Implementation of Airfield Pavement Management System in India

Airfield pavements need to be maintained regularly to ensure smooth and safer airport operations and to keep pavement conditions long-lasting. The airfield Pavement Management System (APMS) is a systematic tool for this purpose. Depending upon the functional condition of the pavement, APMS tools allow timely detection of pavement surface defects during the preliminary stages of deterioration and prevent serious pavement distresses that will require extensive uneconomical repairs in the future. Without regular maintenance, pavements may not reach their intended structural lifespan. Timely pavement maintenance and repairs are important to ensure adequate load carrying capacity, good pavement friction for the safe operation of aircraft, better riding quality in all weather conditions, and minimal intrusion of foreign object debris (FOD). In this paper, the authors are intended to discuss the international APMS development practices and details of various functional condition indicators such as Pavement Condition Index (PCI), Boeing Bump Index (BBI), FOD Potential Index, etc. currently used to develop APMS in India to assess the existing pavement condition and to arrive at the needs for maintenance & rehabilitation (M&R). This paper discusses the detailed methodology adopted for the APMS including data collection techniques, distress parameters to be considered for airfield pavement evaluation, data analysis and storage tools and adoption of maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for Indian airports.