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The use of high technology in common daily tasks is boarding all areas of civil engineering; pavement evaluation is not the exception. Accordingly, current pavement imaging systems have been able to collect images at highway speeds and with the use of proper software, this digital information can be translated into pavement distress reports in which all distresses are classified and presented by their type, extent, severity, and location. However, a number of issues regarding the quality of pavement images and the appropriate conditions to acquire them, remain to be addressed. These issues surfaced during the development of a pavement evaluation vehicle for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The work involved in this thesis proposes basic criteria to evaluate the performance of pavement imaging systems. Mainly four parameters (1) spatial resolution, (2) brightness resolution, (3) optical distortion, and (4) signal to noise ratio, have been identified to assess the quality of a pavement imaging system. First, each of the four parameters is studied in detail in USF's Visual Imaging Laboratory to formulate relevant criteria that can be used to evaluate imaging systems. Then, the developed criteria are used to evaluate the FDOT Survey Vehicle's pavement imaging system. The evaluation speed does not seem to have any significant influence on the spatial resolution, brightness resolution and signal to noise ratio. Little or no optical distortion was observed on the images on wheel paths. Limitations of the imaging system were also determined in terms of the brightness resolution and noise. The conclusions drawn from this study can be used to (1) enhance pavement imaging systems and (2) setup appropriate guidelines to perform automated distress surveys, under varying lighting conditions and speeds to obtain good quality images.

The World Bank specifically indicates that poor transport infrastructure and services in sub-Saharan Africa are serious obstacles to poverty reduction (Plessis-Fraissard, 2007). Two thirds of Africa's rural population, who are some 300 million of the world's poorest people, do not have access to an all-weather road. The same holds true for the federal paved network, further compounding the issues of health and economy. In the case of Nigeria, the majority of their federal network was constructed decades ago and little, if any, pavement management has been conducted. Further, federal roads that have been reconstructed or new roads that have been built are done so with inferior materials, inadequate designs and lack of quality control during the building process. Contributing to the poor state of the federal road network are high traffic volumes and traffic loads, as heavily overloaded trucks are commonplace. Nigeria has understood the need to improve their federal road network if they are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals they have outlined. As such, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was created and set in motion a mandate of federal road improvement through more appropriate design, construction, and above all else, pavement management. The major challenge, however, is that they are starting the process without a database, pavement management system, or an appreciation of the condition of their federal road network. The primary objective of this thesis is to form the foundation of a pavement management system (PMS) that FERMA can immediately implement to make better decisions pertaining to rehabilitation options. Further, it is the intent to allow for appropriate decisions about the best type of maintenance and rehabilitation interventions to apply to the poor state of arterial roads taking into context various factors, least of which are the type and extent of distress present and the benefit cost analysis. The outcome of this thesis will assist sub-Saharan Africa, but principally Nigeria, in their goal of fostering economic growth and creating a more sustainable transportation network. Recommendations on how to simplify input factors necessary for Nigeria to initiate a database and prepare more regionally specific designs have been made, including traffic, climatic and subgrade classifications. Economic analysis included present worth of costs (PWC) that were derived from condition rating curves specific to intervention pavement life and performance. Based on preliminary findings, subject to field validation, a chip-seal specific rehabilitation strategy for low volume federal roads is more cost effective over the 20-year analysis period, and 1-lift of asphalt concrete (AC) is more cost effective over the 20-year analysis period for high volume federal roads. Recommendations for further research have been made.

