Pavement condition assessment techniques

The author describes methods of assessing the condition of a road pavement, making particular reference to use and development of some of these methods in Northern Ireland by the Department of the Environment (NI) roads service. Equipment for assessment of traffic, surface characteristics, surface regularity, structural integrity and for assessment of the condition of individual layers is referred to. The main theme of the paper is the correct use of appropriate techniques to yield all the information required to evaluate, or predict, the failure of road surfaces. Finally the subject of maintenance management systems suitable for use with data from road surveys is briefly discussed. (TRRL)