Determination of long-term stability of pavement ride quality data

In a 1983 Ohio DOT ride quality study, Surface Dynamics, Inc. developed a ride quality transform which defined the relationship between measured subjective ride quality and pavement profile measured with the Ohio DOT Model 690 DNC Inertial Profilometer. In this report, the time stability of that relationship was evaluated using ride quality data collected five years later in 1988. In addition to the evaluation of ride quality time stability, the performance of other ride quality transforms were also evaluated, including the Ride Number transform developed in NCHRP Project 1-23, the Michigan Ride Quality Index, the Texas Serviceability Index, the Mays Ride Meter Index, and the International Roughness Index. This report also reevaluates the relationship developed in the 1983 Ohio DOT ride quality study between measured subjective ride quality and the need for pavement repair. The report reconfirms the trigger value established in the 1983 study for non-routine maintenance of Interstate pavements.