Modeling Pavement Performance and Preservation

摘要

The number of highway lane-miles in the United States increased by 7% from 1980 to 2007, while vehicle-miles of travel almost doubled. During the same period, the Federal Highway Trust Fund (the major source of funding for highways) grew by only 40% in constant 1980 dollars. With growth in trade and commerce, truck traffic levels are expected to increase significantly in the future. Highway agencies throughout the United States are facing complex decisions about maintaining, repairing, and renewing existing pavements in the most cost-effective ways. Decision makers need to learn: to what degrees different pavement preservation treatments will improve a pavement condition; how pavement conditions will change over time; when to apply which treatment to what section; and what budget level will be needed to maintain and improve pavement conditions.