Pervious Concrete Pavement (PCP) has the potential to provide significant benefits. To better understand the technical, economical, and environmental impacts of PCP, the performance must be comprehensively evaluated and quantified. Because PCP is a new material, there is no mechanism for properly quantifying its performance. In addition, the application of this technology in cold climates is limited and therefore limited in-service performance data is available. A comprehensive engineering based performance model quantifies the deterioration rate and predicts future performance. Pavement performance models are developed using a pavement condition index and extensive pavement condition databases. A pavement condition index is a value which expresses the overall condition of pavement by considering various factors such as surface distresses, structural defects, and ride quality. This research will assist pavement engineers and managers in the design, construction, and management of PCP. The review of published literature reveals that there is currently a large gap in the performance evaluation of PCP in cold climates. Neither extensive condition indices nor comprehensive performance models have been developed for PCP. This research involves development of comprehensive performance models for PCP in cold climates using laboratory and field experiments and existing available data in order to predict functionality (permeability rate) and surface distresses of PCP. This study is, furthermore, aimed at developing an extensive condition index for better management of PCP by predicting and quantifying the various types of distresses and the associated functionality of PCP with particular emphasis on cold climate usage and performance. The scope of this research is to design a comprehensive tool which is simple and cost-effective. The tool involves first defining the typical types of distresses that are occurring on PCP. This is facilitated through laboratory and field design, construction, and evaluation of two test sites located in Ontario. It also involves continuous evaluation of these sites and evaluation of several other sites in the United States. The main sources of data in this research are panel rating data and field investigations data. A panel rates the condition of PCP in terms of surface distresses and permeability rates. In addition to this, field measurements of distresses and permeability rates are obtained manually. As a result, the Pervious Concrete Condition Index (PCCI) is developed through incorporation of field measurements and panel ratings. By using regression analysis, performance models are developed between PCCI and pavement age. The performance models are validated using the data splitting technique. Ultimately, the performance models are calibrated using field data by applying the Markov Chain process (acquiring expert knowledge by distributing questionnaires) and the Bayesian technique.

The World Bank specifically indicates that poor transport infrastructure and services in sub-Saharan Africa are serious obstacles to poverty reduction (Plessis-Fraissard, 2007). Two thirds of Africa's rural population, who are some 300 million of the world's poorest people, do not have access to an all-weather road. The same holds true for the federal paved network, further compounding the issues of health and economy. In the case of Nigeria, the majority of their federal network was constructed decades ago and little, if any, pavement management has been conducted. Further, federal roads that have been reconstructed or new roads that have been built are done so with inferior materials, inadequate designs and lack of quality control during the building process. Contributing to the poor state of the federal road network are high traffic volumes and traffic loads, as heavily overloaded trucks are commonplace. Nigeria has understood the need to improve their federal road network if they are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals they have outlined. As such, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was created and set in motion a mandate of federal road improvement through more appropriate design, construction, and above all else, pavement management. The major challenge, however, is that they are starting the process without a database, pavement management system, or an appreciation of the condition of their federal road network. The primary objective of this thesis is to form the foundation of a pavement management system (PMS) that FERMA can immediately implement to make better decisions pertaining to rehabilitation options. Further, it is the intent to allow for appropriate decisions about the best type of maintenance and rehabilitation interventions to apply to the poor state of arterial roads taking into context various factors, least of which are the type and extent of distress present and the benefit cost analysis. The outcome of this thesis will assist sub-Saharan Africa, but principally Nigeria, in their goal of fostering economic growth and creating a more sustainable transportation network. Recommendations on how to simplify input factors necessary for Nigeria to initiate a database and prepare more regionally specific designs have been made, including traffic, climatic and subgrade classifications. Economic analysis included present worth of costs (PWC) that were derived from condition rating curves specific to intervention pavement life and performance. Based on preliminary findings, subject to field validation, a chip-seal specific rehabilitation strategy for low volume federal roads is more cost effective over the 20-year analysis period, and 1-lift of asphalt concrete (AC) is more cost effective over the 20-year analysis period for high volume federal roads. Recommendations for further research have been made.

