Pavement Performance-Oriented Network Optimization System

The objective of the current network optimization system (NOS) model used by the Arizona Department of Transportation is to minimize the annual cost over the planning period. An NOS model with the objective of maximizing a network's pavement performance is presented. In this performance-oriented NOS, the annual budget is given as a constraint that is distributed evenly over the planning period. This NOS model aims to provide an approach simulating a possible scenario in a state department of transportation by effectively using a given budget in the planning period. At the same time the performance of the pavement network is also maximized. In relation to annual budget and pavement condition, two types of analysis are conducted: in the first analysis, only annual budget is applied as the constraint for this model; in the second, both annual budget and pavement performance requirements are introduced as the constraints. The necessary minimum annual budgets for various pavement performance requirements are compared; using the results, a rational annual budget for the needed pavement performance standards can be obtained, which may be used as decision support data for future budget allocation.