| dc.description.abstract | This report documents the first phase of the development of
the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's (ODOT) pavement
management system. Although much as been written on the pavement
management process, little literature is available on the actual
mechanics of developing a pavement management system. The purpose
of this report is to lay a framework for the development of ODOT's pavement management system. The report is divided into five chapters. The first chapter
stresses the importance of the development process. The stages of development include system conceptualization, planning, and
design. It is during these stages that a great deal of effort
should be spent to ensure that the system's performance meets
management's expectations. It is much easier to change the
structure of the system during developmental stages than it is to
make changes once the system is operational.
The second chapter covers fundamental aspects of the pavement
management process. The chapter covers rudimentary pavement
management concepts, pavement evaluations and performance,
and uses of pavement performance information and condition data.
The third chapter covers a series of case studies of pavement
management systems used by other state departments of transportation.
The systems studied were those used by the Iowa,
Arizona, and Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation. The
primary purpose of these case studies is to provide ODOT
engineers and managers with insight into the development process used by other states. The three states studied took very different
development paths. Thus, the case studies provide a rich
information source for identifying the advantages and pit-falls
of pursuing alternative development strategies.
The fourth chapter covers interviews with key ODOT staff.
The purpose of the interviews was to determine the pavement management
philosophies of key ODOT staff members. Individuals were
interviewed from both ODOT' s Headquarters and Field Divisions.
In general, staff members were supportive of the development of a
pavement management system. Once the system is operational, most
of the individuals interviewed felt that Field Division personnel
should initiate the pavement management planning process, with
Headquarters personnel reviewing plans for consistency between
Field Divisions and for accuracy.
The fifth chapter contains recommendations for the development
of a pavement management system. A key recommendation is
the implementation of training programs to improve staff skills
in the use of computers for management functions in general, and
specifically training on pavement management systems. Pavement
management system training should be at two levels. The first
level is to provide general training to ODOT engineers, planners,
managers, and technicians through a series of short workshops
(e. g. , one-day workshops). The purpose of these workshops should
be to provide a rudimentary level of understanding of the
pavement management process. The second level of training should
be provided to the middle management level engineers who will be responsible for the pavement management system's development.
The second level should be highly technical and in depth.
Also recommended is the creation of a steering committee
consisting of middle management level engineers and the establishment
of a permanent pavement management staff. The purpose
of the steering committee will be to develop a management plan
and a system development plan. The permanent staff will carry
out the steering committee's plans. The fifth chapter concludes
with a list of target activities and dates for accomplishment of
these activities. | |
