title: Prediction Modelling of Pavement Deterioration and Pavement Condition Index Assessment in Airport PMS
Creators: name: Miah, Md Tofail
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Airport Pavement Management System (APMS)
subject: pavement condition index (PCI)
subject: Pavement evaluation

description: Airport Pavement Management System (APMS) is a process to develop strategies through data analysis thereby, optimising resource allocation. The process assisting decision-makers in maintaining pavement functionally cost-effectively over a given period. This research focuses on some critical issues underlying APMS. In APMS implementation, pavement evaluation and technical software application are two integral components. Pavement evaluation consists of surface friction evaluation and pavement condition index (PCI) investigation. The frictional performance of runway pavement is crucial for the safe take-off and landing of aircraft on the runway. Grooving on the runway has been proven to improve frictional braking resistance and reducing the risk of hydroplaning by improving runway surface drainage capacity during wet weather. However, groove closure is quite common in many airports over time for several reasons. Moreover, the degree of the deterioration of groove dimensions has not been quantified in a mathematical model yet. This thesis presents the development of inventive modelling of runway groove deterioration to quantify the frictional performance of airport runways. This innovative model can be useful for the airport authorities to predict grove deterioration and estimate its service length, leading to budget planning for maintenance for friction development. This model can become an integral part of the future APMS. Another aspect investigated in this study is the impact of swelling soil on the PCI of airport pavement. Pavements constructed over swelling soil cannot accommodate the shrink-swell behaviour of underlying soil. Consequently, failure occurs in the form of heaving and ends up increasing roughness on the pavement surface thereby, affecting the pavement functional performance. Swelling was observed with time in three sealed flexible pavement runways in northwest Queensland due to water intrusion. PCI was calculated on these runways using the PAVER, pavement management software. The study established a relationship between in-situ moisture content and PCI to demonstrate the influence of subgrade moisture on the subgrade behaviour and seasonal variations of moisture on PCI. In APMS, a computerised software program is an integral part of this system to conduct precise analysis and identify the optimal time to apply the best M&amp;R alternative and avoid higher M&amp;R costs in the future. PAVER and FAA PAVEAIR are two leading professional software that utilises PCI to evaluate the pavement condition to predict future pavement performance. However, PAVER and FAA PAVEAIR differ in evaluating Airfield pavement conditions during the configuration of prediction models from different Asphalt Concrete (AC) runway field distress data revealed in this study, including postulating the rationale. The study results will assist users in being more specific in their use of expert systems during pavement deterioration modelling, allowing them to estimate pavement life with greater precision. Finally, this study renders an understanding of PCI model configuration approaches between PAVER and FAA PAVEAIR, which helps to identify the estimation process of PCI among the two software and evaluate the pavement condition to finalise maintenance actions. This thesis attempts to enhance future APMS by exploring some of the emerging issues within APMS. The outcomes will contribute significantly to supporting the decisionmaking process of the airport authorities.