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FHWA Policy Memorandums - Office of Engineering

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ACTION: ISTEA Pavement Management Systems
(Reply Due: January 17)

NOV 4 1994
Director, Office of Engineering HNG-41
Regional Administrators

We are approaching the first bench mark in implementing the Pavement Management System (PMS) provisions in ISTEA. By January 1, 1995, each State is required to submit to the division office the certification statement, work plan, and status for implementing its PMS. The division office should review the submission and forward its comments and a copy of the documents to the region. The regional office has the responsibility to review and accept the submission and notify the division office accordingly.

The purpose of this memorandum is twofold. First, we want to provide technical guidance and criteria in order to implement the PMS provisions in ISTEA in a complete and consistent manner. Secondly, we request your cooperation and assistance in providing us with PMS information, so we can continue to monitor the States' progress in developing and implementing their PMS's.

  1. During the past months, we have assisted several field offices in reviewing draft work plans and noted some deficiencies and inconsistencies that warrant attention. Presently, we need to focus on four technical items: (1) multi-year prioritization, (2) life-cycle cost analysis, (3) condition survey distresses, and (4) condition survey samples. Attached is technical guidance on these four items for your use. We have reiterated some of the fundamentals of PMS for the benefit of the States and divisions who are experiencing a high turnover and influx of engineers and managers who are new to PMS.

  2. For the past 8 years, the Pavement Management Branch has maintained a national database on the status of the States' PMS's that is used to assess and guide the national PMS program. With the advent of the ISTEA certification process, the information in the database will continue to play an important role in managing the national program. As you know, the information has always been collected and reported by the FHWA staff. We are requesting your cooperation and assistance to have the division office PMS specialists update this information when they concurrently review the States' PMS certifications and work plans. Please send the completed PMS survey form (copy attached) to the Pavement Management Branch, HNG-41 by January 17, 1995.

Implementing the PMS provisions in ISTEA is of vital importance to FHWA. The key to success is a strong joint effort between Headquarters and the field offices. We will continue to provide technical guidance and direction as needed to help achieve a comprehensive and consistent PMS program. If you have any questions, or need technical assistance, please contact Mr. Frank Botelho at 202-366-1336.

/s/ W. A. Weseman
William A. Weseman

2 Attachments


TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
  1. Multi-Year Prioritization. Multi-year prioritization is the heart of a PMS. It provides a prioritized listing of projects for which rehabilitation/preservation actions are recommended for each year of the planning horizon. The multi-year prioritized list of candidate projects and treatments is a "first cut" list that is normally produced by the Pavement Management Engineer(s) and submitted to the appropriate offices in the Agency to be used as input in developing the statewide pavement preservation program. The prioritization is based on priority factors, predicted performance, and economic analysis relative to the goals set by the State for its network. The candidate projects should have a high benefit cost ratio based on life-cycle cost analysis. The prioritization process must be objective, analytical, formalized, and automated (computerized for State and large local networks) in order to be stable and repeatable with time and changing of personnel. Its established engineering criteria and analytical methodology are the basis and means of producing and documenting an accountable and justifiable pavement preservation program.

    Many States have not yet established or utilized the above criteria for multi-year prioritization. Rather, they are prioritizing projects solely on a subjective, manual, and "worst first" basis. The field offices need to promote and support major efforts by the State highway agencies (SHA's) to satisfy the intent of our regulation on multi-year prioritization.

  2. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. The need and purpose for life- cycle cost analysis is strongly emphasized in ISTEA. The FHWA issued an interim policy statement on life-cycle cost on July 11, 1994. This policy statement should be used by the field when evaluating the States' life-cycle cost analysis procedures. Prioritization and life-cycle cost analysis are the analytical basis for demonstrating that the expenditure of Federal-aid funds are justifiable and cost effective.

    A State PMS must include a life-cycle cost analysis (that is commensurate with the level of investment and types of preservation treatments) for candidate projects in order to compare alternative treatments and strategies to produce a cost effective preservation program that satisfies the goals of the Agency. The life-cycle cost analysis should be based on the performance prediction and economic models used in multi-year prioritization. Life-cycle cost analysis of specific project treatments should consider future treatments required to maintain the pavement until reconstruction. Life-cycle cost analysis of network-level strategies requires an analysis period of at least one complete cycle in the life of the network, which should be at least 35 years.

  3. Condition Survey Distresses. Pavement condition data are the foundation for measuring and monitoring, the "health" of the network, the current and predicted performance of pavements, and the remaining service life of the network. A PMS condition survey bridges the "information gap" between general planning data and detailed design data. Condition data are combined with performance data, life-cycle cost analysis, and priority factors to develop the multi-year list of prioritized projects. The type, extent, and severity of the individual distresses are also used to determine viable preservation treatments.

