International Roughness Index

The International Roughness Index (IRI) is the roughness index most commonly obtained from measured longitudinal road profiles. It is calculated using a quarter-car vehicle math model, whose response is accumulated to yield a roughness index with units of slope (in/mi, m/km, etc.). Since its introduction in 1986, IRI has become the road roughness index most commonly used worldwide for evaluating and managing road systems. The International Roughness Index (IRI) is the roughness index most commonly obtained from measured longitudinal road profiles. It is calculated using a quarter-car vehicle math model, whose response is accumulated to yield a roughness index with units of slope (in/mi, m/km, etc.). Since its introduction in 1986, IRI has become the road roughness index most commonly used worldwide for evaluating and managing road systems. The measurement of IRI is required for data provided to the United States Federal Highway Administration, and is covered in several standards from ASTM International: ASTM E1926 - 08, ASTM E1364 - 95(2005), and others. IRI is also used to evaluate new pavement construction, to determine penalties or bonus payments based on smoothness.