Decision Strategy for Asphalt Pavement Recycling

A decision model that uses utility theory to the decision making process in selecting optimum techniques for asphalt pavement recycling is presented. The model requires the identification of all the quantitative and qualitative decision criteria and the determination of a utility function for each decision criterion. It then considers the uncertainties associated with the estimates of decision criteria and, in conjunction with the utility functions, determines expected decision criteria utilities. Weighting factors or regression coefficients are used to weight the decision criteria utilities and the optimum recycling technique is defined based on the maximum expected utility associated with the technique. The model provides a systematic approach to analyzing the various factors with should be considered before a pavement recycling decision could be made.