    The types of distresses that are measured in a pavement condition survey should be chosen on the basis that they support the decisions on where, when, and how to preserve the network. A "sufficiency rating" (commonly used for planning purposes) or a single distress survey do not constitute a PMS condition survey. The premise of using either one as a "common denominator" does not provide the engineering detail needed in PMS's.

  4. Condition Survey Samples. The reliability of condition data is crucial to the credibility of a PMS. The least amount of error will occur if 100 percent of the pavement is sampled. The viability of sampling 100 percent is only possible when using automated survey equipment, such as the equipment that is currently used to measure roughness, rutting, and faulting. In the absence of automated equipment, SHA's customarily measure distress data using an approximate 10 percent representative sample. That is, a 10 percent sample on each and every mile of the network. This may somewhat increase or decrease depending on the variability in pavement condition.

    Because of the expanded network coverage of ISTEA (i.e., a total of 936,000 centerline miles of Federal-aid highway), some SHA's are exploring cost cutting measures to reduce the added burden of collecting pavement condition data. Generally, reducing the number of distresses or reducing the sample size does not result in real cost savings because of the increased risk of errors in PMS. However, SHA's can achieve real cost savings by reducing the frequency of the condition surveys. Condition surveys can be conducted every 2 years instead of every year. Biennial surveys should be supplemented with annual updates for newly improved sections and when unexpected changes occur caused by either the environment, loading, premature failures, or accelerated deterioration.

While these fundamental criteria apply to all Federal-aid highways, we want to prevent unnecessary data collection and analysis burdens, so PMS practitioners should be reminded that the level of effort needed to do items 1, 2, and 3 is far less for lower order roads than for the proposed National Highway System.



                         NHS PMS SURVEY
      (Question II(A) applies to both the NHS and Non-NHS)

I.  ORGANIZATION

    A.  State   _________________________     

    B.  FHWA Region ____ 

    C.  State Staffing Resources

The following staffing information pertains only to the staff at
the central office.  It does not apply to district staff or field
data collection crews.

1.  Does the SHA have a person who is designated as the State's
PMS Engineer (1)?  Yes____  No____  (If no, still provide a name,
address, etc. for the point of contact).  

Name ____________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
City ______________________ ST __ Zipcode________PlusFour________
Phone ______________________    FAX _____________________________

2.   Does the PMS Engineer work full time on PMS? Yes____  No____ 
If part-time, what percentage is spent on PMS?  Part-Time
Percentage______.

3.  Does the PMS Engineer have the full responsibility and
authority to lead the development, implementation, and operation
of PMS?  Yes____  No____.

4.  If NO, how is PMS managed?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

5.  If the PMS engineer has an assistant(s), staff, or in-house
support; indicate each position(person's name), percent time
spent on PMS, and a brief description of their primary
function(s).  This pertains only to the central office and
excludes condition survey crews.(Add additional names on separate
sheet.)
     Name        Percent Time Primary Function(s)
a.  ____________    ____________  _______________________________
b.  ____________    ____________  _______________________________
c.  ____________    ____________  _______________________________
____________________
     (1) PMS Engineer is the person who is in charge of leading
and working on developing, implementing, and operating the PMS on
a day-to-day basis.
_________________________________________________________________
D.  Does the State have an active PMS committee(s) or group(s)
that guide and update the PMS?  Yes _____ No _____.  Provide the
positions(i.e. pavement design, materials, etc.) of PMS
committee(s) members on an attached sheet.

II.  PMS DATABASE 

A. PMS Coverage
           ___________________________________________________
           |   Federal-aid Highway Mileage (Centerline)       |
           |__________________________________________________|
           |   Covered        |     Not Covered   |           |
           |__________________|___________________|___________|
           |  NHS  | Non NHS  |  NHS   | Non NHS  |   Total   |
___________|_______|__________|________|__________|___________|
|  State   |       |          |        |          |           |
|__________|_______|__________|________|__________|___________|
|  Local   |       |          |        |          |           |
|__________|_______|__________|________|__________|___________|
|Toll Roads|       |          |        |          |           |
|__________|_______|__________|________|__________|___________|

B.  Inventory Data         Yes     Under       Considering    No
                                  Development   In Future

