THEME 2
PROBLEM STATEMENTS
Theme 2 – Institutional and Organizational Issues
The theme 2 problem statements presented in this section of the report relate to workforce
development, communication, contracting, and organizational structure. The recommendations in
this area are intended to address issues that include the impact of pavement management on
funding and how to determine, promote, and effectively communicate the use and the benefits of
pavement management.
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Communicating Pavement Management Information and Benefits
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
An important part of establishing credibility in a pavement management system is presenting
recommendations in a way that resonates with the audience. Historically, pavement managers
have not been effective in "telling their story" in a way that influences the decisions of
executives, the public, and other external stakeholders.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Identify current practices incorporating pavement management with strategic planning.
2. Develop criteria for determining best practices regarding incorporating pavement
management analyses into business and strategic processes.
3. Identify best practices and case studies suitable to illustrate how to successfully tie
network- and project-level decisions/goals.
4. Develop guidelines documenting recommendations for using pavement management
analysis results to provide meaningful planning decisions.
Final Product:
The products of the study include templates, sample PowerPoint presentations, webcasts of
successful approaches, and/or guidelines for using these strategies.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
Investigate how highway agencies have successfully gained buy-in from decision makers that
have led to increased use of pavement management information, investigate strategies for
effectively communicating pavement management information (including the benefits of
preservation), provide guidance for pavement managers responsible for making these types of
presentations, and explore current methods of communication (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and
Wikipedia).
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $250,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Improving the Skills of Pavement Managers
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
An effective pavement manager must have both technical and social skills to be most successful;
skill levels affect the final output, which in turn affects credibility and buy-in. Some of the
technical skills are taught in college or through on-the-job training, such as management skills
(people skills) and understanding organizational behavior. However, some aspects of a pavement
manager’s job are not covered in a traditional civil engineering curriculum. Agencies have three
options for addressing this shortcoming; they can contract for the services needed, provide the
training needed, and/or allow untrained staff to perform the activities. Furthermore, although
pavement management documentation is prolific, it has not been organized in a way that is
effective in training or improving pavement management operations.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Develop an online clearinghouse for pavement management resources, including plan
documentation, case studies, open-source software, training materials, and others.
2. Define appropriate levels of training and/or aptitude for personnel working with
pavement management systems.
3. Identify inexpensive, yet effective, training alternatives when funding for professional
development is limited.
4. Develop guidelines for getting the most out of contracted pavement management
systems.
Final Product:
The research will result in training guides to help agencies in the evaluation of fiscal and
organizational impacts associated with workforce development, an online clearinghouse of
useful resources, and information on career paths in pavement management.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
There are three specific objectives for the research. First, the research will develop an online
clearinghouse for pavement management resources. The second objective is to define basic
levels of aptitude concerning pavement management systems. The final research objective is to
develop guidelines that transportation agencies can use to ensure an outsourced pavement
management system meets an agency’s needs.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $250,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Annual Approval of State Planning and Research (SP&R) Program Funding
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
The annual approval of SP&R funding does not currently match the timing of data collection and
processing for most state highway agencies. When SP&R funds are available for use, they expire
at the end of the year making it difficult for the SHA to expend the approved funds. This study
will identify the SP&R funding restrictions, identify solutions that will meet FHWA and SHA
requirements, determine recommended solutions, and suggest policy changes.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Identify source(s) and reason(s) for SP&R funding restrictions.
2. Identify possible resolutions for getting the most out of SP&R funds.
3. Recommend policy revisions and such to implement solutions.
Final Product:
The final product of the research is a set of recommendations for revising policy to better utilize
SP&R funds in the timeframe allowed.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this research is to reconcile the timeframe of agency practices with the
availability of SP&R funds.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $100,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Framework for Minimizing the Delivery of Treatment Application
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Often, pavement preservation/rehabilitation projects are delayed due to plan preparation,
advertising, and letting. This lag time between project selection and construction may render the
selected treatment ineffective due to the continued advancement or acceleration of pavement
distress. There is a need to develop a process for reducing the timing between project selection
and treatment application to ensure proper treatment application, maximize performance life, and
reduce overall life-cycle cost.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey SHAs regarding planning and programming procedures.
2. Identify or develop procedures for reducing the time between treatment selection and
application.
3. Conduct case studies to verify recommendations using data provided by SHAs.
4. Develop best practices for timely planning and programming of preservation and
rehabilitation treatments.
