Road asset management research program. Annual report 2005

Finnish Road Administration aims at good management of its road assets. To improve asset management Road Administration has launched a four-year(2003-2006) research program. The goal of the program is to create the knowledge and the methods for managing the road network and its life cycle efficiently. The results of this applied research will be implemented as a part of daily operations of the Finnish Road Administration. The last year of the Road Asset Management research program is starting. This report is a survey of the principles and the first three years of the research program. Also the research projects planned for the year 2006 are introduced. So far 35 out of over 60 research projects have been finished.The year report 2005 accentuates implementing and exploiting the results more than before, because the meaning of these has grown during the research program. Therefore a RoadShow was carried out in Road Administration regional offices in the autumn 2005. In the RoadShow essential regional results were introduced. One of the objectives of the research program has been to improve cooperation with universities and to educate new experts.The projects finished have been related to road asset values, consistent condition classification, pavement parameters, extraction costs, definition of information services concept and coordination of road asset management and procurement models. Developing parameters for automatic damage control, implementing a control system of the network level, evolving management of the gravel roads and developing basic communication supporting road asset management are the examples of the ongoing research projects. This report is found at http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/julkaisut/pdf/3200994-v-voh_vaylaomaisuuden_hallinnan_tutkohjelma.pdf