Modeling Roughness Progression by Measurements of Runway Surface Profiles

This paper describes how roughness represents a key parameter in Pavement Management System (PMS) as it affects safety of aircraft and riding comfort on the other. This paper presents the main results of an extensive experimental campaign aimed at characterizing the longitudinal and transversal variability of a runway pavement roughness are presented. Forty eight longitudinal profile alignments have been acquired on a runway of an Italian Regional Airport with the use of a high-performance laser-based profiling device. Spectral properties of runway profiles have been carefully analyzed in order to detect stationary characteristics. Statistical analyses have been performed in order to identify optimal monitoring policies for maintenance purposes. By elaborating the acquired profile data together with cumulated traffic, it has been possible to develop a semi-empirical roughness degradation model that may assist the pavement engineer in the optimal allocation of maintenance interventions.