Investigating Consistency in Highway Performance Monitoring System and Pavement Management Reporting

Abstract

An NCHRP study was conducted to evaluate the comparability of pavement condition data submitted to FHWA under the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) and the information reported by state highway agencies as part of their pavement management program. As part of the study, a statewide survey of both HPMS and pavement management practitioners was conducted to identify issues associated with HPMS submittal requirements and to evaluate the impact these issues have on the quality of the data submittal. After the survey, eight states were invited to participate in a more detailed comparison of HPMS and pavement management data. The analysis compared the data in a number of ways, including the availability of comparable information in the pavement management and HPMS data sets, differences in pavement conditions reported using HPMS and pavement management data, and the impact of the reporting length (e.g., segment or route) on pavement condition statistics. The results indicate fairly good consistency in the international roughness index values reported to HPMS and used in pavement management. However, there are much greater inconsistencies in the pavement distress information reported to HPMS and used in pavement management. This paper summarizes the findings from the analysis and presents the implications of these findings on the performance management requirements outlined in the current law, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21.