Final Product:
The research will result in the development of best practices for the timely planning and
programming of pavement preservation/rehabilitation applications.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this research is to develop a best practices guide for improving the
efficiency and timeliness of planning and programming operations regarding implementing
pavement management recommendations, particularly with respect to pavement
preservation/rehabilitation treatment applications.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $250,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Addressing Trade-Offs, Metric Issues, and Purchasing Controls/Policies
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Political and organizational issues and organizational inertia can frequently impede the
incorporation of improved and beneficial analysis and technological advancements into the
pavement management process. In order to overcome this challenge, key issues related to the
trade-offs, metric terms/issues, policies, and purchasing controls need to be determined,
quantified, and presented so that more educated decisions can be made.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey practitioners regarding implementation of pavement management activities with
respect to political and/or organizational encumbrances.
2. Identify common critical issues impacting implementation, especially with respect to
acquiring new technology or analysis procedures and deployment of such.
3. Identify common critical issues regarding defining performance metrics and measures to
meet the needs of practitioners and decision-makers.
4. Prepare a synthesis of findings.
Final Product:
The final product of the research is a synthesis of common issues encountered in pavement
management with respect to political and/or organizational impacts on policy, performance
measures, implementation of new practices and activities, and so on.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this research is to understand the common critical issues surrounding
political and/or organizational change on pavement management policy.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $30,000
Estimated Project Duration: 9 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Impact of Pavement Management Investment Levels on Benefits
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
As agency budgets tighten, pavement management data collection activities (which typically
represent the largest part of the budget for pavement management activities) are at risk of budget
cuts. However, since the relationship between expenditures for data collection and analysis tools
and pavement management outputs is not well understood, the financial impact and/or risk of
budget cuts cannot be communicated. For example, if an agency cuts the data collection budget
by 50 percent, an agency could respond by extending the frequency with which data are collected
or be reducing the amount of data collected in each cycle. The consequences associated with
each of these options are not well understood and there is no known basis for deciding how to
address this challenge.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey practitioners for information regarding funding levels for pavement management
data collection, number of network miles, and budget for preservation, rehabilitation, and
reconstruction.
2. Analyze survey results to determine if any trends exist between funding for pavement
management and funding for pavement preservation/rehabilitation/reconstruction.
3. Conduct risk analyses for cost effectiveness of perceived trends.
4. Develop guidelines allowing practitioners to illustrate how funding levels impact
pavement management and its practices.
Final Product:
The final product of the research is a set of guidelines for determining how funding impacts
pavement management practices, illustrating the risks or benefits associated with changes in
levels of funds allocated to pavement management/preservation activities.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
There are three specific objectives for the research. First, the research will determine the
relationship between agency funding and pavement management practices. The second objective
is to define the risk or benefit associated with whether adequate funding is provided to conduct
pavement management/preservation work. The final research objective is to develop guidelines
that will illustrate for practitioners how pavement management is affected by funding and the
impact such effects can have.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $350,000
Estimated Project Duration: 24 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Methods to Promote Pavement Management as a Management Tool
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Pavement management is an important tool to help agencies keep a long-term perspective when
managing assets. It can be used to show impacts of different strategies, estimate needs, set and
monitor performance targets, and evaluate changes in design, materials, or construction. But its
value to agencies is not always well understood, especially among executives and elected
officials with short-term positions. Therefore, what is needed is a public relations campaign that
raises the profile of pavement management and communicates the wide-ranging benefits it
provides an agency.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Identify various internal and external audiences—considering both marketing and
engineering perspectives—affected by pavement management.
2. Survey practitioners regarding how pavement management is promoted internally and
externally.
3. Identify effective ways of promoting pavement management to garner internal, public,
and official buy-in and support.
4. Develop a marketing/public relations campaign(s) to raise the profile of pavement
management activities and their associated benefits to the public, officials, and the
practicing agency.
