2.2.1 Pavement Management Systems (PMS)
A pavement management system (PMS) is a tool that provides a systematic method of road condition data collection, storage, analysis and modelling for decision-making associated with optimising resources across a pavement network.
Usual components of a PMS are:
- evaluation of optimal pavement performance
- evaluation of the most efficient allocation of resources given budget constraints
- analysis of data and resources
- database management.
At a network level, a PMS facilitates decision-making for long-term ‘needs based’ budgeting to address the overall condition of the network. At a project level, a PMS addresses the most cost‑effective maintenance and rehabilitation means for each road segment. Achieving the desired performance outcomes has a significant impact on both the timing and type of treatment chosen.