| A new systematic and comprehensive methodology for integrating highway infrastructure management activities was developed. It is provided for use by engineers to help improve the quality of their decisions in the rehabilitation programming process, as well as in undertaking day-to-day activities.; The analytical procedures and data integration and presentation tools described in this study, along with the Geographic Information System (GIS) based software package (called InfraManage), comprise the new integrated methodology.; There are three major areas of integration considered in the integrated methodology: integrated computerized system (i.e., InfraManage), network-level integration, and project-level integration. InfraManage is a GIS-based single system architecture that includes the combination of various highway infrastructure asset management and information systems. This system incorporates several tools (data, a database management system, analytical methods, and information presentation techniques) that extend the potential value of each management system beyond its individual scope by allowing engineers and engineering managers to coordinate decisions at the planning, management, and operational levels within the highway agency. The network-level integration is performed in the integrated methodology in two steps. First, a total network annual budget is allocated across competing components. Second, the optimum share of each component from the total budget is allocated across the competing projects within the component. The project level-integration involves identifying adjacent simultaneously to reduce traffic disruptions. The project-level-integration is performed in a spatial manner using GIS capabilities.; The integrated system approach developed in this study for the management of highway assets was proved to provide higher overall performance of transportation infrastructure and is beneficial for highway agencies and users. It also minimizes disruption to normal traffic flow caused by rehabilitation and reconstruction activities by coordinating project implementation. |
