This paper describes in general a strategic pavement management technology transfer program (PMTTP) to be implemented in China for provincial or municipal highway network management. The technology transfer concerns a new pavement management package that can be employed by different highway agencies. The package contains a non- going probabilistic based pavement performance prediction model and a Markov dynamic programming approach to optimization for pavement network maintenance and rehabilitation. Two distinct features of the prediction model are: (1) it uses a non-homogeneous Markov system transition process and , (2) the transition probability matrices are efficiently established through system conversion of the prediction model from an existing deterministic prediction model. It is a versatile and easily-operated computer package for use in pavement network management. Therefore , it can be considered as a tool used for pavement technology transfer. Finally, the paper presents a practical procedure designed for the implementation of PMTTP into Changsha Municipality, Changsha, Hunan, and Gansu Highway Bureau, Gansu, China. (A)
Abstract