Development of rational and defensible pay schedules for a performance specification using performance prediction and user and agency costs

This study examines the response of an improved methodology for defining Performance Specifications. This methodology considers the effect of non-compliance to thickness, strength, and initial smoothness specifications, or any combination of these deficiencies on the performance of rigid pavements. This methodology also considers the effect of initial smoothness and/or structural number on the performance of flexible pavements. Then, based on the impact in user and agency costs between the design and the as-built pavement a pay schedule is defined. For identifying the models to be used for the economic analysis different user cost models were examined and compared. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for examining the validity of the methodology and study the effects of the deficiencies on the specification pay schedules. A software was developed to automatize this analysis. The methodology defined in this study was used along with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to develop a Pavement Management System (PMS). Using a GIS based PMS the present and future conditions of pavements can be visualized on maps. This will assist decision makers in choosing the optimum rehabilitation strategy, based on their effects on user and agency costs.