Pervious Concrete Pavement (PCP) has the potential to provide significant benefits. To better understand the technical, economical, and environmental impacts of PCP, the performance must be comprehensively evaluated and quantified. Because PCP is a new material, there is no mechanism for properly quantifying its performance. In addition, the application of this technology in cold climates is limited and therefore limited in-service performance data is available. A comprehensive engineering based performance model quantifies the deterioration rate and predicts future performance. Pavement performance models are developed using a pavement condition index and extensive pavement condition databases. A pavement condition index is a value which expresses the overall condition of pavement by considering various factors such as surface distresses, structural defects, and ride quality. This research will assist pavement engineers and managers in the design, construction, and management of PCP. The review of published literature reveals that there is currently a large gap in the performance evaluation of PCP in cold climates. Neither extensive condition indices nor comprehensive performance models have been developed for PCP. This research involves development of comprehensive performance models for PCP in cold climates using laboratory and field experiments and existing available data in order to predict functionality (permeability rate) and surface distresses of PCP. This study is, furthermore, aimed at developing an extensive condition index for better management of PCP by predicting and quantifying the various types of distresses and the associated functionality of PCP with particular emphasis on cold climate usage and performance. The scope of this research is to design a comprehensive tool which is simple and cost-effective. The tool involves first defining the typical types of distresses that are occurring on PCP. This is facilitated through laboratory and field design, construction, and evaluation of two test sites located in Ontario. It also involves continuous evaluation of these sites and evaluation of several other sites in the United States. The main sources of data in this research are panel rating data and field investigations data. A panel rates the condition of PCP in terms of surface distresses and permeability rates. In addition to this, field measurements of distresses and permeability rates are obtained manually. As a result, the Pervious Concrete Condition Index (PCCI) is developed through incorporation of field measurements and panel ratings. By using regression analysis, performance models are developed between PCCI and pavement age. The performance models are validated using the data splitting technique. Ultimately, the performance models are calibrated using field data by applying the Markov Chain process (acquiring expert knowledge by distributing questionnaires) and the Bayesian technique.

With the emerging trend of sustainability, sustainable infrastructure is highly regarded by the general public. Sustainable pavement is also a concept that has driven many research motivations today. These motivations are in the form of sustainable paving material utilization, innovative design and construction methods. One of the goals behind these research motivations is maximizing pavement performance using the given funding and resources available. Despite the significant research attention for innovation and actual sustainable pavement practices already commencing, there is no readily available system or score card to quantify sustainable pavement engineering practice. In 2008, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) initiated a research project with the University of Waterloo Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (UW CPATT) regarding quantifying pavement sustainability. The ultimate goal of the research is to develop a framework for formally incorporating sustainability into pavement engineering for MTO. In order to achieve this goal, the research reviewed the state-of-practice sustainable pavement material and technologies. A sustainable pavement workshop is hosted by CPATT and MTO that invited key stakeholders in Ontario pavement industry for a discussion of sustainable pavement. The environment and economic benefits of different technologies are explored to understand their sustainable elements. Indicators to measure pavement sustainability are proposed based on the recent MTO GreenPave evaluation program and life cycle cost of pavements. Lastly, network level pavement management and ideas to improve sustainability at network level is examined.

