Title: OPTIMIZATION OF HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION --PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF ASPHALT PAVEMENTS HELD DEFLT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AUGUST 23-26 1982. VOL 1 AND 2. -- NETHERLANDS
Abstract: Funds allocated for maintenance and rehabilitation of road pavements are becoming an increasingly important component of highway authority budgets. This paper describes an investigation into the effect of the maintenance/rehabilitation policy on the cost to the highway authority and the cost to the road user over a specified analysis period. Two-lane rural roads with a range of pavement structures, pavement conditions and traffic volumes are considered. The highway design model is used to estimate both authority and user costs under a range of maintenance/rehabilitation policies. Policies which minimize overall cost (authority cost plus user cost) are determined, together with the sensitivity of overall cost to maintenance/rehabilitation policies. Policies which minimize overall cost (authority cost plus user cost) are determined, together with the sensitivity of overall cost to maintenance/rehabilitation policy. A methodology for incorporating future uncertainties (traffic growth, monetary inflation and available funds) is included. The results of the study show that maintenance activities can significantly affect overall costs. It is realised that this study is very restrictive in terms of the road traffic situations considered. However, coupled with studies of a similar nature a reasonable basis is establised for this conclusion. Detailed conclusions concerning recommended maintenance practice for specific cases and the associated cost saving are presented. The point is made that the recommended maintenance practice can vary considerably depending on the aspects of the case being considered. Also, while cost increases associated with departures from the recommended strategy may be small when expressed on a percentage basis, the monetary value is by no means insignificant. The study indicates that quantities which depend on future events can be incorporated into a present-time evaluation in a realistic manner. Although decision analysis methods have been used in the areas of business management for several years, their adoption by road construction and maintenance authorities has been somewhat slower. Because discount rate has a major influence on costs when the analysis period is medium to long term, the need for a careful interpretation of the effect of inflation in evaluating future costs is emphasized. Further, considerable effort is warranted in order to obtain a satisfactory estimate valid for the duration of the analysis period.(a) for the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 815640.
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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