This paper was titled at the session titled `Innovative pavement design and evaluation techniques'. Pavement management systems and integrated system management concepts have been around for a long time and indeed continue to be developed. These systems are designed primarily to handle huge inventories of data and analysis techniques deemed necessary to properly manage very large road and infrastructure systems. The support needed for maintaining such systems requires complex, automated data collection, expert product knowledge and the utilisation of very sophisticated software. Typically, attempts to downsize such systems and adapt them for application in small municipalities are not successful. The lack of success is related to the shortage of financial and technical resources of most lower tier municipalities to provide the level of field data collection, data input, expert knowledge and system upgrades needed to maintain a functional system. This paper describes a simplified approach to managing the road systems of smaller municipalities which is inexpensive, targets their specific needs and expectations and is simple enough that the system can be maintained by non-professional municipal staff with a minimum of training. It can be operated and maintained on a conventional desktop or laptop computer. The systems can, however, be expanded to include other infrastructure categories such as bridges and culverts, equipment and buildings and sidewalks. The modified pavement condition/evaluation methods developed are accurate and valid; yet require a minimum amount of actual field data collection. The paper will explain the simplified methods and rationale used in developing benchmark costing, the methods used for predicting performance, determining priorities, and setting budgets based upon maximising value and return on investment. the system is designed to be easy to update on an annual basis. Output presentation provide simple indices of the existing and projected system adequacy. They also provide budget estimates of expenditures needed to maintain the current level of network adequacy or to upgrade it to a desired higher level. The system is also capable of prioritising the road rehabilitation program to coincide with any chosen budget and ensures that maximum value, in terms of overall network priorities, is received. It gives the municipality a simple management and decision-making tool to allow them to allocate scarce resources in a fully rational and justifiable manner. (A)
Abstract