The surface characteristics of pavements contribute to good functional performance. These characteristics are gaining in significance with the shift of focus from new construction and major rehabilitation to pavement preservation. Functional performance is determined by how well the pavement serves the user. Until now, riding comfort--a concept developed in 1957--had been the dominant concern. Today the greater need is to improve other important functional surface characteristics of pavements. The new pavement preservation technologies may enable researchers to develop guidelines for the functional surface characteristics of pavements that maintain ride comfort but also contribute to reductions in fatalities and injuries, as well as in highway noise.
Abstract