To protect the valuable infrastructure of the Commonwealth’s airports, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Aeronautics Division selected APTech to implement an airport pavement management system (APMS) for thirty-three airports in 2012. Based on their satisfaction with our work, APTech was selected to perform the 2016 and 2020 to 2023 updates.

During the latest update, APTech compiled work history information and used that to update network definition maps. To obtain current condition information, APTech performed Pavement Condition Index (PCI) inspections according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ASTM procedures. This work then led to the update of the PAVER database.

With information in hand, APTech was then able to develop a multi-year maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) plan for MassDOT and generate individual reports, a statewide report, and an executive summary. APTech also used the findings of the study to update MassDOT’s web-based, pavement data visualization tool, IDEA. This tool enables users to easily view and retrieve project information and results.

As part of the project, APTech also provided MassDOT staff with training on the PCI procedure and how to use PAVER. During previous work on the APMS, APTech calculated Pavement Classification Numbers (PCNs) for selected pavements as well as conducted training on the PCI procedure to airport and MassDOT staff.

APTech’s update of the APMS enables MassDOT to continue to preserve its valuable airport pavement infrastructure in an efficient and effective manner. It is also able to continue its outreach program to communicate the importance of pavement preservation to the airport sponsors and consultants. The IDEA provides an effective tool to further this communication and provides easy access to the findings and recommendations developed during the APMS project, without requiring the use of pavement management software.

As part of its ongoing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) was recently awarded a contract to investigate and document the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on pavement infrastructure.

This effort involves completing a comprehensive literature search and a series of interviews with selected agency personnel who frequently contend with wildfire emergencies and their associated effects. The support for this project will cut across a range of administrative, technical, and outreach activities that will result in the development of a set of reports and associated outreach materials.

Key Tasks

Literature review summary report

Identifying case study states

Interviewing case study states

Development of project summary report

Development of tech brief

Conduction of national-level webinar

The APTech team’s work on this project will not only present the current state of knowledge on wildfire impacts on pavements, but also set the stage for future work in this area by identifying critical information gaps and research needs.

In 2023, The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Aviation Planning Section selected APTech to update their statewide airport pavement management system (APMS) for the twenty-two of the airports in their system. This project builds on APTech’s successful Nevada APMS update in 2018.

As part of this project, APTech will:

Update all pavement inventory, work history, and mapping from the previous APMS update

Complete condition inspections of each airport to collect pavement condition index (PCI) data

Perform maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) analysis

Develop a multi-year capital improvement plan (CIP) for pavement needs at each airport

Document results in an individual airport executive summary for each airport, a statewide executive summary report, and delivery of the interactive APMS visualization tool, IDEA

Determine Pavement Classification Ratings (PCRs) for the runways at the project airports as a measure of relative pavement strength and develop aircraft traffic forecasts for each airport  

Throughout this project, APTech will aid NDOT and airport sponsors in efficiently prioritizing pavement improvements, making the best use of available funding. This project will also assist each airport that is part of the NPIAS in fulfilling a majority of the requirements of FAA Grant Assurance 11 regarding the implementation of an effective pavement management system.

APTech, as a subcontractor to Iowa State University, is part of a team evaluating the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) to conduct airfield pavement inspections. The project includes a comprehensive review of current and emerging sUAS platforms and sUAS-mounted sensor technologies, along with the deployment of technology-platform combinations on airfield pavements to evaluate their technical specifications (i.e., performance and required criteria). This project is also providing an overview of potential standard processes and procedures for the use of sUAS for airport pavement inspection.

APTech contributed ground-truth survey results as part of a detailed field demonstration plan carried out at airports in four states. The practical lessons learned from the field demonstration projects will be captured, analyzed, and ultimately used to provide inputs to the development of a draft Advisory Circular addressing the use of sUAS to supplement airport pavement management program inspections. A final report including the research methodology and findings for the project, as well as an executive summary and list of recommendations for further research needs, will be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Key tasks include review of sUAS platforms, review of sUAS-mounted sensor technology, deployment of technology-platform combinations, development of standard sUAS processes and procedures for airport pavement inspection, contribution to ground-truth survey results, and development of reports.

Ultimately, expected outcomes from this research will include contributing to the development of standard processes and procedures, as well as technical specifications, for various types of sUAS and sUAS-mounted sensor technologies to consistently conduct safe, reliable, and effective sUAS-based airport pavement management inspections.

Knoxville-Knox County Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) was in search of an experienced firm to provide it with the necessary tools to support implementation of pavement management for its member agencies. APTech was chosen to provide these services in two phases.

Phase 1 was completed over the course of 2020 and 2021 and involved the development of pavement management implementation plans for participating agencies (Maryville, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Blount County). This was accomplished by informing agencies about the benefits of pavement management, developing and leading workshops, hosting follow-up discussions, and developing a Phase 2 implementation plan.

The Phase 2 plans started in 2022 and consisted of implementing pavement management systems (PMS) for participating agencies. These tasks include:

Automated condition data collection using APTech’s enhanced data gathering equipment (EDGE) van

Selecting pavement management software and assisting with its configuration and implementation

Reviewing agency treatment approaches and recommending possible improvements using preservation and maintenance

Providing additional engineering support services

Three of the agencies did not have PMS systems in place at the outset. These agencies are eager to determine and report needs using data-driven, performance-based decision processes. Two of the agencies were dissatisfied with the systems they were using, so our work greatly improved their capabilities. Given the success of this effort, the TPO has received approval for expanding this effort in fiscal years 2023 to 2026 to include re-collection of condition data and adding agencies who would like to participate.

Since 2005, APTech has been on a short list of on-call consultants providing management services to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). Over that time, APTech has updated the pavement management systems at:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2012, 2014, and 2016

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in 2007, 2010, and 2014

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in 2007, 2010, 2019, 2021, and 2022

Stewart International Airport (SWF) in 2013, 2019, 2021, and 2022

Teterboro Airport (TEB) in 2005, 2006, and 2010

The updates at JFK, EWR, SWF, and LGA included both the airside and landside pavement systems, while only the airside pavements were inspected at TEB. APTech has also performed similar services for other PANYNJ facilities, such as the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, and the George Washington Bridge pavement complexes, along with pavement management system (PMS) updates in 2020 and 2021 for Bayonne and Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. In 2021, APTech updated the pavement management systems for Port Jersey and Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminals.

For each project, APTech conducted a records review and used automated data collection equipment to collect pavement surface condition, transverse and longitudinal profile, rutting data, and right-of-way imaging. We performed shoulder and erosion pavement evaluations, as well as skid testing on select airside and landside pavements. In addition, APTech updated PANYNJ’s PAVER database with inventory changes, recent construction details, and pavement condition data to develop pavement condition index ratings for each pavement section.

Detailed distress maps were generated using data collected from EDGE, APTech’s automated data collection vehicle on select pavements at JFK and Lincoln Tunnel. APTech also developed pavement performance models to predict the PCI of each pavement section over the next 7 years and to determine when each pavement section drops below Authority-established trigger values. Maintenance and rehabilitation plans were developed to highlight the pavement rehabilitation needs and project activities, results, and recommendations were summarized into a project report. Finally, APTech provided training to PANYNJ staff on pavement management concepts, pavement distress types and causes, and use of PAVER software.

PANYNJ uses the information from the pavement management projects to manage its vast pavement system at all of its facilities, including airports, marine terminals, tunnels, and bridges. The use of the EDGE automated data collection vehicle to generate distress maps amidst JFK’s busy aircraft operations demonstrates the technology’s value. Additionally, this project involved coordinating with a subconsultant to provide lighting services for nighttime inspections of the shoulders. APTech completed this large-hub airport PMS project without impacting its busy aircraft operations. APTech is currently continuing services under an additional IDIQ agreement.

In 1999, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Aeronautics Group recognized that it needed a system that would enable it to expend its limited budget for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) in a way that maximized every dollar spent. To meet this challenge, ADOT chose APTech to establish an airport pavement management system (APMS). Impressed with APTech’s work and the usefulness of the APMS not only for themselves but also to the Federal Aviation Administration, airport sponsors, and consultants, the ADOT Aeronautics Group has retained APTech to complete six updates to the system, with the most current being completed in 2023.

During the most recent project, APTech updated the pavement systems inventory and associated maps and conducted Pavement Condition Index (PCI) inspections for sixty-two airports. In addition, APTech developed an 8-year M&R plan that focused on identifying projects for its proactive Airport Pavement Preservation Program (APPP).

Deliverables included a statewide report, individual airport reports, an APMS procedures manual, an executive summary report, and an update to its web-based pavement data visualization tool, IDEA. Many new features were incorporated into this version of IDEA, including a powerful query and filter tool and aerial imagery.

Training courses on the PCI procedure and the PAVER pavement management software were conducted as part of this update. The project culminated with a presentation of the findings of the most recent update and a demonstration on the use of IDEA at the Arizona Airports Association annual spring conference in May 2023.

During previous updates, structural testing with a heavy-weight falling-weight deflectometer, supplemented with a coring program, was undertaken as well as a structural analysis to determine structural strength and Pavement Classification Numbers.

