To effectively evaluate, plan, design, construct, and repair the roadwaysa minimum acceptable condition must be defined. This will help evaluate the rationale of expending natural resources in relation to land development, access, mobility, and safety in order to prioritize and select roadway alternatives for particular purposes. No minimum acceptable condition has been defined for Iran. In this research the minimum acceptable conditions are developed based on an opinion survey of non-technical but high-level decision makers. Minimum roadway roughness values are developed in terms ofthe international roughness index (IRI). Higher sustainability of the infrastructure and lower use of non-renewable resources through reducing over-expenditure and under-maintenance is achievable. The results will help inproducing homogeneity in decision making bringing about a more socially equitable system of roadways. In a questionnaire, the high level officials are asked to choose the minimum acceptable service levels. The responses show distinct preference patterns for most of the roadway types. Survey results are investigated using guidelines from AASHTO and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Appropriate IRI limits and ranges are determined and adjusted for Iran. The results are also useful in developing specifications for pavement, accepting work from contractors, pavement management, and in roadway life cycle cost analysis. The results are subject to refinement over time. Once implemented and a uniform baseline established, an important refinement factor will be the user input and expectations. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
Abstract