About the Project

In 2007, the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) implemented an airfield pavement management system (PMS) to assist with managing their pavement network. Although the project included distress data collection following the pavement condition index (PCI) procedures and general work plan development using PAVER, the DND soon discovered that additional information was needed to adequately plan for maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) needs on their airfields.

In 2012, the Canadian DND recognized a need to enhance their PMS and selected APTech to conduct PCI inspections and supplemental distress surveys to adequately address and plan for their M&R needs. The contract included twenty-three airfield facilities throughout Canada, representing the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and covering more than 8 million square meters of pavement. Due to their satisfaction with APTech’s work and deliverables, the Canadian DND again selected APTech in 2019 to update the airfield PMS at their facilities throughout Canada.

As part of the project, APTech conducted a records review while also updating network definition maps and PAVER databases. PCI inspections were conducted in accordance with ASTM D5340. In addition, a supplemental distress survey was conducted using APTech’s GIS-based mapping tool, in which every distress is identified and electronically mapped with GPS coordinates. Using this tool, every distress in both portland cement concrete pavement and asphalt concrete pavement that poses a safety concern is mapped. APTech referenced GIS-mapped distress data from the previous IDIQ as a starting point for current inspections. The field inspectors compared distresses during inspections, giving APTech the unparalleled ability to analyze the progression of specific distresses and the deterioration of sections as a whole.

APTech also analyzed distress data and developed recommended rehabilitation plans, along with detailed localized maintenance plans. Distress maps are used to highlight maintenance needs for the airfield pavements, which can be easily identified and repaired by maintenance forces. APTech analyzed the collected data using various budget scenarios in PAVER to assess the impact of each scenario on the overall pavement condition over time. APTech provided specific M&R requirements to maintain each pavement section above a specified acceptable condition over a 5-year period, in addition to developing and mapping Engineering Assessment ratings that account for pavement condition, friction, structural condition, and foreign object debris potential.

APTech overcame the shortcomings experienced by the DND in their initial pavement management implementation by collecting additional detailed distress data and using this same data set to determine PCIs, providing both the detailed and summary results they desired. The collection of supplemental distress data provides great benefit and allows for project-level utilization by the DND. The data provide the DND the ability to:

• Visually understand the condition of the pavement without having to visit each site

• Identify distress patterns

• Create more accurate maintenance plans,

• Convey maintenance plans to sites for execution

• Make more informed rehabilitation decisions

• Track distress and repairs over time with subsequent inspections

APTech has also developed its web-based interactive pavement management data visualization tool, IDEA, to display the results and recommendations in both English and French. The implementation of IDEA allows the DND to disseminate pavement information with ease throughout Canada.