TxDOT's pavement management information system : current status and future directions

The Texas Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) was planned in the early 1990s as a two phase implementation effort. In Phase 1, the focus was on providing information on network pavement conditions and funding requirements to TxDOT's administrative level in Austin. This phase is now complete; researchers have summarized the PMIS data into annual reports showing condition trends and the impact of varying funding levels. The PMIS data are also used increasingly for maintenance and rehabilitation fund allocation. Phase 2 focuses on improving PMIS implementation at the district level, the goal being to provide sufficient information to move from network to project level decision making. Phase 2 implementation cannot be achieved until key components are developed, such as the Pavement Layer Data Base, the ability to move to management sections and implementation of improved automation technology to facilitate data base integration and map-based reporting. This report provides a review of the current PMIS from a district perspective. Despite the limitations of the current system, over 70% of the districts view PMIS as both an Austin and district tool and most use it to assist with their project selection. This report describes Phase 1 system limitations together with a list of district supplied action items. The feedback from the district interviews and questionnaire survey was sufficiently positive to recommend full implementation of Phase 2.