Optimization of Bituminous Road Surfacing Rehabilitations Based on Optimization of Road Asset Value

Abstract

The article presents a complex pavement management system method that utilizes a novel optimization method of rehabilitation plans for individual road sections based on asset value optimization. This method is being implemented and tested by the Slovak Road Administration. The performance-based asset value optimization objectives are Socio-Economic Value and Technical Value of Assets, which breaks down into the Value of Structural Condition and Operational Capacity Value. Life cycle cost analysis is used to find the optimal rehabilitation year of individual road sections to optimize the asset value and minimize financial and economic costs while considering the life cycle extension provided by the rehabilitation in a given year. For the method to be reliable, two main preconditions need to be met. First, the residual bearing capacity calculation method needs to be based on rheological parameters of surfacing materials. This is significant because the residual bearing capacity is used for both choosing the correct rehabilitation technology and calculating the life cycle extension by the rehabilitation action. The second precondition is a reliable pavement performance model. This is significant because pavement deterioration is used to calculate road user costs, which serve as a key input to calculate assets’ Socio-Economic and Operational Capacity value.