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Browsing by Author "Ningyuan, Li"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    30 Years – 20 State DOTs: Trends in Pavement Management observed through real world Implementation at the State DOT Level
    Zavitski, Jeffrey L.; Piane, Robert R. (2013-06-04)
    Since the first International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets 30 years ago in 1985, there has been continuous enhancement and evolution of pavement management system (PMS) technology to produce more effective recommendations coming out of an agency's PMS. Improvements in data collection, performance measures, deterioration modeling, dynamic segmentation, treatment algorithms, triggering mechanisms and optimization technologies have led to significant improvements in PMS strategy recommendations as well as the acceptance of those recommendations in both centralized and de-centralized State Departments of Transportation (DOT). Significant efforts have also been invested in methodologies and technologies to integrate PMS into an overall asset management system (AMS) at the State DOT level utilizing cross asset optimization technologies. This paper will examine the evolution of pavement management from the desktop environment to today's enterprise pavement management systems within 20 State DOTs that use a common software platform and present significant changes in pavement management methodologies that lead to increased use and acceptance of the PMS recommendations and adoption within the agency. It will also examine current trends that will impact the systems of tomorrow including integration with other decision making tools, capturing field data, and alternative approaches to optimization.
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    Determination Of Pavement Surface Cracks From Video-Images Using An Image Scale-Space Approach
    Armenakis, C.; Ningyuan, Li (2012)
    Assessment of pavement surface distress is an important component of the pavement management process. Pavement surface distresses characterize failures and distortions of the pavement surface structure. A large number of highway surface images have been collected through the application of a video image system. We present an automated approach that detects pavement surface cracks from a forward viewing video camera system. Initially the oblique imagery is transformed to a rectified one which supports quantitative measurements of the crack patterns. For the detection and extraction of pavement surface distress elements, we propose to use a scale-space image approach, where the image scale is defined based on the level of detail of the image structure to be detected. Finally, the detection of crack patterns is performed considering the image as a 3D intensity surface where the bright and dark lines are considered as ridges and valleys. The approach is based on determining the local directions of the image curvature along the curvilinear lines, and determining where along these directional profiles the second derivative of the line profile reaches its maximum absolute value.
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    Measuring Pavement Condition Data for a Long-term Pavement Performance Study on New Zealand Roads
    Brown, Douglas N. (2015-06-04)
    New Zealand like most countries has "site specific" factors which influence pavement performance, some of which are not well investigated or covered in current pavement deterioration models. Apart from the wide variation in climatic conditions, New Zealand has an extensive roading network which is primarily constructed using an unbound aggregate base with a thin surface treatment layer or chip seal wearing-coarse. This data collection project, now in its thirteenth year, was initiated to obtain condition data specific to the New Zealand network. The project brief specified the measurement of pavement roughness, rutting, and texture, using reference or class1 type measuring instruments, coupled with a detailed visual inspection of each calibration site. The aim being to: Accurately measure pavement condition over a period of years and define performance on the range of conditions found in New Zealand. Provide an accurate data base for subsequent research. The end goal being better roading solutions, more accurate research, improved deterioration models, and cost effective improvements to the New Zealand road network. This paper describes the equipment used and why it was selected. It details the equipment calibration procedures and ways to determine the accuracy of the measuring equipment. It also explains the methodology adopted to collect the pavement condition data, and discusses the difficulties encountered. It clarifies achievable levels of measurement repeatability, something that is not currently well defined, and highlights some unexpected results obtained on the different pavement surfaces encountered. For those countries and road controlling authorities considering Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) studies or calibration experiments for pavement deterioration modeling, it is believed that this paper will provide useful information on the equipment needs, calibration, validation, and data collection methodology.
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    Optimizing Highway Funds by Integrating RWD Data into Pavement Management Decision Making
    Steele, Douglas A.; Beckemeyer, Curt A.; Van, Thomas P. (2015-06-04)
    Pavement structural response is an important indicator of pavement structural capacity, which influences performance measures, such as cracking. Traditionally, pavement management systems have tracked performance using condition indices based on visual distress; however, condition indices based on surface conditions only do not provide a measure of pavement structural response, and therefore, an estimate of pavement structural capacity. The Rolling Wheel Deflectometer (RWD) is an innovative device that efficiently collects network-level pavement structural response produced by an18-kip single axle semi-trailer load traveling at normal highway speeds. This makes the RWD highly productive and eliminates the need for lane closures, which increases the safety and mobility of the traveling public. Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) collaborated with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to study the potential benefit of integrating RWD data in their pavement management process. The study included RWD data collection on over 1,000 miles of ODOT highways, processing to determine representative pavement deflections for each Pavement Management System (PMS) section, incorporation of structural index in their decision tree, and generation of rehabilitation plans with and without the structural index to evaluate their effect on management decisions and the optimization of highway funds. The results showed a significant cost savings when incorporating the RWD-based structural index, primarily due to the use of more cost-effective pavement preservation techniques on pavement sections with good structural response (i.e., low deflections). In addition, the strategy incorporating the RWD-based structural index made better use of funding by delaying treatment on roads with poor structural response until pavement rehabilitation was a cost-effective option.
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    Taking the Namibian Road Management System to the next level
    Tekie, Sophia (2015-05-01)
    The Road Management System of Namibia Roads Authority has been in operation since 1998, with continuous updating and maintenance throughout this period. The System, utilizing both international acceptable methodologies and local experience, is considered one of the most successful systems in Africa. RMS of Namibia has been in a leading role because of adhering to international standards but in a localized context. It can assist many developing countries to take this system as a prototype for their own development. The current system consists of several sub-systems, all integrated and accessible from one front end to assist the organization with strategic planning, tactical planning, design and project management. The continuous operation of the RMS, feedback from different levels of management and the international drive towards total asset management has highlighted specific needs to take the system to the next level. This paper summarizes the structure and functions of the existing system, highlights the benefits of continuous operation and system maintenance and then focuses on four main identified improvements namely, converting priorities to practical work programs, relevant key performance indicators and rationale for selected targets, balancing funding between new roads and maintaining existing ones and keeping track of ideal funding requirements, approved budgets, annual expenditure and impact thereof. It is called Network Integration Module version III.
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