Pavement Inspection

Overview

Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Survey Procedure

The inspections were conducted using the PCI survey procedure documented in the following publications:

  • FAA Advisory Circular 150/5380-6C, Guidelines and Procedures for Maintenance of Airport Pavements.
  • FAA Advisory Circular 150/5380-7B, Airports Pavement Management Program (PMP).
  • ASTM D5340, Standard Test Method for Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys.

The PCI procedure is the standard used by the aviation industry to visually assess pavement condition, providing engineers with a consistent, objective, and repeatable tool to represent the overall pavement condition. During a PCI survey, visible signs of deterioration within a selected sample unit are recorded and analyzed, as are distress type, severity, and quantity.

The results of a PCI evaluation provide an indication of the structural integrity and functional capabilities of the pavement. However, it should be recognized that during a PCI inspection only the top layer of the pavement is examined and that no direct measure is made of the structural capacity of the pavement system. Nevertheless, the PCI does provide an objective basis for determining maintenance and repair needs as well as for establishing rehabilitation priorities in the face of constrained resources. Furthermore, the results of repeated PCI monitoring over time can be used to determine the rate of deterioration and to estimate the time at which certain rehabilitation measures can be implemented.

Visual Representation of PCIs

During a PCI inspection, inspectors identify signs of deterioration on the surface of the pavement. Pavement defects are characterized in terms of type of distress, severity level of distress, and amount of distress. This information is then used to develop a composite index (PCI) that represents the overall condition of the pavement in numerical terms, ranging from 0 (failed) to 100 (excellent). A visual representation of the PCI scale is illustrated in the figure below.

This image shows three different pictures of pavement with PCIs of 100, 60, adn 35, respectively. The image with PCI = 100 is in excellent condition with no visible distress. The image with PCI = 60 shows three slabs with a medium-severity crack running through all three. The image with PCI = 35 shows a number of adjacent slabs; all of which are divided into four or more pieces due to cracking.
Figure 1. Visual representation of PCI scale.

Relationship to Repair Types

In general terms, pavements with relatively high PCIs that are not exhibiting significant load-related distress will benefit from preventive maintenance actions, such as crack sealing and surface treatments. As the PCI drops, the pavements may require major rehabilitation, such as an overlay. In some situations where the PCI has dropped low enough, reconstruction may be the only viable alternative due to the substantial damage to the pavement structure. The figure below illustrates how the appropriate repair type varies with the PCI of a pavement section.

The PCI scale used for this project ranges from 0 (a pavement in a failed condition) to 100 (a pavement in excellent condition) and is divided into seven PCI value ranges: 86-100, 70-85, 55-69, 41-54, 26-40, 11-25, and 0-10. Pavements in the 63-100 range are candidates for preventive maintenance actions, 41-62 are candidates for major rehabilitation, and 0-40 are candidates for reconstruction.
Figure 2. PCI scale.

The types of distress identified during the PCI inspection provide insight into the cause of pavement deterioration. PCI distress types are characterized as load-related (such as alligator cracking, corner breaks, and shattered slabs), climate/materials-related (such as weathering [climate-related] and durability cracking [materials-related]), and other (distress types that cannot be attributed solely to load or climate/materials). Understanding the cause of distress helps in selecting a rehabilitation alternative that corrects the cause and thus eliminates its recurrence.

The “Causes of AC Distress” and "Causes of PCC Distress" pages in this section contain tables for asphalt and PCC pavements, respectively, indicating the typical types of distresses that may be identified during a PCI survey, along with a brief description and the likely cause of each distress type.