APTech’s APMS inspections have made a lasting impact on the state. The initial 2000 implementation confirmed that state funding levels were insufficient to sponsor all needed pavement M&R projects. Therefore, the ADOT Aeronautics Group initiated the APPP, which allows the state to make the best use of its limited budget by funding those work types that have historically proven to provide the most benefit per dollar expended. The APPP is particularly important for smaller airports or those located in sparsely populated areas, which could not otherwise afford extensive maintenance efforts.

The ADOT Aeronautics Group is now able to proactively manage the pavement infrastructure at airports around the state with software that can help to identify pavement-related needs and develop prioritized lists of pavement-related projects.

In 2021, the North Dakota DOT (NDDOT) contracted with Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to update and implement its federally compliant risk-based transportation asset management plan. The plan documents NDDOT’s practices and planned investments for managing the agency’s over 17,400 lane-miles of pavement and more than 2,300 highway bridges from 2022 through 2031. NDDOT was looking for a firm that could help them streamline their Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and better connect it to its family of plans while identifying opportunities to improve asset management and capital programming processes. NDDOT is striving to develop an engaging and highly graphical TAMP that complies with Federal requirements in forty pages or less.

“NDDOT challenged us with creating a visually appealing TAMP that is less than half as long as most TAMPs. This caused us to rethink how the TAMP is organized and how required information is presented.”

— Brad Allen, P.E. • Project Manager

APTech is leading all aspects of the TAMP development, including the documentation of existing asset management processes, financial planning, life cycle planning, and risk analysis. In developing the TAMP, APTech conducted an innovative gap analysis based on future scenarios established in the NDDOT long range statewide transportation plan, Transportation Connection. These scenarios, titled Urban Centers, Rural Renaissance, Smart and Connected, and Ghost Towns, identified possible economic futures for the state. APTech developed a gap analysis that forecasted pavement and bridge conditions under each of these scenarios and compared those to forecasts based on each alternate scenario. The results are presented in the TAMP with a 2-page infographic.

As part of the TAMP update, APTech is supporting NDDOT with internal and external stakeholder outreach to map current program development processes. This involves engagement with a broad group of internal and external stakeholders including local Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division partners early in the TAMP development process. APTech facilitated a series of workshops and interviews with stakeholders to develop detailed process maps and identified risks and inefficiencies in current processes. Working with NDDOT Asset Management staff, APTech developed recommendations for improvements to existing business processes that led to more effective long-term investment decisions for the NDDOT. Following certification of the TAMP, APTech will work with NDDOT to implement selected improvements.

The project demonstrates the team’s ability to develop implementation guidance to support the successful transition to a risk-based, strategic approach to managing transportation assets that leverages available tools and technology. The North Dakota TAMP update does not involve services related to transportation performance management (TPM)

In 2019, APTech was awarded a contract to administer the Nevada Local Technical Assistance Program (NVLTAP). The objective of the NVLTAP is to advance local agency transportation programs and practices on a fixed, 4-year budget of $300K through training, technical assistance, technology transfer, and workforce development services.

As the program’s administrator, APTech’s responsibilities include assessing needs, identifying equitable and accessible solutions, providing technical assistance services, monitoring program progress, reporting to the NVLTAP Advisory Board, and maintaining relationships with NVLTAP stakeholders. Technical assistance services have included creating a pavement management spreadsheet tool, safety grant application support, PASER condition survey demonstrations, pavement inventory development, and local road safety plan consulting.

APTech provides NVLTAP in-person and virtual technical training to develop an effective, efficient, and innovating workforce. Training topics include pavements, bridges, workplace and traffic safety, environment, civil rights, and foundational skills. APTech schedules forty-four instructor-led courses in the NVLTAP catalog and regularly creates new courses in response to local agency needs. To manage this large course catalogue, APTech created a learning management system for participants to register for courses, complete additional self-paced courses, and track their course completion and progress towards a Road Scholar Program completion.

APTech worked with the Nevada LTAP Advisory Board to plan, promote and hold the first Nevada Asphalt Conference on February 15-16, 2023. The conference exceeded expectations and connected 183 attendees with thirteen exhibitors and expertise from across the region.

In 2021, APTech was awarded a 5-year contract with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Division of Aeronautics to provide updates to Colorado’s statewide Airport Pavement Management System (APMS), continuing a relationship with the Division that extends back to 1996.

This update will allow stakeholders, including the CDOT Division of Aeronautics, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and individual airports, to make informed decisions on where and how to direct funds for the State’s airport pavement assets. To achieve this goal, APTech is evaluating the current pavement conditions by performing Pavement Condition Index (PCI) inspections. The data collected from these evaluations are then utilized to update the state’s PAVER database and develop pavement performance models.

The data are also used to generate recommendations for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R), which CDOT uses along with future pavement performance predictions to prepare and evaluate capital improvement plans for each airport. The collected data and analysis results of each year’s APMS update are easily accessible through the web-based interactive pavement management tool, IDEA.

A key to the success of this long-term relationship is the partnership between APTech and the CDOT Division of Aeronautics. A team consisting of an APTech engineer and CDOT Division of Aeronautics staff members perform PCI evaluations at one-third of the sixty-two airports each year. The CDOT Division of Aeronautics facilitates the process by obtaining information pertaining to pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction at the project airports and assisting with the development of unit costs for use in the M&R analysis.

Through this partnership, APTech provides CDOT first-hand knowledge of airport pavement conditions, and in turn, APTech receives accurate construction records and costs to update the APMS’s PAVER database and IDEA.

The City of Champaign, IL sought professional engineering services related to pavement management for multiple inspection cycles, starting in 2021 and running through 2028. APTech is supporting the City with several pavement management services, including:

Updating pavement condition data collection for local, collector, and arterial streets

Updating the PAVER database

Providing updates to APTech’s web-based pavement management tool, IDEA

Providing the City with comprehensive reports

Conducting any special studies as defined by the City, such as:

Evaluation of brick streets

Evaluation of premature failures

Evaluation of selected roadways for consideration of suitable repair options

Through this work, APTech has supported pavement management needs for the City since 2014. Reports are generated on an as needed basis to respond to needs such as City Council presentations. APTech’s IDEA tool has provided the City with a web-based visualization tool for their pavement management data, making it much more accessible. 

APTech was selected to develop the initial 2018 Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). In 2021, KYTC modified its contract so that APTech could further assist with the development of the agency’s 2022 TAMP update. These TAMPs are required by the Federal Highway Administration and must be updated at least every four years.

Both TAMPs documented the Cabinet’s practices for managing the state-maintained pavements and bridges. Through the process of developing the TAMPs, APTech assisted the KYTC with the development of 10-year financial plans and investment strategies that considered both risks and life cycle plan (LCP) strategies. The 2022 TAMP update incorporated KYTC’s efforts to build a resilient transportation system into its investment strategies.

The KYTC TAMP reflects the agency’s strong commitment to optimized preservation strategies that keep assets in Good condition while those in Fair condition are either improved or preserved so they do not drop into a Poor condition. While this investment strategy makes the most of available funding, the KYTC TAMP demonstrates the need for additional funding to achieve its desired state of good repair. Each TAMP serves as effective communication tool by documenting the level of funding needed and forecasting expected condition gaps if the additional funding is not obtained.

To support the implementation of asset management throughout the Cabinet, APTech provided a roadmap that outlined suggested technical, organizational, workforce development, and policy initiatives in 2018. The APTech team also facilitated a workshop for executive leadership to promote a sustainable, asset management program.

The Client's Goal

Determine if the current pavement management system will continue to meet the City's growing needs and identify ways to increase the use of pavement preservation in the City's program.

Our Work

Evaluated the current pavement management system

Provided recommendations for potential areas of improvement

Evaluated treatment strategies and the pavement management program

Prepared recommendations for annual program planning

Developed project schedule and funding scenarios

Researched treatments used by agencies in the Phoenix area

Helped develop specifications for the City

Assisted with incorporating pavement preservation strategies

Assisted developing budget needs for their program

The Outcome

Through our efforts and focused attention in this area the City of Goodyear found opportunities to improve pavement management practices and develop work plan recommendations. This allowed them to achieve their goals more efficiently. They were able to project network condition under different funding scenarios, which allowed Goodyear's decision-makers to weigh alternatives and make appropriate investment decisions to achieve performance goals. Bolstered by our recommendations, the Public Works department requested and received a funding increase of 30 percent from the City Council for its roads program.

 The Client's Goal

Develop and calibrate initial performance models for Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' (DOT & PF) pavement management system (PMS) so the agency can predict performance and funding needs with greater confidence.

 Our Work

Reviewed existing pavement condition data.

Organized condition data into databases linked with pavement management road segments for more accurate modeling.

Assisted the agency with defining representative pavement families and included this information in the condition databases for modeling analyses.

Worked with the PMS vendor to define reasonable and appropriate pavement families and generate performance models for rutting, longitudinal profile (IRI), and cracking that were coded into the PMS.

Coordinated with the PMS software vendor to ensure compatibility between the software, the pavement families, and the performance models.

