International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 07 Issue: 12 | Dec 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for the Maintenance of City

Roads- A Review
Sabira Javaid1, Er. A.K Duggal2
1M.E Scholar, Civil Engineering Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh
2Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh
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ABSTRACT: This study is a survey to evaluate flexible is the key task of maintenance. Due to increase travel
pavement distress and to determine the type of failure and its demand from the general public, the effect of roads on
level of severity by assessing pavement performance using the economic growth and the need to drive at higher speeds due
Pavement Condition Index (PCI). This is a fundamental to technological advancements, road maintenance has
component of pavement management that will allow us to gained more significance in recent years. Its significance of
choose the correct methods of treatment and maintenance. maintaining highways in good condition emanates from one
The PCI is a numerical index commonly used for pavement or more of the following reasons:
condition assessment and pavement structural reliability. It is
a new tool that has been embraced worldwide. Its rating value a) Reduction in vehicle operation cost (VOC).
varies from 0 to 100, with the worst possible condition being 0
and the best possible condition being 100. For this study, the b) Reduction in rate of accidents.
Chandigarh city roads are selected for evaluation and
c) Keeping roads traffic worthy in all weathers.
inspection purposes. Most of the damages and failures were
caused by disintegration like loss of aggregate, potholes, d) Reduction in pollution due to reduced fuel consumption
stripping etc. After identifying distress, type and severity level on well maintained pavement surface.
by different measurements these need to be assigned
acceptability levels and weightage rating factors for different e) It also saves budgetary expenditure of restoration or
severity levels. The final rating value is determined by taking reconstruction.
all the parameters as an average of the weighted rating value.
We can assess the condition of the road using this rating value f) Reduction in rate of deterioration and improvement in life
and can determine maintenance steps and frequency in order of road.
to make it cost-effective. Since nature of traffic in a city is
distinctively different from a NH or SH, the parameters in 1.1 The various processes in maintenance of highways:
formulation of PCI need a re-thinking.
 Identify and evaluate the circumstances (structural
Keywords: Pavement Condition Index (PCI), Weightage and aesthetic).
rating value, flexible pavement.  Defining and pricing alternate behavior and
associated implications.
1. INTRODUCTION: City roads are a major asset to the  Obtain the necessary approvals and financing.
country's infrastructure development. These roads are the  Develop a work program including the scale of
busiest roads in the country. These roads have special periodic work needed and the frequency of
importance for individuals as these connect residential area intervention.
to commercial areas and other major parts of the city. It is
therefore very important to take care of these roads. In a 1.2 Types of maintenance:
modern city like Chandigarh, although these roads may be
designed and constructed appropriately, still these require Maintenance is broadly divided into three categories:
periodic repairs. Most of the roads are black top except
where the water logging necessitated concrete roads.  Routine maintenance
Providing an overlay of bituminous type depending category  Preventive maintenance
of road and many factors is a common practice in  Periodic maintenance
Chandigarh as well in almost all the cities. However, it may  Special maintenance
not be feasible to restore the original state of the flexible
pavement every time by an overlay, but other corrective 1.3 TYPES OF DEFECTS OCCUR IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS:
measures may also be required based on existing condition.
The types of defects in flexible pavements:
Road maintenance requires a number of activities, i.e.
identification, preparation, programming and scheduling of  Surface defects: These include fatty surface, hungry
defects for actual field implementation. Maintaining the road surface and smooth surface.
surface in good condition and maximizing the life of the road

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 12 | Dec 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

 Cracks: These include all types of cracks, like alligator 4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
cracks, hairline cracks, longitudinal cracks, reflection
cracks and edge cracks. Analysis of data and information through
 Deformation: These include corrugations, rutting,
past studies for the development of
shoving, shallow depressions, settlements and
upheavals etc. pavement condition index (PCI)
 Disintegration: these include loss of aggregates,
stripping, raveling, potholes and edge breaking. Identification of study area
1.4 EVALUATION OF PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX (PCI)

Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of a pavement section

should be determined on the basis of data gathered during Dividing whole pavement area into
the pavement condition survey. Actual measurements will be small sample units
used to determine the PCI of the road sections/roads listed
and then include the ratings for each parameter and various
weighting factors. Appropriate weightage (multiplier) for the
rating value of each parameter is given after assigning the Visual inspection on selected locations
rating number to each parameter to calculate the weighted
rating value of each individual parameter. An average of the
weighted rating values of all parameters will be used to
determine the final rating value.
Collection of data
2. NEED AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Chandigarh, the city beautiful is having nearly 1550 km of

