ABSTRACT
Pavement preservation is important for the life cycle of roads, as proper pavement preservation lowers long-term costs while extending the life of roads. Pavement preservation treatments also have lower emissions than more conventional pavement treatments. These benefits are clearly showcased in a new online resource called RoadResource.org. This resource has many tools, but this paper will focus on two calculators: the Cost Benefit Value (CBV) calculator and the Sustainability Calculator. The CBV provides a single number that is based on the traffic level, a constraint factor, the life extension of a treatment, the unit cost of a treatment, and the existing roadway’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI). Using data from the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the highest CBV achieved was 1933.53 for a rejuvenating fog seal placed on a freeway with a PCI F, while the lowest CBV achieved was a 3.48 for a base stabilization + 4.0” HMA placed on a two-lane highway with a PCI A. It is obvious a rejuvenating fog seal would not be appropriate for a PCI of F, which led to the “culling” of treatments based on their proper application. Therefore, a second analysis was performed that was able to provide guidance on the appropriate treatment for each roadway type and roadway condition, combining the power of the CBV calculator with smart inputs to identify optimal life cycle cost savings. This analysis not only optimized life cycle cost savings but also reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 137,000 passenger cars being removed from the road per year according to the Sustainability Calculator.