Documented efforts in a comprehensive project report.

The Outcome

Due to APTech’s efforts, the Alaska DOT&PF was able to use historic condition data and recent cracking data to develop performance models in its new statewide PMS.  Now the agency can generate reasonable projections of performance and better estimates of maintenance and repair work needs.

In 2019, the City of Miami decided to move toward a more data-driven, informed decision making process for their transportation asset needs. Rather than planning reactively, the City sought an enterprise-wide asset management system that would support cross-asset class decision making. APTech was part of a team that collaborated closely with the City to successfully deliver all aspects of this work, including collecting inventory and condition information for a wide range of transportation assets and implementing an asset management system that would allow the City to manage their assets effectively.

As part of this effort, APTech completed the automated data collection for about 700 centerline miles of City streets and assisted the City with development of pavement family definitions, along with the development of treatment protocols and performance models for each defined pavement family. APTech performed multiple budget scenario analyses using Scenario Builder and supported agency training for updates to treatment protocols and use of Scenario Builder to perform PMS analyses. In response to requests from the City, APTech also provided guidance on future updates and pavement management planning needs.

As a result of this work, the City of Miami is now able to estimate work needs and network conditions into the future, provide information to decision makers about the impact of budget adjustments, and improve their maintenance and preservation practices to make more effective use of limited resources.

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.

In 2018, the City of Urbana (City) hired Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) as its pavement management consultant with the goals of implementing a new pavement management system (PMS) and documenting the City’s pavement conditions. Prior to this effort, the City managed their pavement assets using spreadsheet tools for many years and was ready to use more objective and accountable processes to perform budget scenarios, prioritize work needs, and generate reports to decision makers.

As part of this effort, APTech completed condition data collection using its automated data collection vehicle (EDGE) and extracted distress data to produce pavement condition index (PCI) values for each road segment. APTech also completed condition surveys of City parking lots and shared-use bike paths. Condition data reports were provided in GIS shape files while treatment strategies and performance models were also developed. This work allowed APTech to configure PAVER to support analyses.

APTech’s work has allowed the City to be more responsive to inquiries and make better long-term plans impacting the City roadway network. The City is more accountable and proactive, resulting in more efficient use of limited resources. This project was so successful, that in 2022 the City retained APTech to continue providing similar services. These have included updating work history information and updating analysis projections from the PMS to help the City update planning documents.

In addition, the City has asked APTech to provide guidance on levels of service and appropriate treatment alternatives as it looks toward improvements in its roadway network over time.

The City of Bozeman, Montana, partnered with APTech, established two primary goals for this project. The first was to complete a pavement condition assessment for approximately 242 centerline miles of roadway and update the City’s PAVER database. The second was a detailed comparison between the 2013 assessment and this current work in an effort to assess the effectiveness of the City’s street maintenance program. The City also asked APTech to provide recommendations where appropriate for possible improvement moving forward.

APTech’s for this project work included:

Reviewing and updating the current PAVER database with new roadways and any work history done since the last update

The updated shape file was then used to prepare for condition data collection

Collecting data using the Enhanced Data Gathering Equipment (EDGE) automated data collection van

Conducting distress surveys, which identified cracking and other distresses on the images

Performing additional reviews by trained surveyors to validate the automated process and confirm the results aligned with ASTM D6433

The outcome was then tabulated by distress type, severity, and extent by road segment

Preparing the longitudinal profile, summarized as International Roughness Index, and rutting measurements

Loading the distress data and rutting into PAVER to calculate the pavement condition index (PCI)

Comparing the 2013 and current pavement conditions

This allowed APTech to comment on the effectiveness of the City’s street maintenance program

Proving treatment strategies and opportunities for improvement

The assessment provided the City with an updated PAVER pavement management system (PMS) database to use in work planning and budgeting, an objective review of maintenance program effectiveness, and recommendations for improved strategies that make more effective use of agency resources. These deliverables will help the City make accountable, data-driven, performance-based decisions about needs.

To better plan work needs, Bastrop, Texas required updated pavement condition information for its 60-mile street network, summarized as Pavement Condition Index (PCI) values based on ASTM Standard D6433. The city needed this information in a format that could be effectively communicated and could be displayed as part of its GIS database. APTech was selected to provide this service in 2018, then again in 2022.

As part of this work, APTech deployed its enhanced data gathering equipment (EDGE) van to gather detailed, spatially-referenced pavement condition data for all City-maintained streets. This included distress data, longitudinal and transverse profile, and multi-view Right-of-Way imagery. APTech used the distress data to determine road segment PCI values and then added the PCI and date of data collection as attributes in the City GIS database. In the 2022 work, APTech added additional date and condition attributes so the City could compare conditions between the two data collection rounds 

As a result of our work, Bastrop was able to display current information for Council review. As a value-added benefit, APTech provided a map-based viewer that allows the City to see all of its collected data as it “drives” the network from the safety of their office computers. This project enhances the City’s ability to make decisions about needs, support those decisions with real data, be responsive to inquiries, and communicate specifics to stakeholders effectively and efficiently.

APTech was hired as a subcontractor to SHI International Corp. to assist with the implementation of Cartegraph OMS for Fort Bend County, Texas. Fort Bend County has almost 2,000 miles of roads that it manages. The County is eager to proactively manage its roadway assets and support budget projections with clear, accountable, map-based information. APTech is pleased to have supported this effort and worked with the County to improve its capabilities.

APTech collected automated condition data using its enhanced data gathering equipment (EDGE) van and processed this data to produce distress and profile summaries by road segment. This data was loaded into Cartegraph and reviewed by the County for accuracy. APTech then worked with the County to establish pavement families, treatment strategies, and performance models for configuration of the PMS. Next, APTech ran initial scenarios for the County and provided training to the County in configuration of the PMS and running scenarios so it can complete analyses on its own after project completion.

In 2020, following a qualifications-based selection, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (Authority) entered into a contract with Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to implement an airport pavement management system (APMS) for Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) and Hawkins Field Airport (HKS). The project is nearing completion, with only the capital improvement plan (CIP) development and report delivery tasks remaining. The deliverables for this project will provide the Authority with a planning tool to utilize reaching both short- and long-term goals.

For both airports, APTech started the project by reviewing all relevant records and developing a network definition. From there, a network-level pavement condition index (PCI) inspection, along with a structural assessment to determine the pavement classification number (PCN), was conducted. APTech also conducted falling-weight deflectometer (FWD) testing and a geotechnical investigation, which are being used in the development of a multi-year CIP. A PAVER database for inventory, construction history, and PCI data was created and updated with the findings from this project. Finally, APTech implemented its interactive web-based pavement management tool, IDEA to allow for easy access to the data collected during the APMS updates.

The Authority places a high importance on preserving pavement infrastructure, and APTech’s pavement management services will allow for them to proactively manage their pavement assets and make the most efficient use of their funding dollars. The detailed implementation of an APMS will provide the Authority with a framework to prioritize their rehabilitation needs, as well as justification to obtain any future funding needs. The web-based IDEA will allow for easy access to the results and recommendations without the need to learn how to use complicated pavement management software.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) consistently ranks as one of the top ten busiest airports in the United States and is a vital link in the nation’s transportation system. Since 2013, the City of Phoenix has relied on APTech to provide airfield pavement assessment services and recommendations. We have performed these updates in 2013, 2016, and 2019, and was again reselected to provide these services in 2022.

The primary goals of the project were to update the airport pavement management system (APMS) and to develop a maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) plan for the airside pavements at PHX.

To accomplish this goal, we performed detailed pavement inspections in accordance with the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) procedure and conducted a simplified inspection of the vehicle service roads, reporting general conditions of each section, and estimating the timing for rehabilitation.

During past projects, APTech performed FWD testing and the associated data analysis to evaluate the properties of the pavement and subgrade layers. We referenced that testing data to determine Pavement Classification Ratings (PCRs) for the airfield pavements using current traffic data, bringing the airport into compliance with updated FAA strength reporting requirements. APTech also measured and assessed the condition of the transverse saw-cut grooves on the runways and high-speed taxiways. Using these results in conjunction with PAVER, we identified and prioritized pavement rehabilitation projects—along with associated costs—to enable the City to plan for their capital improvement needs.

In addition, APTech continued support of its web-based interactive pavement management data visualization tool, IDEA, for PHX to disseminate information, results, and recommendations of the APMS in an easy-to-access format.

As with any busy commercial-service airport, we worked closely with PHX Operations throughout the duration of field work to coordinate safe and efficient inspections that reduce strain on the airport’s operations. Although the PCI inspections were delayed for several months due to ongoing construction work on the airfield, we expedited the inspections once airside access was allowed to keep the project on track.

We understand the importance of listening to client needs and adapting as they change. Throughout almost every iteration of our PHX pavement assessments, the scope has been tailored to address the current and continually changing needs of the City and the airport. The findings and recommendations from this project allow the City of Phoenix to maintain their extensive airfield pavement network in a cost-effective manner. The City has closely followed the recommendations from previous updates, resulting in continued improvement of the airfield pavement condition. 

