A common practice followed to rate the pavement surface condition is to use the ASTM D5340-12 procedure and estimate the pavement condition index (PCI) that helps prioritize maintenance needs and assists developing a pavement management system (PMS). However, ASTM-PCI that is dependent on time-based evaluation may not be suitable where there is a lack of historical records and it is being undertaken for the first time. To estimate a pavement's current PCI during the non-availability of historical data and establish a PMS incorporated with prioritized maintenance and optimized budget, a rational engineering criteria (EC) based methodological approach is required that is as robust as ASTM D5340-12. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a rational EC-based prioritization-optimization process PMS (POPMS) algorithm for a network that prioritizes maintenance strategies for identified pavement distresses and hence optimizes maintenance costs depending on budgetary allocations. An EC-based POPMS algorithm was based on a network length of 100.55 km, which followed prioritization-optimization process for single to multi-year programs. EC-PCI of pavement sections were estimated on the basis of segmented maintenance strategies including preventive and routine maintenance and reconstruction. EC-PCI was found to be rational since three distinct threshold zones were considered that could directly assign pavement maintenance strategies, which was straightforward and circularly referenced. Overall, POPMS algorithm facilitates practitioners to modify the threshold EC-based parameters that will estimate an optimal single/multiyear budget for maintenance as per the newly set threshold level, thus creating a whole new promising approach in the areas of roadway network level maintenance programs.

Focusing on the process of pavement management, this text covers topics such as data acquisition and evaluation, network level priority programming and project level design. Examples of working systems are provided, as well as guidance for implementation.