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Cover of Guide to Asset Management Part 5B: Roughness
Guide to Asset Management Part 5B: Roughness
  • Publication no: AGAM05B-07
  • ISBN: 978-1-921329-21-0
  • Published: 1 October 2007
  • Edition: 2
  • Superseded

Guide to Asset Management Part 5B contains guidelines for, and background notes on, the conduct of response type and profile-based roughness measurement for road network management purposes in Australia and New Zealand. The guidelines define roughness as being concerned with road surface profile wavelengths between 0.5 m and 50 m. The guidelines describe two broad measures of roughness, viz NAASRA Roughness Meter (NRM roughness values in counts/km) and the International Roughness Index (with a specific focus on Lane IRIqc, expressed in units of m/km), and mark the introduction to Australasia of Lane IRIqc as a standard form of reporting road pavement roughness. A standard reporting interval of 100 m is favoured. The guidelines discuss the frequency and extent of network roughness surveys, and reference separate Austroads specifications and test methods for undertaking network roughness surveys. A glossary of terms used in measuring road roughness is also included.

  • 1. INTRODUCTION
    • 1.1. Context within the Guide to Asset Management
    • 1.2. Overview of Roughness
    • 1.3. Objective
  • 2. SPECIFICATION AND TEST METHOD
    • 2.1. Definition of Roughness
    • 2.2. Frequency of Roughness Surveys
    • 2.3. Specification of Roughness Surveys
    • 2.4. Data Reporting
  • 3. TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
    • 3.1. Classes of Measuring Devices
    • 3.2. Measurement of Roughness
    • 3.3. Profile Analysis
      • 3.3.1. General
      • 3.3.2. Quarter-Car model (endorsed by Austroads)
      • 3.3.3. Half-Car Model (not endorsed by Austroads)
  • 4. DATA QUALITY AND VALIDATION
    • 4.1. Validation of Distance Measurement
    • 4.2. Validation of Roughness Measurement
    • 4.3. Repeatability and Bias
  • 5. ANALYSIS
    • 5.1. Assessing the Validity of Roughness Data
    • 5.2. Distribution Analysis
    • 5.3. Performance Indicators
    • 5.4. Other Analysis Techniques
  • 6. APPLICATION
    • 6.1. General
    • 6.2. Network Screening
    • 6.3. Work Prioritisation
    • 6.4. Performance Indicators
    • 6.5. Intervention Levels
    • 6.6. Decision-support Tools
    • 6.7. Network Performance Scenario Analysis
    • 6.8. Budget Forecasting
  • 7. PROJECT LEVEL APPLICATION
    • 7.1. Roughness Collection at the Project Level
    • 7.2. Auditing of Pavement Construction Ride Quality
    • 7.3. Roughness Data as a Diagnostic Tool
  • REFERENCES
  • Class 1 measuring device
  • Inertial profilometers
  • Laser and ultrasonic sensors
  • Reference device method (Test Method AG:AM/T002)
  • Loop method (Test Method AG:AM/T003)
  • Profile-based measuring devices
  • Response type measuring devices
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