PCI is a numerical rating of the pavement condition based on the type and severity of distresses observed on the pavement surface. The PCI value of the pavement condition is represented by a numerical index between 0 and 100, where 0 is the worst possible condition and 100 is the best possible condition.
The 2021 SDDOT Statewide Overall Pavement Area Weighted Average PCI is 73, which falls into the “Fair” classification.
The total South Dakota airport pavement area which are subjected to aircraft loading is approximately 57,830,727 square feet out of which 30,621,036 square feet is asphalt surfaced pavements and 27,209,691 square feet is concrete pavements.
A statewide budget of $44.4 million per year is needed to reach critical PCI goals for every section by the end of 20 years.
For an efficient airport Pavement Management System, it is crucial to have an accurate airport facility inventory data to evaluate the System’s pavement performance.
A pavement life cycle curve illustrates the useable life of a pavement by comparing pavement condition versus time. In the first several years of a pavements life, the deterioration in pavement condition over time is relatively low. However, at certain point in time, the deterioration of the pavement increases, resulting in an accelerated drop in pavement condition.
This pavement life cycle curve demonstrates that $1 spent for preventative maintenance early in the pavement life is equivalent to $4 to $5 spent later in the pavement life.
The intent of the maintenance program is to keep the condition of the pavement high with the least amount of expenditures. Timely maintenance can renew the pavement condition and prolong the life of the pavement. The benefit of the maintenance program is determining the optimum time to effectively apply funds. It is more economical to apply limited funds to a pavement when the condition is relatively fair rather than to apply a greater amount of funds to improve pavement from a very poor or failed condition.
