Simulation of Highway Renewal Asset Management Strategies

This paper describes the mathematical equations, embedded in a simulation environment, that are needed to simulate the deterioration of pavements as well as the renewal or maintenance strategies. The paper shows how highway maintenance managers can consider the impact of choosing one maintenance policy alternative over another through "what-if" analysis. Highway maintenance managers (transportation officials at the District or State DOT level) are able to consider such things as the available budget and target goals for the overall condition of the highway network in order to determine the best maintenance policy. Thus, maintenance managers are able to compare strategies based on preventive maintenance versus strategies that wait until pavements have become visibly distressed.