1. Pavement type           ___       ___            ___       ___
2. Pavement width          ___       ___            ___       ___
3. Shoulder type           ___       ___            ___       ___
4. Shoulder width          ___       ___            ___       ___
5. Number of lanes         ___       ___            ___       ___
6. Layer thicknesses       ___       ___            ___       ___
7. Joint spacing           ___       ___            ___       ___
8. Load transfer           ___       ___            ___       ___
9. Subgrade classification ___       ___            ___       ___
10. Material properties    ___       ___            ___       ___
11. Resilient modulus      ___       ___            ___       ___
12.  Drainage              ___       ___            ___       ___
13.  Other (specify)  ___________________________________________

C.  Project History           Yes       Under          No 
                                       Development
1.  Construction              ___        ___           ___
2.  Rehabilitation            ___        ___           ___
3.  Maintenance (2)           ___        ___           ___




____________________
     (2) "Maintenance" refers to preventive maintenance not
corrective maintenance.  Corrective maintenance refers to pot
hole repair, etc.
_________________________________________________________________
D.  Condition Survey  Yes     Under     Considering No  Equipment
                           Development   In Future
1.  Ride              ___      ___          ___     ___  ________
2.  Rutting           ___      ___          ___     ___  ________
3.  Faulting          ___      ___          ___     ___  ________
4.  Cracking          ___      ___          ___     ___
5.  Surface Friction  ___      ___          ___     ___  ________
6.  Network-level
      Deflection      ___      ___          ___     ___  ________

E.  Distress               Yes     Under     Considering    No
                                Development   In Future
1.  High speed windshield 
    survey at 30 to 55 mph ____    ____          ____       ____
2.  Low speed survey at 
    0 to 10 mph            ____    ____          ____       ____
3.  Combination of high
    and low speed.         ____    ____          ____       ____
4.  35mm film viewed at
    a workstation.         ____    ____          ____       ____
5.  Video tape viewed at
    a workstation.         ____    ____          ____       ____
6.  Distress Identification  
    Manual with pictorial
    references used to 
    calibrate extent and
    severity.              ____    ____          ____       ____
7.  Fully automated.       ____    ____          ____       ____
    Specify equipment: _________________________________________

F.  What is the frequency of condition data collection on the
    NHS? _______________________________________________________

G.  How does the State collect their condition data?
     In House _______  Contractor(specify) _____________________

H.  Traffic/Load Data

1.  Does the PMS database:  Yes      Under     Considering    No
    contain:                       Development  In Future
     a.  Annual ESAL's      ___       ___          ___        ___
     b.  Forecast ESAL's    ___       ___          ___        ___
     c.  Cumulative ESAL's  ___       ___          ___        ___

2.  Does the PMS have an ESAL flow map that is route specific?

     Yes___ Under Development___ Considering in Future___ No___

I.   Does the PMS provide IRI or PSR(circle one) to FHWA HQ for
     the HPMS sample sites?

          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ____


J.  Does the PMS have a relational database?

          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ____
 
K.   How much work has been completed in developing the PMS
     database?  Development work would include: establishing data
     files, collecting data, loading data, writing application
     programs for analysis, etc..

          0-25% ____  25-50% ____  50-75% ____  75-100% ____

III.  INVESTMENT ANALYSES

A.  Prioritization

  1. Does the PMS office/unit produce a multi-year prioritized
     list of recommended candidate projects(this is considered a
     "first cut" list)?

          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ___

  2. What method does the PMS use to produce the multi-year
     prioritized list of projects?
                         Yes       Under      Considering    No
                                 Development    In Future
  a.  Subjective (3)     ____       ____           ____     ____

  b.  Objective (4)

     1.  Priority Model  ____       ____           ____     ____
     2.  Incremental 
          Benefit Cost   ____       ____           ____     ____
     3.  Marginal Cost
          Effectiveness  ____       ____           ____     ____ 
     4.  Optimization
                               Yes     Under     Considering  No
                                    Development   In Future
     a. Linear Programming     ___      ___          ___      ___
     b. Non-Linear Programming ___      ___          ___      ___
     c. Integer Programming    ___      ___          ___      ___
     d. Dynamic Programming    ___      ___          ___      ___
     e. Other (Specify)__________________________________________




____________________
     (3) "Subjective" indicates that the projects were
prioritized by individuals using only personal knowledge of the
roads.
     (4) "Objective" means that the projects were prioritized
using a repeatable analytical process.
_________________________________________________________________ 
3.   If the answer to question 2(b) is Yes or Under Development,
     who developed the software?
     In House _______  Contractor(specify) ______________.

