Selecting the optimal network-level pavement maintenance budget scenario based on sustainable considerations

Abstract

This study aims to integrate sustainability indicators into the traditional assessment of network-level pavement maintenance budget scenarios. A conceptual framework is developed based on a multi-attribute method by systematically considering road conditions, economic, environmental, and social sustainability. A case study is then adopted to demonstrate the usefulness of this framework. Out of eight network-level pavement maintenance budget scenarios, the 85M plan (representing an annual maintenance budget of AUD$85M) is selected as the optimal solution in an initial experiment in which equal weights are allocated to the four attributes. In an additional experiment with 1000 sets of randomly assigned weights, the 85M plan was also selected as the optimal option for 596 trials. The proposed framework provides a straightforward method for road agencies to select the optimal network-level pavement maintenance budget scenario or obtain preliminary insights when the precise weight of each sustainability attribute cannot be accurately obtained.