Final Product:
The research will result in marketing materials that can be used to demonstrate the benefits of
pavement management to all stakeholders.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
There are two specific objectives for the research. First, the research will identify effective ways
of promoting pavement management practices internally and externally to an agency. The second
objective is developing a marketing/public relations campaign to encourage pavement
management activities by an agency.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $100,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Recommended Methodology to Calculate Pavement Asset Value and Communicate to Stakeholders
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Asset management systems have traditionally been required to answer the following fundamental
questions: What assets do we have? Where are they? What condition are they in? A fourth, but
equally fundamental, question now also exists: What is the value of our assets both today and
expected over the life cycle? This fourth question has become particularly relevant with the
advent of Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34), which is a past
based approach, as compared to current and future based approaches. GASB 34 uses historical
data to calculate asset value, and if this is not available, current replacement costs are “deflated”
using a construction price index to estimate historic cost. Current based methods include
replacement cost, written down replacement cost and net salvage value. Future based methods
require performance models and include productivity realized value, salvage value, and market
value. Application to real networks has been limited but indicates substantial differences in
calculated asset value, depending on method, age of the asset, predicted performance, and
various other factors. Agencies who track and report asset value over time do not have
consistent, understandable, and widely accepted methodology.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Carry out a review of existing literature, national and international, on asset valuation
methodology for civil infrastructure and particularly how it has been applied to
pavements at the strategic, network and project levels.
2. Identify the positive features and the shortcomings of these methodologies.
3. Review the (full accrual accounting) requirements of GASB 34, and the various ways in
which GASB 34 can be reported.
4. Prepare recommendations for a consistent, understandable and acceptable methodology
for pavement asset valuation which can be used for reporting under GASB 34, but can
also have wider application or use by stakeholders if possible.
Final Product:
The final product of this study is a methodology for assessing pavement value for reporting to
GASB 34.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study will be to develop an asset valuation methodology for civil
infrastructure, particularly on how it applies to pavements at the strategic, network, and project
level.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $100,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Suggested Topics for Pavement Management into the Civil Engineering Curriculum
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
There is not sufficient emphasis on pavement management in civil engineering curricula. As a
result, there is a steep learning curve for new practitioners. Therefore, there is a need to raise the
awareness of pavement management concepts in the existing college curricula.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey and create a synthesis of current college curricula regarding transportation
engineering and management.
2. Survey practitioners’ needs in regards to new employee knowledge and skills.
3. Develop teaching/learning resources to increase the level of awareness among instructors
and students.
Final Product:
The final product of the research is a set of instructors’ resources for incorporating pavement
management principles and concepts into college curricula.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
There are two specific objectives for the research. First, the research will determine what level of
education regarding pavement management practices and principles would be beneficial to new
employees. The second objective is developing resources instructors can use to incorporate
pavement management-related education into their syllabi.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $100,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Constant Funding for Pavement Management
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Inconsistent levels of funding make it difficult for pavement management staff to keep pavement
conditions at a consistent level and predict future needs (e.g., pavement preservation,
rehabilitation, and reconstruction) of the system. Additionally, it is difficult to maintain a
consistent level of work for designers and contractors.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey SHAs regarding approaches used for fund allocation.
2. Summarize the advantages/disadvantages of each approach.
3. Quantify the impacts of suboptimal allocations.
4. Identify the monetary needs for a consistent pavement management work program to
allow agencies to optimize pavement treatments and funding.
5. Develop best practices guidelines and recommendations.
Final Product:
The research will result in the development of guidelines for recommending allocation of funds
according to objective pavement management data.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study is to develop a synthesis of practice for allocating funds for
pavement preservation and pavement rehabilitation.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $100,000
Estimated Project Duration: 12 months
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
I. PROBLEM TITLE
Identify Information Technology (IT) Needs to Effectively Manage a Pavement Management System
II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
As agencies seek to achieve efficiencies in information technology practices, users of advancing
technologies are experiencing challenges for accessing, manipulating, and using technology
associated with internal IT departments. Often, technology advancements to address pavement
management needs are impeded due to potential limitations in network capabilities, IT personnel
understanding of the issues, or pavement managers’ lack of knowledge on IT limitations,
procedures, and roles.
Tasks: The research will include the following tasks:
1. Survey practitioners regarding the role IT departments play in acquiring, implementing,
and deploying new pavement management information technology.
2. Identify common goals, needs, and gaps between pavement managers and IT managers.
3. Develop synthesis for coordinating IT needs and addressing common obstacles to satisfy
both pavement management needs and IT management.
Final Product:
The final product of the research is a synthesis that identifies common critical issues encountered
when acquiring, implementing, and deploying new pavement management information
technology, and how to work with IT management to more effectively communicate needs.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this research is to identify and address common issues encountered
between IT management and pavement management as it pertains to effectively meeting the
goals and objectives of pavement management policy and practice.
IV. ESTIMATE OF PROBLEM FUNDING AND RESEARCH PERIOD
Estimated Budget: $30,000
Estimated Project Duration: 9 months
