About the Project

Since 2004, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Office of Aeronautics has trusted APTech to update their statewide Airport Pavement Management System (APMS). The overall goal of the project is to develop cost-effective plans for preserving and rehabilitating the airport pavement infrastructure at Michigan airports and ensure Michigan’s airports in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) remain in compliance with Public Law 103-305 regarding airport pavement maintenance management.

Due to APTech’s exceptional work, Office of Aeronautics renewed this contract for additional updates in 2009, 2013, 2016, 2020, and 2022. The APMS now includes a total of ninety-eight airports, with approximately one-third of them assessed each year.

During the current project cycle, APTech is:

• Conducting pavement condition index (PCI) inspections in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ASTM procedures

• Updating the PAVER pavement management system

• Analyzing the collected data to:

  • determine current pavement conditions

  • project future pavement conditions

  • develop recommendations for the maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) of the pavement system.

• Updating Michigan’s web-based interactive pavement management tool IDEA, initially developed during the 2004 update

APTech ensured the success of each APMS update through effective data distribution and communication of pavement-related needs. The IDEA ensures that the data is readily accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of their technical background. The program can be viewed on any computer with an internet browser, providing instant access to the most commonly requested pavement management information—such as PCI maps, distress photographs, and M&R recommendations—without requiring the user to own and operate the pavement management system.

The Office of Aeronautics has been so satisfied with APTech’s work that it awarded APTech with the Michigan DOT Bureau of Aeronautics and Freight Services’ Consultant of the Year award in both 2009 and 2015.