Enhanced Pavement Preservation Using A Lane-based, Image-Tracking, GIS-enabled, and Life-cycle Activity Integrated Chuning PMS

Highway construction in China has grown rapidly for the past 10 years, reaching 60,300 km in 2008. Opened to traffic in 2006, the Chuning Highway is an 84.5 km, 4-lane strategic highway connecting the Anhui Province and the Nanjing economic region in Jiangsu Province. Based on Chuning Highway's unique characteristics, a new lane-based, image-tracking, GIS-enabled, and life-cycle activity integrated pavement management system (PMS) is proposed to enhance the operations and decision-making processes of pavement preservation. While it is still technically challenging to implement such a detailed level PMS on a large-scale statewide roadway network, the proposed PMS has been successfully implemented to store and manage more than two years of pavement condition survey data, detailed axle-load traffic volume, pavement structural design, roadway plan drawings, and pavement and roadway images. Cases have demonstrated the benefits and the feasibility of implementing the proposed system to improve pavement preservation decision-making and operations. The developed system provides a framework to integrate lane-based life-cycle activities for developing a reliable pavement performance forecasting model and accurate life-cycle cost analysis. It is also hoped that the developed system provides important guidance for developing a detailed lane-based PMS on a large-scale roadway network.