To better understand deterioration rates and decide optimal times for pavement treatments, the City of Houston (COH) deploys a team effort to perform distress observations—preparing and sharing their solution for a multi-year pavement program. In the early 2000s, COH identified experienced raters to drive segments of the roadway system to manually rate using a “windshield” method. From 2008–2014, COH moved to an automated system that collected two rounds of data using a city-owned assessment vehicle. COH shifted focus from collection to analysis. In 2015, COH outsourced pavement data collection/rating that was uploaded into StreetSaver software. COH uses ASTM D6433 and is not using ASTM E3303. Components include performing pavement inspections by a team of trained technicians collecting high-definition imagery from high-resolution cameras recording 15 images/second, and surface profiles from a mobile asset collection vehicle. It has a five-laser bar to produce rut depth, profile, and the international roughness index. Manual spot checks (no use of artificial intelligence) are conducted to ensure accuracy and provide data quality control to maintain a quality data analysis. Resulting GIS information within the right-of-way helps identify missing assets and allows engineers to review sidewalks and other assets. Last year, decision optimization technology tools were added for the additional drilling of tons of pavement data for use in lifecycle modeling, condition analysis, and work plan generation for multiple service lines. Accredited Agency: Houston, TX, Department of Public Works
After this session, participants will be better able to:
• Develop a pavement management program using analysis with budget constraints.
• Identify and recognize pavement distresses that indicate types of pavement deterioration.
• Demonstrate improvements to procedures as technology changes for pavement analysis, ratings, and data collection.
Contributor/Source
Raj Shah-Systems Consultant, Steven Loo-Managing Engineer, Transportation & Drainage Operations
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Mastery of basic concepts associated with an area has been obtained. Focuses on understanding nuances, advanced concepts, and intricacies with implementation within knowledge area. Strong understanding of how the concept impacts other factors or areas of operations.
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Click, Listen & Learn (CLL) are interactive educational webinars. Each program is led by top experts in the field who share new ideas, methods, and technologies in a fast-paced two-hour time frame. These programs are available free to APWA members. CLL programs are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
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