For years, the Kane County Department of Transportation used Illinois’ Condition Rating System (CRS) and a proprietary pavement management system (PMS) to manage their roadway network. However, after experiencing difficulties updating the system, the County switched to a newer asset management tool, expanding on their existing relationship with Cartegraph (OMS). The County hired APTech to manage the effort and successfully implement OMS and provide training for the County.

Our work included:

Collecting condition data for the County’s 350 miles of roads using APTech’s EDGE van

Summarizing the collected data as PCI values

Configuring OMS with treatment strategies and performance models that were representative of County practice

Providing training to the County on the use of Scenario Builder to perform budget analyses and create work needs projections

Using historical condition data to assess treatment effectiveness and help the County decide which treatments were the most beneficial in terms of cost

Extracting asset information from right-of-way (ROW) imagery to update the County GIS with more complete data

The County now has the capability to perform budget scenario analyses and can produce clear presentation graphics for interaction with decision makers—a key objective of the project. Due to the success of this project, in 2022 APTech was re-selected to provide the same services in 2023.

With seventeen passenger airlines serving over 36 million passengers a year, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the seventeenth busiest airport in the United States. As such, the preservation of the pavement infrastructure at Detroit Metro Airport is of critical importance for the safety of aircraft and the efficient movement of air traffic throughout the region and the country. In 2008, 2010, and 2013 we served as the prime consultant to update the APMS, which allows the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) to proactively manage their pavement assets. This work built on a 2004 project where we led the inspections as a subconsultant.

The 2008 project included performing PCI surveys on the new Runway 4L-22R complex, the McNamara Terminal Apron, the L.C. Smith Terminal Apron, and several de-icing pads. Runway 3R-21L and portions of the adjacent connecting taxiways were reconstructed in 2006 and 2007 and were also updated in the database. As a result of this effort, WCAA had a complete database incorporating all airfield pavement sections. In addition to conducting pavement inspections and determining the PCI of the pavements, we developed pavement performance prediction models to predict the condition of the pavements through 2013. The all-encompassing APMS was used to cost-effectively plan future M&R needs at the Airport.

In early 2009, WCAA had an urgent need to assess the condition of Runways 4R-22L and 3L-21R to evaluate the immediate need for major rehabilitation. We inspected these pavements in March 2009 and incorporated the results in the PAVER pavement management database and report.

Due to WCAA’s satisfaction, we were again selected in 2010 to update the APMS. This project included conducting PCI inspections on Runway 9R-27L and the majority of the taxiway system at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Recent and ongoing construction projects on Runways 9L-27R, Runway 3L-21R, and Taxiway Z were also incorporated into the database. In addition, the entire airfield pavement at Willow Run Airport was inspected and incorporated into a separate PAVER database. For both airports, we determined PCIs for each pavement section and developed performance models to predict the pavement condition over the next 5-years. We also provided training on the use of PAVER to WCAA staff.

In 2013, we were again selected to update the APMS at both Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Willow Run Airport. In addition to the services performed as part of previous updates, we will also be performing FWD testing, overseeing a geotechnical investigation, and calculating PCNs for both airports.

Ohio DOT is responsible for managing a transportation network with a capital program in excess of $2 billion. In response to 2012’s “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21) and to better manage its sizable obligations, the Department sought to implement improved business processes to support its asset management activities and develop a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). To accomplish this goal, the Ohio DOT selected Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to develop its 2018 long-term, risk-based TAMP and to provide recommendations for changes to existing practices to support the implementation of the TAMP. 

During this project, APTech developed a customized TAMP that describes the processes used to manage the state-maintained pavements, bridges, and culverts and establishes an investment strategy that makes the best use of available funding. In addition, APTech helped identify improvements to existing business processes that would lead to more effective long-term investment decisions for the Ohio DOT. Finally, workshops were facilitated with the Ohio DOT personnel to support workforce development efforts needed to implement the new business processes.

This TAMP is used in systematic and strategic investment decisions that use funds more effectively and support the Ohio DOT’s mission to: take care of what they have, make the system work better, improve safety, and enhance capacity.

The project demonstrates the team’s ability to develop implementation guidance that led to the successful transition to a risk-based, strategic approach to managing transportation assets that leverages available tools and technology. 

After establishing an airport pavement management system (APMS) in the early 1980’s, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics (BOA) decided in 2009 that it was no longer utilizing valuable APMS data to its fullest extent. In addition, it was using a proprietary APMS software program that was no longer fulfilling its needs. Therefore, in 2009, the BOA selected APTech to modernize its APMS and update the pavement inventory and condition data contained in the system. The goal of this project was to maximize the usefulness of the APMS for all users of the information including the BOA, airport sponsors, consultants, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Building on the success of the previous project, the BOA selected APTech to conduct the 2012 to 2018, 2019 to 2022, and most recently the 2023 to 2026 Wisconsin APMS Updates, which now totals ninety-one airports.

Our work for this project includes:

For the initial project, converting the original APMS database from a proprietary software system to one utilizing the PAVER pavement management software

Conducting pavement condition index (PCI) inspections for approximately one-third of the state APMS each year over a 3-year period

Updating the PAVER database with pavement inventory data, construction history information, project mapping, PCI data, and analysis criteria.

Completing a 5-year pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) needs analysis for existing pavements included in the project

Developing a GIS link network definition maps to the data contained within PAVER

Assisting with the incorporation of specific APMS data into the BOA’s external GIS

Conducting structural evaluation through falling-weight deflectometer testing

Calculating pavement condition numbers, as needed, for all commercial airport runways, multiple taxiway and apron areas, and several general aviation airports in the system

Preparing individual airport reports

Developing the Wisconsin IDEA for use by all stakeholders

The APMS allows the BOA to proactively manage the M&R needs of the pavement infrastructure at Wisconsin airports in the most fiscally responsible manner possible. It provides the BOA with the means to anticipate pavement-related funding needs and provides airports with the information needed to remain in compliance with Public Law 103-305 and FAA grant assurance 11 regarding a pavement maintenance management program.

The Mississippi DOT selected APTech to update the existing pavement management process documentation, develop a Quality Management Plan (QMP) for pavement management data collection activities, and provide recommendations for improving quality checks on pavement condition data collected by vendors.

Our work:

Reviewed the Department's existing pavement management policies and interviewing staff members.

Conducted a thorough literature review of QMPs from other agencies to develop a comprehensive Pavement Management Manual.

Developed a QMP to guide the collection of pavement condition data using both automated and manual techniques and to satisfy the requirements under the MAP-21 Act for data quality.

Developed a Technical Brief to summarize the content found in the Pavement Management Manual and the QMP as part of the Department's outreach opportunities.

The Houston Airport System (HAS) implemented an asset management strategy to maintain its pavement infrastructure as efficiently and effectively as possible. As part of this strategy, HAS selected a firm to complete several comprehensive asset condition assessments in 2013. We were selected as a subcontractor to take advantage of the firm's extensive Airport Pavement Management System (APMS) experience. This project involved concurrent efforts at all three HAS airports and the management of large volumes of high-accuracy pavement data, structural, and other data was integrated into the HAS databases.

Our role included updating the APMS for the airfield pavements at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston Hobby Airport. We mapped pavement distresses on the runways and taxiways at both airports. We also performed FWD testing at Houston Hobby Airport and developed Pavement Classification Numbers at both airports. We used the results to develop maintenance and rehabilitation recommendations for the runways and taxiways at the airports. We were also able to assist in the delivery of business process recommendations to HAS for more efficient management of airfield assets in the future.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Aeronautics Division recognizes the need for a successful airport pavement management system (APMS). The APMS plays an integral role in maintaining the state’s pavement infrastructure at its seventy airports. As such, in 2018, TDOT selected APTech to update its APMS. This successful update led to TDOT partnering with APTech for a second time in 2022.

Throughout this project, APTech reviewed pavement related work information and used this data to update the PAVER database and network definition maps. APTech then conducted Pavement Condition Index (PCI) inspections in accordance with ASTM D5340, and the collected data was incorporated into the PAVER database. In addition, APTech analyzed distress data, performed a statewide condition analysis, developed pavement performance forecast models, and prepared a 5-year maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) plan for each airport.

APTech also updated the web-based, interactive pavement management data visualization tool, IDEA, which enables users to easily view and retrieve project information and results. APTech delivered a 1-day training course to the Aeronautics Division staff, which included an overview of the APMS and the use of PAVER software. During the previous project, structural testing was conducted with APTech’s falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and Pavement Classification Numbers (PCNs) were calculated for runway pavements at thirty-two airports.

During the previous update and this update, the Aeronautics Division retained APTech to complete additional work orders as part of this project, including updating the APMS to modify included pavement areas, assisting with comparing state material specifications with those of the FAA, and developing a pavement life-cycle cost analysis tool. Additionally, APTech is currently assisting the Aeronautics Division with a bituminous index pricing adjustment, fuel indexing, and the standardization of specification bid items numbers.

Results have been used to assist TDOT with their annual statewide maintenance program and provide input on project selections and treatment types.

