This paper was presented at the "Innovative life cycle costing analysis for pavements" session. These proceedings are available on CD-ROM. Life cycle costing is an economic analysis technique that allows for the comparison of various alternative pavement designs that have varying initial costs, maintenance and rehabilitation requirements throughout the life of the pavement. Since 1987 the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has instituted a procedure for the comparison of the life cycle costs of four typical freeway pavement designs, including both rigid and flexible models. This tool has become especially important over the past two years in comparing proposed designs submitted for Design-Build contracts as well as Total Project Management Proposals for the planning and design of highway projects. A study was set up in 1997 to review the Ministry's life cycle analysis to ensure that this methodology was unbiased, realistic and incorporated recent technological developments. A steering committee was established with membership made up of representatives from both the concrete and hot mix paving industries and from the Ministry of Transportation. After requesting proposals a consultant was assigned to conduct the study. Although the study is ongoing, several preliminary recommendations will be discussed in the paper. The paper will discuss the background research, user cost programs available and their validity, and the benefits of using a probabilistic approach to life cycle costing. (A)
Abstract