  4. Check the factors used to prioritize projects:

                              Yes     Under     Considering   No
                                   Development    In Future
     a.  Distress             ___      ___          ___       ___
     b.  Ride                 ___      ___          ___       ___
     c.  Traffic              ___      ___          ___       ___
     d.  Functional class     ___      ___          ___       ___
     e.  Skid                 ___      ___          ___       ___
     f.  Structural adequacy  ___      ___          ___       ___
     g.  Other (Specify) ________________________________________

B.  Preservation Treatment
     1.  Does the PMS assign a preservation treatment to a
     candidate project?

          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ___

     2.  If the answer to question 1 is Yes or Under Development,
     which groups of treatments does the PMS cover? 

                              Yes       Under          No
                                     Development
          a.  Reconstruction  ___       _____         ____
          b.  Rehabilitation  ___       _____         ____
          c.  Maintenance (5) ___       _____         ____

     3.  What method is used to assign a preservation treatment
     to a candidate project.
                              Yes     Under     Considering   No
                                   Development   In Future
     a. Subjective (6)        ___      ___          ___       ___
     b. Objective (7)
       1. Matrix              ___      ___          ___       ___
       2. Decision tree       ___      ___          ___       ___
       3. Cost Benefit        ___      ___          ___       ___
       4. Optimization Method
          listed previously.  ___      ___          ___       ___
       5. Other (Specify) _______________________________________

____________________
     (5) "Maintenance" refers to preventive maintenance not
corrective maintenance.  Corrective maintenance refers to pothole
repair, etc.
     (6) "Subjective" indicates that the projects were
prioritized by individuals using only personal knowledge of the
roads.
     (7) "Objective" means that the projects were prioritized
using a repeatable analytical process.
_________________________________________________________________
     4.  If the answer to question 3(b) is Yes or Under
     Development, who developed the software?
          In House ____  Contractor(specify) ___________________

     5.  Does the PMS do a life-cycle cost analysis for the
     recommended preservation treatments?
                
          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ___

     6.  If the answer to question 5 is Yes or Under Development,
     who developed the software?
          In House ____  Contractor(specify) ____________________

C.   Pavement Performance Monitoring and Projection

     1.  Does the PMS monitor pavement performance?
             
          Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ___

     2.  Check all the pavement indices used to monitor pavement
     performance:

                              Yes     Under     Considering   No
                                   Development   In Future
     a. Ride                  ___      ___           ___     ___
     b. Distress              ___      ___           ___     ___
     c. Combined Index        ___      ___           ___     ___
     e. Other (Specify) _________________________________________
        
     3.  Is load data (cumulative ESAL's) used to monitor
     pavement performance?

     Yes___ Under Development___ Considering in Future___ No___

     4.  Does the PMS generate pavement performance curves?

     Yes___ Under Development___ Considering in Future___ No___

     5.  Are the curves developed for?
                              Yes     Under      Considering  No
                                   Development    In Future
        Family of pavements   ___      ___           ___      ___
        Each pavement         ___      ___           ___      ___

     6.  Does the PMS monitor and predict performance using?
                               Yes     Under     Considering  No
                                    Development   In Future
        Markov Transition      ___      ___           ___     ___
        Semi-Markov Transition ___      ___           ___     ___

     7.   Does the PMS monitor pavement performance using another
          method? (specify) _____________________________________
          _______________________________________________________

     8.   Does the PMS compute the Remaining Service Life of the
          network?

               Yes ____  Under Development ____  No ___

     9.   If the answer to question 8 is Yes or Under
          Development, who developed the software?  In House ____ 
          Contractor(specify)_______________________________

IV.  ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

A.   Is the performance data in the PMS database used to evaluate
     either the accuracy, quality, or the cost effectiveness for:
                                   Yes    Under    Considering No
                                       Development  In Future
     1.  New pavement design
          procedures               ___     ___         ___    ___
     2.  Overlay design procedures ___     ___         ___    ___
     3.  Rehabilitation techniques ___     ___         ___    ___
     4.  Materials                 ___     ___         ___    ___
     5.  Construction              ___     ___         ___    ___
     6.  Preventive maintenance    ___     ___         ___    ___
     7.  Mix designs               ___     ___         ___    ___
     8.  Other (Specify)___________________________________

V.  PRODUCTS

A.   Is the PMS's multi-year prioritized list of recommended
     projects used as input in the development of the State's: 
                                   Yes     Under        No
                                        Development
     1. Pavement Preservation
          Program                  ____     ____       ____
     2. Statewide Transportation
        Improvement Program(STIP)  ____     ____       ____
     3. Transportation Improvement
        Program(TIP)               ____     ____       ____

B.   Is the PMS's multi-year prioritized list(first cut) compared
     to the final approved list of pavement preservation projects
     for reasonableness?
         
     Yes___ Under Development___ Considering in Future___ No___

VI.  UPDATE

Does the SHA annually evaluate and update the PMS relative to the
agency's policies, engineering criteria, practices, experience,
and current information?

         Yes ____  Under Development ____  No


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