In 2012, federal highway legislation commonly known as the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act,” or MAP-21, was enacted to provide funding for transportation programs and establish a performance-based Federal highway program. The legislation included a requirement for States to develop “a risk-based asset management plan for the National Highway System to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the system.” The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) set out to develop a transportation asset management plan (TAMP) that both meets the MAP-21 requirements and establishes a framework for developing future plans. To accomplish this goal, the Nevada DOT selected us to develop a long-term, risk-based TAMP.

Our work included:

Evaluating the data availability and maturity for twenty-five different transportation assets managed by the Nevada DOT.

Conducting interviews with agency personnel and analyzed the resulting data with respect to its contribution to developing the TAMP.

Developing a rating process to consider factors such as the availability of inventory information, the existence of performance targets, the availability of deterioration rates, and the sophistication of financial analysis tool.  The ratings were used to assign an overall level of maturity to each asset type.

Establishing a prioritization process to develop recommendations for which assets to include in the initial TAMP.

Developing a TAMP that includes pavement, bridge, and ITS assets.

The TAMP was designed to summarize inventory and condition information, to establish performance targets to be met, and to develop investment strategies that demonstrate a data-driven, cost-effective approach to maintaining and preserving transportation assets for 10 years. In addition, the steps involved in developing the TAMP were documented so they will serve as a resource for future updates to the TAMP.

The Client's Goal

Perform pavement condition surveys and develop a three-year pavement preservation plan for 43 centerline miles of publicly-owned roadways and parking lanes.

 Our Work

Performed pavement condition surveys according to the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) methodology.

Analyzed the PASER data.

Developed work-needs tables by year at specified budget levels.

Developed maps of work plans and projected network condition at specified budget levels.

Documented pavement condition, treatment strategies, and work plans.

The Outcome

The PASER condition surveys and pavement preservation plan developed by APTech enhance the City's ability to make data-driven decisions, respond to inquiries, and communicate current and future condition and budget impacts to stakeholders effectively.

The most recent Airport Pavement Management System (APMS) update at Vance Air Force Base (AFB) in Enid, Oklahoma identified the need to rehabilitate the pavement on Runway 17R/35L and portions of Taxiways C, F, and G based on their deteriorating surface condition. APTech teamed with Mead & Hunt, Inc. to provide design and construction guidance for the placement of new pavement. As part of this effort, we were primarily responsible for evaluating the existing pavement condition and developing recommendation for the new pavement design.

To evaluate the pavement, we conducted a visual pavement evaluation, performed FWD testing, and provided input into developing the geotechnical sampling and testing plan. We also developed alternative pavement designs in accordance with UFC 3-260-02, Pavement Design for Airfields using Pavement-Transportation Computer Assisted Structural Evaluation (PCASE) software, analyzed the alternatives through a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA), and developed design recommendations.

In addition, we are provided review and input on the pavement design details, construction plans, and material specifications. Once the pavement design option was selected, APTech performed additional analyses to determine the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) of the rehabilitated pavements.

The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana selected APTech as a subcontractor to evaluate the condition of a 1.3-mile segment of East State Boulevard and develop rehabilitation design recommendations.

Our work for this project included:

Collecting and reviewing records regarding the existing pavement structure and the traffic loadings applied to the pavement.

Performing a Pavement Condition Index survey with 100 percent coverage to objectively rate the condition of the pavement.

Mapping the locations, severity levels, and amounts of pavement distresses to identify appropriate treatments and estimate quantities of treatments.

Conducting falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing to assess the pavement's structural condition.

Developing coring and subsurface boring plans and dynamic cone penetrometer testing plans, and evaluating the test results to determine layer thicknesses, subsurface conditions, and subgrade support conditions.

Analyzing historical traffic data and developing projected traffic growth rates for pavement design development.

Quantifying the structural properties of the pavement and determining the pavement's load-carrying capacity through FWD backcalculation analysis.

Developing feasible rehabilitation design options and performing a life-cycle cost analysis to identify the most cost-effective strategy.

Summarized this information and presented a recommended rehabilitation design in a project report.

The results of the evaluation indicated that concrete pavement restoration in the form of slab replacements, partial- and full-depth portland cement concrete repairs, diamond grinding, and joint resealing, was the preferred rehabilitation strategy. The recommendation was accepted, and plans were made to implement this long-term, cost-effective approach.

The use of asset management principles in state highway agencies (SHAs) has become increasingly important as those agencies respond to increasing demands on the highway system and demands for improved transparency and accountability in agency decisions. Asset management provides a framework for using performance data to make sound investment decisions that are aligned with the agency’s strategic objectives.

To help identify and prioritize changes that are needed to support asset management in a transportation agency, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) published the Transportation Asset Management Guide - A Focus on Implementation. The Guide describes the use of a gap analysis as an objective and structured process for evaluating current and desired asset management practices and to identify priorities for actions that are needed to achieve agency goals.

When the Guide was developed, a prototype of a tool was developed to support the use of a gap analysis by SHAs. However, the original tool was developed based on experience in New Zealand rather than the U.S. and was not easily modifiable. To remedy these difficulties, the National Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) selected APTech to develop a new gap analysis tool that is more intuitive, well described, user-friendly, and applicable for transportation practitioners and decision-makers in the United States.

To determine the capabilities needed in the improved tool, we are conducted a literature and process review. The data from these activities enabled us to develop helpful guidelines for conducting a gap analysis and an intuitive and user-friendly gap analysis spreadsheet tool that is relevant to transportation asset management in the United States. The gap analysis spreadsheet tool will be made available to SHAs through AASHTO and outreach activities such as webinars and workshops. National Highway Institute courses will also be used to promote the tool’s use.

We provided Clackamas County with a Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Strategic Plan within its Department of Transportation and Development (DTD). The TAM Strategic Plan focused on current assets and processes, but the long-term expectation is that the Plan will support a dynamic program that effortlessly adapts to the addition of other future assets. The TAM Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap that the DTD can use to:

Integrate all transportation data sets and tools to a consistent set of standards.

Establish and document efficient processes.

Integrate decision making across business units.

Implement effective decision support tools.

The project began by developing asset management objectives for the agency by conducting on-site workshops, leading DTD staff through a self-assessment effort, and conducting a review of current and desired information technology systems.

Using the information gathered in the previous phase, APTech worked with the agency to establish a baseline of the agency’s current TAM maturity. This was done in terms of People (organization and policies), Processes (practices and internal controls), Systems (tools and technologies), and Data (content, integration, and governance) through a combination of phone interviews, on-site workshops, and spreadsheet tools.

Next, APTech led the agency through a gap analysis effort. This was completed through on-site workshops and phone interviews to compare baselines with goals in order to identify and prioritize strategies for achieving their goals. Each strategy included action items with scope, schedule, and cost information. We then developed a roadmap document that defined the path to achieving the agency’s TAM goals. Finally we provided support to the DTD during initial implementation efforts.

The Outcome

The TAM Strategic Plan provided direction to DTD management and staff, allowing for a coordinated TAM implementation effort. The agency anticipates significantly increased funding for asset preservation, due to a newly passed State revenue bill. DTD expects the plan to facilitate integration of its maintenance and capital planning efforts, allowing the agency to make the best use of these new funds and ensure on-time delivery of future highway projects.

As part of the FHWA’s efforts to implement performance-based transportation measures as required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act, it contracted Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to identify more strategic next-generation measures to strengthen performance management and better link investments to long term performance. The objectives of the project were to identify, or conceptually develop, 1) more strategic pavement performance measures and their readiness for implementation and 2) methodologies to enable full implementation of a comprehensive asset management plan.

During task 1, APTech performed an in-depth literature review to identify potential pavement performance measures and investigate their feasibility. Considerations included how the performance data would be collected, analyzed, and presented, as well as potential costs and benefits of using the performance measure. Thirteen potential pavement performance measures were deemed worthy of more comprehensive evaluation. The proposed framework for further evaluation includes a condition metric, a life-cycle efficiency metric, and a financial health metric.

During task 2, APTech explored methodologies to enable full implementation of a comprehensive asset management plan by reviewing existing cross-asset trade-off and cross-asset allocation methods and documenting them in a technical memorandum. APTech then developed a methodology that uses the three common next-generation performance measures as the foundation of trade-off decisions and outcome reporting. The methodology was then described and conceptually illustrated in terms of its application with the pavements, bridges, and culverts asset areas. 

During the work conducted during Tasks 1 and 2, it became apparent that there were gaps in available data and analysis tools to support the use of the most promising measures in transportation agencies, so APTech developed two work plans for future FHWA projects to further validate and test the proposed performance measures and cross-asset methodology.

To promote the use of asset management and the development of asset management plans at the local level in Indiana, the Indiana LTAP contracted us to develop an Asset Management Guide for Local Agencies and to enhance the existing asset management training materials.

For phase 1 of the project, we first reviewed the existing asset management training materials and developed specific recommendations for workshop materials to foster more interaction during the workshops. We also developed a participant workbook, which included educational material, worksheets, and group activities.

