Using Structural Evaluation for Pavement Management

Structural information collected using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) can play an importantrole in any state department of transportation (DOT) pavement management system when collected at the network level. Structural testing can be used to assess the current condition as well as to predict the future performance of existing pavements and can be an integral part of the decision making process as a component of the pavement management system (PMS). Most PMSs focus on functional evaluations of the pavements. This paper will show how network level structural evaluation can be integrated into a PMS, and how structural testing can be used to help in selecting the appropriate treatment strategy (from overlay thickness to replacement) and also used as part of a performance prediction tool to allow for more accurate forecasting of the pavement needs over a longer analysis period. The paper will discuss how some state DOTs have incorporated network level structural evaluation into their pavement management process and will discuss the steps needed to make this information part of the decision making process regarding pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, or replacement.