DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALBERTA'S PAVEMENT INFORMATION AND NEEDS SYSTEM

Alberta Transportation initiated a project in November 1980 to develop and implement a pavement management system (PMS) for the province of Alberta, Canada. A comprehensive project plan was developed in the first phase of the project, which commenced in November 1980 and was completed in January 1981. Carried out as a preplanning project, the first phase identified six successive stages for the overall total PMS development and implementation project. Stage 1 of the project, the development and implementation of a pavement information and needs system (PINS), was initiated in May 1981 and scheduled to be completed in September 1982. A major element of PINS is a set of models that predict performance and various data processing and analysis components that take the individual field measurements; calculate the performance measures in terms of pavement quality index, riding comfort index, structural adequacy index, and visual condition index; apply the performance prediction models; and identify both current and future needs. The major features of the PINS system and how the system fits into Alberta's overall PMS development and implementation are described. Specific attention is given to the details of performance prediction modeling and development of a pavement quality index concept.