Maintaining a functioning road network is a challenge in today’s society due to the financial restrictions faced by all levels of government. A means of determining how to efficiently spend their limited funding must be found. In addition, the concept of sustainable development is rapidly growing in today’s world pressuring municipalities towards operating in a more socially and environmentally friendly manner. Sustainability is broken down into three aspects which are economical, social and environmental. A truly sustainable pavement satisfies its functional requirements while aiding social and economic development and minimizing negative environmental impacts In response to the growing sustainability trend, the City of Markham is committed to incorporating sustainability into their daily operations. This thesis is the result of a research project with the City of Markham which is directed at incorporating sustainable practices into pavement engineering. The objective of this project is to provide a practical framework for incorporating pavement sustainability best practices into the pavement engineering operations at the City of Markham. This practical framework is developed through the completion of four primary objectives. The first main objective involves the completion of a comprehensive literature review that identifies and reviews the state-of-the-art sustainable pavement best practices. This literature review is divided into five pavement related categories which examine: materials, design and construction techniques, maintenance and rehabilitation techniques, sustainability evaluation systems and carbon footprinting. The second objective involves the quantification of the environmental, economic and carbon footprint impacts of the reviewed pavement best practices; this evaluation is conducted using PaLATE. PaLATE is an excel based software developed at the University of California for evaluating the economical and environmental impacts of various pavement technologies. The third objective involves the utilization of GreenPave for evaluating the environmental friendliness of the analysed pavement best practices. The green discounted life cycle cost (GDLCC) is calculated to include the economic aspect of sustainability. The final objective involves the development of project and network level frameworks. These two frameworks are connected which forms the final framework for incorporating sustainability into City of Markham’s pavement engineering operations. Guidelines for the proper utilization of the developed framework are provided. Through the completion of the literature review it is concluded that there is a wide variety of sustainable pavement technologies that range from project design to pavement decommission. PaLATE analysis results indicate that warm mix asphalt and full depth reclamation are the most environmentally friendly construction and rehabilitation techniques, respectively. Including recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) within pavement mix designs reduces both costs and environmental impacts. Excluding microsurfacing, full depth reclamation was the least expensive rehabilitation technique while hot mix asphalt with RAP was the cheapest construction technique. The same initial construction and rehabilitation techniques are evaluated using the GreenPave rating system. Pervious concrete scored the highest rating under the initial construction category with warm mix asphalt a close second. Cold in place recycling, cold in place with expanded asphalt and full depth reclamation all scored the highest under the rehabilitation category. In the future, the City of Markham may wish to alter the GreenPave rating system to be more reflective of municipal practices as the current version of GreenPave is weighted more heavily on high volume roads. To include the economical aspect, the green discounted life cycle cost (GDLCC) is calculated for all techniques. Hot mix asphalt with RAP and full depth reclamation resulted with the lowest GDLCC in the construction and rehabilitation categories, respectively. Finally, the recommended project and network level frameworks for incorporating sustainability into the pavement engineering practices at the City of Markham are proposed. On the project level, GreenPave evaluation and project level GDLCC aid decision makers in determining the most sustainable project alternative. On the network level, a pavement management system (PMS) serves as the platform. The role of a PMS is to provide recommendations on when and where rehabilitation is required and which rehabilitation technique is the most sustainable. The cost effectiveness and network level GDLCC indicators also aid pavement engineers in making network level decisions. The project and network level frameworks are connected to provide a complete pavement management framework for incorporating sustainability. The framework provides economic benefits by increasing the effectiveness of budget allocation; this is accomplished by maximizing the overall condition index gained to dollar spent ratio. The environmental benefits of this framework include the minimization of harmful gas emissions, project carbon footprints and energy and water consumption. The social issues of pavement projects are unique to each case and therefore must be addressed case by case. A common starting point when addressing these issues is provided.

With the emerging trend of sustainability, sustainable infrastructure is highly regarded by the general public. Sustainable pavement is also a concept that has driven many research motivations today. These motivations are in the form of sustainable paving material utilization, innovative design and construction methods. One of the goals behind these research motivations is maximizing pavement performance using the given funding and resources available. Despite the significant research attention for innovation and actual sustainable pavement practices already commencing, there is no readily available system or score card to quantify sustainable pavement engineering practice. In 2008, the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) initiated a research project with the University of Waterloo Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (UW CPATT) regarding quantifying pavement sustainability. The ultimate goal of the research is to develop a framework for formally incorporating sustainability into pavement engineering for MTO. In order to achieve this goal, the research reviewed the state-of-practice sustainable pavement material and technologies. A sustainable pavement workshop is hosted by CPATT and MTO that invited key stakeholders in Ontario pavement industry for a discussion of sustainable pavement. The environment and economic benefits of different technologies are explored to understand their sustainable elements. Indicators to measure pavement sustainability are proposed based on the recent MTO GreenPave evaluation program and life cycle cost of pavements. Lastly, network level pavement management and ideas to improve sustainability at network level is examined.