During phase 2, we created a customized guidance document that introduces asset management and a five-step process for developing an asset management plan. The Guide focuses on building an asset inventory, rating asset conditions, using information to manage assets, developing a cost-effective program, and developing the plan. The Asset Management Guide for Local Agencies in Indiana was designed to be easy to read and incorporates graphics and call-out boxes to highlight important material.

Our work is being widely used by local agencies in Indiana to develop effective asset management plans and to train agency personnel.

As a subcontractor, APTech was selected by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to update the Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Guide published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). This guide provides methods to approach and implement asset management at state departments of transportation (DOTs).

In the first phase of the effort, the team assessed the effectiveness of the previous AASHTO Asset Management Guide and developed strategies for improving the Guide’s effectiveness. The second phase of the project focused on writing the content of the guide, presenting the guidance in both print and digital formats, and implementing a communication and outreach plan to disseminate the new guide to relevant audiences. Guidance included the following topics: TAM Strategy and Planning, Organization and People, Maximizing the Performance of Transportation Assets, Resource Allocation, Monitoring and Adjustment, and Information and Systems.

The resulting Guide is now available in a pdf format and in an online, searchable tool through AASHTO. As part of the project, APTech supported the design and delivery of an interactive workshop at the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting in which participants worked in teams using the guide to develop solutions to practical asset management challenges.

To assist transportation agencies in recognizing how the framework and principles of transportation asset management relate to their business processes, the National Highway Institute (NHI) developed Course 136106A, An Introduction to Transportation Asset Management with Workshop. This course assists mid- to senior-level managers with the development and enhancement of their asset management program. The instructor-led portion of the course teaches participants the characteristics of asset management programs, a targeted workshop helps participants identify action items that can be taken to enhance the use of asset management principles, and several facilitated workshops provide opportunities for strengthening and enhancing the asset management activities currently in use.

In 2013, NHI began offering a second course in the series, Course 136106B, Development of a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). This course introduces the role of the TAMP as a planning, communication, and accountability tool and provides the information necessary for an agency to develop or enhance their TAMP. The course focuses on three primary TAMP components, including strategic performance measurement, risk assessment, and financial management. The course materials include templates and guidelines for use in developing a TAMP. In addition, there is a 1-hour self-study lesson that is completed prior to the instructor-led portion of the course.

The NHI selected Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to deliver both asset management courses due to APTech’s expertise in transportation asset management and its strong reputation as a leader in developing and delivering training materials that achieve course objectives. The APTech instructors consistently receive high ratings for the quality of instruction and have been awarded several Instructor of Excellence Awards from NHI.

PAVER Pavement Management Software is widely used throughout the transportation industry, with major supporters including the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). APTech provides PAVER training for clients wishing to better understand the features and functionality of the software. We customize our training to meet the needs of your agency by tailoring the material to participants such as executive staff, engineering, maintenance departments, and GIS specialists. By structuring the trainings to specific groups, we enable all levels within the agency to see the benefit that pavement management can add to the decision-making process.

We have conducted PAVER courses for clients across the nation and abroad. Past attendees include national and state agencies, commercial service airport staff, the FAA, the U.S. Government Accounting Office, and university graduate students. Our PAVER training is customized in a variety of formats, including on-site training and webinars. Training can occur over one or two days, depending on your needs.

Typically, our PAVER workshops include the following lessons:

Introduction PAVER 7 Training Course

Workshop 1. Installing PAVER 7 and Managing Your Database

Workshop 2. Moving Around PAVER 7

Workshop 3. Using the Inventory Module

Workshop 4. Work History

Workshop 5. Entering Condition Data

Workshop 6. Generating Reports and Charts

Workshop 7. Generating Prediction Models

Workshop 8. Developing Maintenance Policies

Workshop 9. Developing Major Rehabilitation Policies and Prioritization Guidelines

Workshop 10. Running a Condition Analysis

Workshop 11. Running a Needs Analysis

Workshop 12. Using the Wizards Module

Workshop 13. Using the Visual Menu

Workshop 14. GIS Assignment Tool

 For over 13 years, we have worked with National Highway Institute to develop and deliver the latest in transportation training. This includes:

NHI 131139 Constructing and Inspecting Asphalt Paving Projects

NHI 134063 Maintenance Leadership Academy

NHI 134112 Principles and Practices of Enhanced Maintenance Management Systems

NHI 136106A An Introduction to Transportation Asset Management with Workshop

NHI 136106B Developing a Transportation Asset Management Plan

NHI 136002 Financial Planning for Transportation Asset Management

Participants consistently rate these courses highly, expressing appreciation for the quality of the content and the instructors.

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC), founded in 1978, is an international association created to advance airport consulting, represent the interests of airport consultant firms, and bring together experts of the aviation industry. Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) has been involved with the ACC since the inception of the company in 1994.

Since 2003, APTech staff have developed and conducted workshops and classes for the ACC, including Techniques for Airfield Pavement Maintenance, Repair, & Rehabilitation and Airport Pavement Design & Evaluation. The Airport Pavement Design & Evaluation Workshop has been held once to twice a year in various locations across the United States, assisted by senior Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff. Professionals who enroll in the course include airport engineers and designers, airport maintenance and operations staff, pavement design and repair consultants, FAA staff, and aircraft manufacturers.

In recent years, the pavement design class has expanded into the Airport Pavement Design, Evaluation, and Analysis Workshop and it is regularly updated to reflect changes in the FAA’s pavement design advisory circular, FAARFIELD (the FAA’s associated pavement design software), and COMFAA (their Pavement Classification Number calculation software).

Since 2013, together with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Delta Airports Consultants, Inc., Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) has provided the lead instructor for the Airport Pavement Maintenance and Evaluation Workshop. This workshop provides information needed to:

Establish an effective airport pavement management and maintenance program,

Understand the performance of pavements and how to evaluate them,

Identify the characteristics of a good pavement management and maintenance program, and

Learn the current repair techniques used in the industry.

The workshop also helps airport officials make informed decisions about the maintenance of their pavements and address special considerations such as minimizing impacts on users, maximizing airport safety, and adapting to their local operating environments. The format of the workshop provides a forum that allows attendees to network with industry colleagues on common pavement maintenance challenges and address issues appropriate to both general aviation and air carrier airports.

The FHWA has an ongoing interest in developing and deploying technologies to support improved concrete pavement performance and longevity. In support of these goals, the FHWA is conducting an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) project to promote and advance recommended best practices for the design, construction, repair, and rehabilitation of concrete pavements. Under Task Order 6 of the IDIQ, APTech supported the FHWA in implementing the new composite pavement system technologies developed under the SHRP2 R21 study.

Under this contract, we:

assisted four state highway agencies (SHAs) in the planning, design, and construction of new composite pavement systems and documented the project installations through detailed case studies.

worked with the California Department of Transportation to host a multi-state showcase on composite pavements that included a field demonstration of a two-lift concrete pavement project on I-210 north of Los Angeles.

developed comprehensive training materials on the design and construction of composite pavement systems and delivered it to highway agencies across the country.

worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation to organize and facilitate a multi-state peer exchange meeting to share knowledge on the applicability of and implementation strategies for composite pavement systems.

participated in various regional and national outreach activities to share information on composite pavement systems.

In 2002, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Multimodal Operations – Aviation Section (Aviation Section) selected APTech to implement an Airport Pavement Management System (APMS), beginning with a pilot study involving five airports. The project was so successful that MoDOT retained APTech to expand the APMS to include most of the agency’s paved, publicly owned public-use airports. Since then, APTech has partnered with MoDOT several times to update the APMS, including the current on-call project. The APMS now contains seventy airports. Each update is typically divided into three phases with approximately one-third of the system’s airports inspected during each phase.

APTech’s work for each project phase includes updating the systems inventory and network definition and conducting Pavement Condition Index (PCI) inspections. The APTech team also customizes the PAVER database, analyzes the collected data, and generates project reports. In addition, APTech uses the collected data to develop a 5-year maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) program.

In 2011, APTech integrated the MoDOT Aviation Section’s APMS to APTech’s web-based interactive pavement data visualization tool, IDEA. Since then, IDEA has been a valuable resource to share pavement information in an easy-to-understand format. Consistent updates provide the MoDOT Aviation Section and stakeholders with the most accurate and updated information available. During previous project updates, APTech conducted a webinar on the use of the IDEA program for airport sponsors, performed structural testing with a falling-weight deflectometer (FWD), and calculated Pavement Condition Numbers (PCNs) for selected pavements.

APTech’s work allows the MoDOT Aviation Section to proactively manage the pavement infrastructure at its airports in the most fiscally responsible manner possible. It provides the MoDOT Aviation Section with the means to anticipate pavement-related funding needs, as well as provides National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airports with the information needed to remain in compliance with Public Law 103-305 regarding pavement maintenance management.

The Ohio DOT maintains 49,078 lane miles of highway, and has identified longitudinal joint failure of their asphalt pavements as a systemic weakness. To counter that, APTech worked with ODOT to develop guidance on how to choose the most appropriate longitudinal joint repair method and how to perform it effectively and at the optimum time to produce the greatest return-on-investment.

Our work included:

Evaluating the Ohio DOT’s current longitudinal joint repair processes.

