Abstract:
Pavement management systems have proven to be an effective tool for managing large
cities and metropolitan pavement networks, assisting decision-makers in finding
optimum strategies for maintaining pavements. According to Bahir Dar City Road
Authority asset management representatives, most maintenance strategies applied to
poor and less integrated pavement management systems. Road maintenance and
rehabilitation were carried out reactively once surface and structural failures occurred.
The objective of this research was to develop a web-based pavement management
system for Bahir Dar City by identifying the challenges of PMS implementation and
automating the manual pavement condition index (PCI) based condition rating process
and validate the system. The research methodology consisted of a positivist research
philosophy, a mixed-method approach, and a case study strategy. Qualitative and
quantitative choices were used, and data was collected through interviews, documents,
and visual surveys. The findings shows that the major problems of implementing PMS
was Lack of well-organized PMS, insufficient budget, limited skilled manpower system
top three factor‟ whilst the least ranked is the lack of standard PMS manual. The system
was developed with three main components: inventory, pavement condition, and life
cycle cost analysis. It automatically calculated the sample unit pavement condition
index (PCI), section PCI, provided a rating scale, and suggested maintenance strategies
based on section PCI while conducting a life cycle cost analysis. The system could also
add, store, and delete inventory, Pavement condition, and life cycle cost analysis data
and generate sample unit reports. The system was validated by comparing deduct
values, corrective deduct values, sample unit PCI and section PCI values to manual
methods. To avoid the manual method, accurately converting distress deduction curves
into mathematical functions was a challenge that was overcome by digitizing the graphs
and using Origin Pro software to create the equations. The results showed a high level
of correlation with an R-squared value of .99. The system provided real-time data
through the internet and was developed using Angular, Nodejs, and PostgreSQL
software tools. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to create maps and
visualizations of pavement condition data.
Key terms: Pavement management system, Pavement Condition Index, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Database
management, system development.