Implementing Practical Pavement Management Systems for Small Communities: A South Dakota Case Study

Abstract

A pavement management system (PMS) can assist decision makers in finding optimum strategies for maintaining pavements; however, local agencies in small communities often face implementation challenges, such as a limited budget, lack of manpower and technical resources, and insufficient and inaccurate data. The available literature focuses on the general process of establishing and implementing PMS for small communities but does not discuss specific solutions in detail. Madison, South Dakota, is used as a case study in this article to discuss the issues small communities face in creating PMS, and to present practical, cost-effective solutions. The intent is to transfer and advance the knowledge surrounding the preservation of pavements and promote the use of PMS in small communities.