Conducting a comprehensive study of longitudinal joint repair practices by other DOTs.

Modifying existing construction specifications and designer guidance.

Developing a guidance document to assist maintenance managers in making cost-effective repair decisions.

Developing a decision tree and treatment selection tool to be included in the Ohio DOT pavement management system.

Preparing a project report to summarize findings and provide recommendations.

WisDOT’s high-priority roadways require repairs to be completed during off-peak hours with minimal lane closure durations (typically 6 to 8 hours for night-time closures). These short closure times severely limit the ability to use many conventional cementitious repair materials and methods on their concrete pavements. As a result, WisDOT has typically resorted to using asphalt concrete or rapid-setting cementitious materials for repairs of PCC pavements, neither of which has consistently resulted in durable or long-lasting repairs.

WisDOT selected Applied Pavement Technology, Inc. (APTech) to evaluate the laboratory and field performance of selected non-cementitious repair materials they have been using over the last few years and provide guidance on the selection and use of these materials for concrete pavement partial-depth repair applications.

Our work included:

Conducting field evaluations of  selected non-cementitious repair materials to document prevailing condition of repair materials and surrounding concrete pavement.

Conducting coring and non-destructive testing  to assess the bond condition between repair material and underlying concrete pavement.

Conducting laboratory testing to study bond and dimensional stability of repair materials at various temperatures.

Developing project report to assist WisDOT in improving policy and specifications related to non-cementitious repair materials.

View the project report here.

For over 10 years, APTech supported the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the administration of its Sustainable Pavements Program through two separate competitively bid indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts. In this capacity, we were responsible for carrying through FHWA initiatives in pavement sustainability and worked with a broad-based team to accomplish them. This included:

seeking stakeholder involvement to help promote concepts of sustainability,

developing specific guidance on more sustainable pavement practices, and

sponsoring outreach programs and technology transfer activities to share the latest information on the FHWA’s program.

A number of key task orders have been executed under each contract for this program, each led by APTech and supported by a core group of technical experts who combine expertise in pavement design, construction, and materials with various components of sustainability.

Under the most recent Sustainable Pavements Program contract, seven task orders were issued.

Task Order 1: Sustainable Pavements Program Roadmap

We developed a strategic Roadmap to provide a 5- to 10-year strategic direction for the FHWA’s Sustainable Pavements Program. The Roadmap focused on pavement sustainability in the areas of design, construction, preservation, and maintenance of asphalt and concrete pavements, and was designed to:

Work within the broader industry context of improving pavement sustainability

Be guided by the Program’s current purpose (defined as being to advance the knowledge and practice of sustainability related to pavements)

Concentrate specifically on topics and deliverables through which the FHWA can have real impact given its current scope and authority. The Sustainable Pavements Technical Working Group (SPTWG) was engaged in the effort to provide stakeholder feedback.

Task Order 2: Establishment, Organization, and Coordination of the SPTWG

We coordinated and provided support for the SPTWG, a stakeholder group providing input to the FHWA on the program. We scheduled and organized meetings, provided travel support to eligible SPTWG meetings, facilitated the meetings, and documented the overall results and action items. A total of 11 meetings of the SPTWG were conducted from 2016 to 2021, the last three in virtual format.

Task Order 3: Technology Transfer Toolbox

APTech provided technology transfer support to the FHWA on the subject of sustainable pavements and materials. This support included:

Preparation of ten technical presentations on various aspects of pavement sustainability,

Development of three Technical Briefs on topics related to pavement and materials sustainability, and

Continued development, maintenance, and population of the FHWA sustainable pavements website.

Together, these various activities became a "technology transfer toolbox" that supports FHWA in sharing pavement sustainability information to the at-large highway community.

Task Order 4: Sustainable Pavements Case Studies

APTech developed a series of case studies that highlight sustainable pavement technologies that were featured in the program’s Reference Document. These were defined as a practice, procedure, or innovation with positive sustainability impacts, and a total of ten case study reports were produced: In-Place and Central-Plant Recycling of Asphalt Pavements, Use of Blended Cements, Sustainability Rating Systems, Perpetual Asphalt Pavements, Long-Life Concrete Pavements, Inverted Pavements, Superpave5 Asphalt Surface Mix Design, Stone Matrix Asphalt and Open-Graded Friction Courses, Concrete Pavement Texturing, and Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregates.

Task Order 5: Environmental Impact Benchmarking Tool

Under this task order, we developed a Microsoft Excel-based tool (LCA PAVE) to aid agencies in assessing, benchmarking, and communicating the environmental impacts of the materials and construction processes associated with new pavement construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and preservation. The tool has the ability to consider a range of environmental impact indicators and generates a multitude of output summary tables and graphics, all of which can be presented in a report template that is customizable by the highway agency. The LCA PAVE tool plays a critical role in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUY CLEAN initiative.

The success of APTech’s work was recently rewarded with a new follow-on contract for LCA PAVE technical support, enhancements, and outreach.

Task Order 6: Sustainable Pavements Education and Outreach

We helped the FHWA advance the state of sustainable pavement practices through a strategic marketing and outreach campaign. A series of marketing and outreach materials were developed to educate stakeholders on pavement sustainability and encourage them to use resources and tools produced under the Sustainable Pavements Program. Some of these resources included:

Several Tech Briefs on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Two videos highlighting asphalt and concrete recycling, respectively, and

Several flyers and one-pagers on various sustainability related topics. 

Two webinar series—one that highlighted ways agencies can improve the sustainability of their pavements, and one on the use of the LCA PAVE tool developed under Task Order 5.

Task Order 7: Pavement Resilience Guidebook

In this task order, APTech examined the role of pavement resilience in addressing a number of emerging climate stressors and developed a summary document describing the current state of knowledge, practice and future needs. This information in our report was based on:

Key national and international climate documents,

An FHWA approach to resilience,

The results of an unpublished literature review, and

The findings from two FHWA-sponsored Peer Exchanges on pavement resilience held in late 2020.

The State of Hawaii owns and operates the public-use airports throughout the state. Recognizing the tremendous value these facilities represent, the Hawaii DOT (HDOT) implemented an airport pavement management system (APMS) in 1999. During this initial project, APTech implemented the portion of the APMS for Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL) and Kahului (OGG) Airports. Due to the state’s satisfaction, APTech was contracted again in 2005 and 2014. These updates were split into two separate projects, one for five small hub commercial airports and a second for two medium and large hub airports (HNL and OGG). Most recently, in 2019, HDOT selected the team of Bowers + Kubota (B+K) and APTech, serving in a subconsultant role, to update the State’s APMS for fifteen airports, including seven commercial service airports and eight general aviation airports. 

Throughout the projects, our work included:

Performing records research

Evaluating the airport pavements using the PCI procedure

Updating the PAVER database

Preparing a multi-year maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) plan

Producing detailed project reports

Incorporating pavement data within the state’s WINGS GIS

During the 2000 and 2014 updates, conducting a full structural analysis of the pavements at HNL and OGG using a heavy-weight falling weight deflectometer (FWD)

Work at these airports presented some interesting challenges. Both HNL and OGG are very busy facilities. Therefore, completing the fieldwork efficiently required extensive coordination with operations, engineering, and the FAA staff responsible for controlling the facilities and their flight operations. The COVID-19 pandemic also presented a significant challenge to completing the most recent update due to state travel restrictions. However, the B+K/APTech team was able to adjust to this new reality and leveraged B+K’s local presence with APTech’s APMS expertise to deliver a successful APMS update.

May 2021, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) selected APTech to update its risk-based transportation asset management plan (TAMP). The plan documents NYSDOT’s practices and planned investments for managing the agency’s over 38,000 lane-miles of pavement and nearly 19,000 highway bridges from 2022 through 2031. APTech is supporting all aspects of the TAMP, including technical expertise, coordination, documentation, and editorial and graphic design support.

NYSDOT’s TAMP also describes the practices and expected investments of the New York State Thruway Authority (Thru-way) as the entire New York Thruway is on the National Highway System. APTech coordinated between the two agencies to gather needed information from each and compile the TAMP. The resulting plan includes all NYSDOT and Thru-way managed pavements and bridges.

For over the past 10 years, the United States Army has implemented and maintained a pavement management system for their roadways, parking, and motor pool pavements. As part of this effort, the United States Army Corps of Engineers–Omaha District has awarded indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts with consultants who have specialized knowledge in pavement engineering. APTech is currently one of the teams under an IDIQ contract with the Army to provide pavement management services of their roadways, parking, and motor pool pavements.

Under the current IDIQ, APTech has implemented or updated the pavement management system at the following posts:

Camp Parks

Dugway Proving Ground

Fort Bliss

Fort Devens

Fort Hood

Fort Huachuca

Fort Leonard Wood

Fort McCoy

Fort Sill

The roadway, parking, and motor pools at these posts total approximately 350 million square feet of pavement. Work has included performing records reviews, updating the pavement inventory within the PAVER pavement management system, performing Installation Status Report-Pavement Condition Index (ISR-PCI) surveys, and customizing the maintenance and rehabilitation inputs for the roadways, parking, and motor pool pavements. As part of the maintenance and rehabilitation analysis, APTech creates or updates pavement prediction models, creates or updates ISR-PCI versus cost models, and performs 10-year work planning analysis. These components are used to develop a list of recommended rehabilitation projects which is thoroughly reviewed and edited during a project formulation with each post.

