About the Project

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.