Asset Management

FHWA Study to Assess Highway Infrastructure Health

final report

prepared for
Federal Highway Administration

date
March 22, 2011

Table of Contents

• 1.0 Project Background
  • 1.1  Objectives
  • 1.2  Summary of Existing Practices and Data
  • Data Collection
  • Pavement Condition Data
  • Bridge Condition Data
  • Overall Health
• 2.0 Phase I Highlights and Recommendations
  • 2.1  Phase I Milestones
  • 2.2  Key Findings from Phase I
  • Defining Good/Fair/Poor
  • Pavement Condition Metrics
  • Bridge Condition Metrics
  • Overall Health
  • 2.3  Pilot Program
  • Pilot Corridor Selection
• 3.0  Phase II Work Plan
• 3.1  Task 5 - Data Collection
• National Data
• State Data
• Field Data
  • Step 1. Establish Data Collection and Analysis Procedures
  • Step 2. Secure Data Collection Vendor(s)
  • Step 3. Conduct Data Collection
  • Step 4. Analyze Data
• 3.2  Task 6 - Identification of Critical Data and Tools
• 3.3  Task 7 - Pilot Study Reports
• 3.4  Task 8 - TWG Meeting
• Summary of Deliverables
• 3.5  Schedule

Objective

The objective of this study is to define a consistent and reliable method to document infrastructure health with a focus on pavements and bridges on the Interstate System (that can be expanded to the National Highway System) and to develop a framework for tools that can provide FHWA and State DOTs ready access to key information that will allow for better and more complete assessments of infrastructure health nationally.  The goal of the proposed work is to evaluate how performance/condition data can be used for corridor and system management, and facilitate analysis of performance measures and system health for a multi-state Interstate highway corridor. Data quality and data collection differences between States are important issues to be addressed.  This work will compliment efforts underway (i.e. such as FHWA’s Pavement Health Tool initiative, AASHTO’s Bridge element inspection manual, and various activities being undertaken by AASHTO’s performance management Task Forces, and NCHRP) to develop improved methodologies that could be used as the basis for performance measurement within an infrastructure performance based program.  Critical work areas within this project will better support FHWA and AASHTO’s role in managing a performance based infrastructure program. 

Statement of Work (SOW)

The following work is to be undertaken under this initiative: 

• Phase I – Develop a Methodology to Document Infrastructure Health including the formation of a Technical Working Group (completed, see report posted on our website)
• Phase 2 – Conducting a Pilot Study to Document Infrastructure Health (ongoing)
• Phase 3 – Holding a National Meeting in October 2011 to Identify Preferred Approach(s) to Document Infrastructure Performance.

Summary:

Reports will be developed for each Phase of the study.  Key issues to be addressed at the National Meeting and included in the final report, with the goal to  identify the best approach/es to define pavement and bridge performance for the Interstate highway system will include:

• How will infrastructure defined in categories of Good, Fair, and Poor condition?
• What metric/s will be used to qualify infrastructure in condition categories of Good, Fair and Poor condition?
• Who will collect the data?
• Who will report the data and where will the data reside?
• What are the best reports that can be used to represent infrastructure performance and health?