As part of the pavement management system, APTech is aligning segmentation of the pavement with Real Property data. The goal of this alignment is for the Army to gain an understanding of the condition of each facility as defined by Real Property data. By providing the Army the pavement condition information and a recommended list of projects for their posts, budgets can be appropriately made to allocate money to pavements in need.

Under a previous IDIQ, APTech has implemented the pavement management system at Detroit Arsenal, Fort Belvoir, Fort Knox, Fort Rucker, Fort Wainwright, The Pentagon, and West Point.

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.

In 2019, APTech assisted the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in developing the agency’s fully compliant, risk-based transportation asset management plan (TAMP). Following up on this project, APTech was again chosen to update the agency’s TAMP in 2022. The plan documents DOT&PF’s practices and planned investments for managing the agency’s pavement and bridges on the National Highway System (NHS) from 2022 through 2031.

APTech led all aspects of the TAMP development, including updating the documentation of asset management processes, financial planning, and life cycle planning. Since implementing the previous TAMP, DOT&PF has embraced the spirit of the legislation by updating its asset management practices and implementing new pavement and bridge management systems that use the National Highway Performance Program metrics to inform investment decisions. APTech assisted the DOT&PF by using these new systems to update its TAMP, including significant support to refine the agency’s life-cycle planning analyses for bridges.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), passed in November 2021, requires agencies to consider extreme weather and resilience in its life-cycle planning and risk analyses. Alaska’s extreme environment requires considerable focus on resilience in all aspects of asset management and engineering. The revised TAMP highlights the agency’s efforts to understand the conditions to which pavements and bridges will be exposed to construct infrastructure assets that can withstand Alaska’s harsh environment.

In 2021, the City of Lynnwood, Washington determined that it required a pavement management system (PMS) to improve planning for budget and work needs and to better communicate conditions and needs to decision-makers. The City has a working relationship with Perteet, Inc. (Perteet) to support planning activities. APTech, as a subcontractor to Perteet, was selected to assist with roadway condition data collection, implementation of Cartegraph’s Operations Management System (OMS), and to provide training in the use of OMS to the City and Perteet so that they can use this tool effectively in the future. 

Our work included:

Collecting pavement condition data for about 175 centerline miles of City streets using our automated data condition collection vehicle (EDGE)

Using collected images and data to report distress type, severity, and extent for each road segment

Loading the collected data into OMS

Providing guidance in the configuration of OMS for analyses

Documenting our work in a summary report detailing current conditions and recommendations

Due to the success of the work, we were asked to participate as an on-call consultant to help the City and Perteet continue to use the PMS system. This work allows the City and its representatives to proactively plan for budget and work needs in the future and to clearly communicate work plans and budget impacts using map-based tools to decision-makers. This will in turn enable the City to make better use of limited resources and more informed data-driven decision making.

In 2023, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) partnered with APTech as a subcontractor for the for the rehabilitation of the General Aviation (GA) apron, Taxiways P and Q, and associated connector taxiways at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BNIA). These pavements consist of a variety of concrete and asphalt cross sections with varying construction ages. Due to age and deterioration, the pavements required rehabilitation to maintain safe operations for the GA section of the airport.

This project included the preliminary and final pavement design. To begin, APTech reviewed the results of the planned geotechnical investigation and the existing pavement records. Next, the APTech team conducted nondestructive deflection testing using a falling weight deflectometer. The results provided a wealth of information about the load-carrying capabilities of the pavement, which APTech used in conjunction with the results of the records review to develop design alternatives. The design strategies were determined in accordance with FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5320-6G, Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation and using FAA’s FAARFIELD pavement design software. The results of the data review, analyses, and recommendations for the project were presented in a detailed pavement design report.

The pavement design alternatives developed for this project included reconstruction with a new concrete or asphalt pavement and rubblization of the taxiway pavements followed by an asphalt overlay. The reconstruction alternatives removed all older pavement materials that could negatively impact construction and performance due to continued deterioration. Reconstruction also allowed existing grades to be maintained, such as at hangar locations, and created improved support, especially in the apron areas. Rubblization allowed a significant portion of the taxiway to be reused, reducing the amount of material removal and new material construction. Project specifications were also developed for the included pavement materials.

Located in Warwick, Rhode Island, T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) is a small-hub airport that routinely offers international flights. The asphalt pavement was showing deterioration and needed to be restored to maintain operations. Working as a subcontractor, APTech performed pavement evaluation and design services for the rehabilitation of Taxiway C at PVD. The portion of Taxiway C located within approximately 800 feet adjacent to Runway 5-23 was also reconstructed and realigned to address geometric concerns.

This project included the preliminary and final pavement design. To begin, APTech reviewed the results of the planned geotechnical investigation and the existing pavement records. Next, the APTech team conducted nondestructive deflection testing using a falling weight deflectometer. The results provided a wealth of information about the load-carrying capabilities of the pavement, which APTech used in conjunction with the results of the records review to develop design alternatives. The design strategies were determined in accordance with FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5320-6G, Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation and using FAA’s FAARFIELD pavement design software. The results of the data review, analyses, and recommendations for the project were presented in a detailed pavement design report.

Multiple rehabilitation alternatives were considered, including asphalt surface replacement, full-depth reclamation, and concrete overlay. While these alternatives were structurally feasible, the taxiway required additional pavement structure to accommodate the anticipated aircraft traffic. The additional structural requirements for these alternatives made matching existing grades at each end of the section difficult. Milling a portion of the existing asphalt surface and placing a new asphalt overlay was not considered because of the deteriorated condition of the existing asphalt. A new asphalt pavement was ultimately selected.

The Iowa DOT’s Modal Transportation Bureau has been proactive in managing the pavements at Iowa airports since the early 1990s, and in 1997, the Modal Transportation Bureau became APTech’s first state airport pavement management client. Due to its satisfaction with APTech, the Modal Transportation Bureau continued to select the APTech team to conduct its APMS updates on several projects spanning from 2003 to 2027.

The project is divided into three phases. APTech inspects approximately one-third of the system’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airports during each phase, with non-NPIAS airports typically inspected less frequently. During the most recent update, APTech is compiling systems inventory information provided by the Modal Transportation Bureau and updating network definition and associated airport CAD maps. The APTech team is also completing PCI inspections, updating and customizing the PAVER database, and developing M&R plans for preserving the pavement infrastructure. Additionally, APTech is developing individual airport and statewide pavement management reports. Previous updates have also included PCN determinations for runways at the project airports.

During each project, APTech updates the Modal Transportation Bureau’s interactive data visualization tool, IDEA, which provides access to the most requested pavement management information without requiring the user to obtain and operate the pavement management system. APTech has also conducted webinars on the use of IDEA and periodically provides presentations at Iowa Public Airports Association Conferences on topics related to the APMS.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored the development of National Highway Institute (NHI) Course 134063, Maintenance Leadership Academy to assist state, district, and county highway maintenance departments in training new pavement maintenance supervisors. The course consists of a 5-week, blended learning training program that includes instructor-led classroom training, independent study, and web-based training modules. The course prepares personnel for a future in the highway maintenance field by developing practical decision-making skills in six crucial areas, including maintenance administration, pavement and bridge preservation, roadside maintenance and drainage, weather-related operations, traffic services, safety and work zones, and environmental protection. 

APTech worked with the NHI to develop this course in 2010 and has been presenting the course since its creation. In 2014, and again in 2019, the NHI selected APTech to deliver Course 134063, Maintenance Leadership Academy due to APTech’s strong reputation as a leader in developing and delivering training materials that achieve course objectives. The APTech instructors consistently receive high ratings for the quality of instruction and have been awarded several Instructor of Excellence Awards from NHI.

The City of Maryville, Missouri chose Applied Pavement Technology (APTech) to conduct a citywide pavement assessment and develop a management plan for approximately 250 miles of road. 

From 2023 to 2024, APTech worked with Maryville to collect pavement data and establish a Pavement Management System (PMS). APTech presented multiple PMS options, showcasing how each software solution would fit the City’s long-term needs and budgetary requirements.  The City chose StreetLogix for their PMS. APTech then used its Enhanced Data Gathering Equipment (EDGE) vehicle to collect automated pavement condition data on all City-maintained roadways. Trained APTech pavement inspection technicians reviewed collected data to verify distresses were correctly identified and configured StreetLogix PMS with this data, establishing pavement families, setting up performance models, and defining treatment strategies. APTech also developed 20-year scenarios for the City to help them understand how different funding levels would affect their road network.

APTech’s work collecting pavement condition data and establishing a PMS provided the City with a baseline for work planning and budgeting, an objective review of maintenance program effectiveness, and recommendations for the most efficient use of agency resources. These deliverables will help the City make accountable, data-driven, performance-based decisions about needs.