to the higher end of the Very Good category – that is a pavement condition score approaching 85.  Other functions of a pavement management system include assessing the effectiveness of maintenance activities, new technologies, and storing historical data and images.

For most municipalities, a prioritization methodology based on pavement condition, pavement materials, functional class, and strength rating is used to analyze the network condition and develop the proposed 5 year rehabilitation plan. 

The analysis methodologies and data collection technologies at IMS are based on ASTM D6433 Standard Practice for Roads and Parking Lots Pavement Condition Index Surveys for assessment of pavement surface condition and the International Roughness Index (IRI) for quantification of pavement roughness.  These measurements of pavement quality are combined to form an overall 0 to 100 Pavement Condition Index (PCI), with 100 being the best.

Want to learn more about setting up a pavement management program in your city? Check out "Designing and Implementing a Pavement Management System" - An IMS Whitepaper
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The role of the street network as a factor in the City’s well-being cannot be overstated.  In the simplest of terms, roadways form the economic backbone of a community.  They provide the means for goods to be exchanged, commerce to flourish, and commercial enterprises to generate revenue.  As such, they are an investment to be maintained.

The overall condition of an agency’s infrastructure and transportation network is a key indicator of economic prosperity. Roadway networks, in general, are one of the most important and dynamic sectors in the global economy. They have a strong influence on not only the economic well-being of a community, but a strong impact on quality of life. Well-maintained road networks experience multiple socioeconomic benefits through greater labor market opportunities and decreasing income gap. 

As a crucial link between producers and their markets, quality road networks ensure straightforward access to goods and drive global and local economies. Likewise, higher network quality has a strong correlation to improvements in household consumption and income. Roads also act as a key element to social cohesion by acting as a median for integration of bordering regions. This social integration promotes a decreased gap in income along with diversity and a greater sense of community that can play a large role in decreasing rates of poverty.

Conversely, deterioration of roads can have adverse effects on a community and may bring about important and unanticipated welfare effects. Local governments should be aware of when cutting transportation budgets. Poor road conditions increase fuel and tire consumption while shortening intervals between vehicle repair and maintenance. In turn, these roads result in delayed or more expensive deliveries for businesses and consumers. Economic effects of poor road networks, such as time consuming and costly rehabilitation, can be reduced if a proactive maintenance approach is successfully implemented. To accomplish this, a pavement assessment and analysis should be completed every few years in an effort update the budget models and rehabilitation plans.

​It is difficult to know what the future holds, but maintaining a 5-10 year plan that is based on best pavement management practices and defensible data can go a long way toward saving your city valuable tax-dollars and improving the level of service in your community.


​Want to learn more about setting up a pavement management program in your city? Check out "Designing and Implementing a Pavement Management System" - An IMS Whitepaper