Verification of Surface Condition Evaluation Subsystem for Airport Asphalt Pavement Management in Japan

An airport pavement management system (APMS) has been under development in Japan. In particular, a surface condition evaluation subsystem based on the method of a Pavement Rehabilitation Index (PRI) has been in use for two decades or more. This PRI method was completed in the early 1980s as a means of evaluating the surface condition of airport pavements by calculation based on objective measurements of surface conditions, as derived from the subjective opinions of pavement engineers. By comparing the calculated PRI value against appropriate criteria, the need for pavement rehabilitation work can be judged for runway, taxiway, and apron pavements. The focus of this study is the evaluation subsystem of Japan's APMS. It is described in outline, along with the closely related rehabilitation subsystem. The evaluation of surface conditions using the subsystem is described in detail and use of the results to judge the need for rehabilitation work is explained. Some practical results of applying the method to airport asphalt pavements, which change most rapidly with time, are also presented. In the analysis, the present conditions of airport pavements are summarized, and compared with the results of surveys conducted about 20 years ago. Further, the annual change in pavement condition is analyzed in consideration of various factors that may have an influence, such as the location of the airport, the foundation design, and so on. Finally, the validity of the PRI method is evaluated.