road length under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation.
A general practice of providing an overlay at a pre- Identification of distress, type and its
determined periodic interval is commonly adopted. The
severity level by different
thickness of overlay which generally is 30 mm to 40 mm is
based on road category. However a regular practice of measurements.
periodic overlay results in raising the road levels that result
in functional problems. At times, a simple overlay does not
Assigning acceptability levels and
provide the complete solution. Hence a comprehensive
evaluation of pavement deterioration is needed that can be weightage factors
fulfilled by application of PCI The study will focus on the
development of (PCI) Pavement Condition Index for the
flexible pavements which will help in the pavement
maintenance so as to minimize the cost of maintenance and 5.Determination of Pavement Condition
LITERATURE REVEW:
enhance the life of road. This shall also help in development Index (PCI)
of (PMMS) Pavement Maintenance Management System for
Chandigarh roads for the scientific planning of maintenance
techniques and judicious allocation of maintenance funds.
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
3. OBJECTIVES:
Haas Ralph et al. (2009) [1] the authors evaluated
The main objectives of work are: performance indicators for roads in Canada. In the use of
performance indicators, the author explains more precisely
1. To make a preliminary condition survey of roads of
the role of performance indicators in modern road asset
different categories like V-4, V-5 and V-6 and
management and identifies the fundamental goal of
detailed condition survey of V-6 roads.
pavement indicators, the importance of stakeholder
2. To identify various types of defects and prepare a
participation and the need to achieve a balance between
list in hierarchy of their occurrence.
productivity and transport values. The structure for
3. To develop a systematic approach to ascertain
indicators was further established, and foreign and Canadian
distress and its severity.
examples were also presented. A mechanism for connecting
4. To ascertain pavement rating or pavement
policy priorities with performance metrics was proposed in
condition index (PCI) for V-6 roads of Chandigarh
the report. The findings suggested that a holistic approach to
city.
the production of performance metrics should take into
account the basic rationale, the balance between their usage
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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 12 | Dec 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

and reporting, the efficiency and reliability of the value for pavement quantification on a scale of 7-1, 7 being
measurement used critically, and the stakeholders involved the new pavement condition, and 1 being the poor condition.
in pavement development.
Boyapati Bhavath et al. (2015) [6] suggested how by data
Ryntathlang L. Teiborlang (2011) [2] evaluated Pavement collection, to evaluate the Pavement Condition Index (PCI)
Condition Index (PCI) for rural roads in Assam. The new and also analyze it to primarily prioritize pavement
instrument used worldwide is the Pavement Condition Index maintenance. Various distress data such as cracks, patches,
(PCI). It is a numerical ranking for the state of the pavement potholes, and ruts were gathered based on the level of
ranging from 0 to 100, 0 being the worst possible condition distress for the report. Weighting variables were often
and 100 the best possible condition. The author identified allocated to the various forms of distress. The Pavement
the methodology used to carry out the pavement survey and Condition Index (PCI) values were determined by the author
to test the pavement with case studies of four rural Assam from the deduction values (DV) and from the correlated
roads. In conclusion, this method removes the need to use deduction value (CDV) graphs. The analysis of traffic volume
pavement condition score, age factor score and traffic and data on riding quality were also considered. Thanjavur
volume score in the methodological approach of rating the (TM) pavements were found to have pavement condition
conditions of a pavement by this method. index (PCI) values ranging from 45-60 in which 25% of
cracks, 20% of patches, and 15% of potholes were found on
Shah U. Yogesh et al. (2013) [3] A study was conducted to both sections. It was concluded that the degree and quantity
assess the performance of urban road network pavement by of cracking and patching values play a vital role in the
using different indicators of pavement condition such as the pavement condition index (PCI) does not require any
Pavement Condition Index (PCI), Present Serviceability priority-based maintenance operation and pavements with
Rating (PSR), Roughness Index (RI) etc. First of all, efforts lower pavement condition index requires maintenance on
were made to establish and design the Combined Overall priority
Pavement Condition Index (OPCI) for some selected roads in
Noida. It has been concluded that the overall performance of Zumrawi M.E. Magdi (2015) [7] The analysis of traffic
the pavement depends on the average value of all volume and data on riding quality were also considered.
parameters. Index of pavement condition, roughness index, Thanjavur (TM) pavements were found to have pavement
pain index of pavement condition, structural capability index condition index (PCI) values ranging from 45-60 in which
of pavement condition and skid resistance index of 25% of cracks, 20% of patches, and 15% of potholes were
pavement condition. Furthermore, the use of multi-indices found on both sections. It was concluded that the degree and
condition indicators was suggested to be more useful in quantity of cracking and patching values play a vital role in
selecting suitable treatment to completely restore the riding the pavement condition index (PCI) does not require any
standard and structural integrity of the pavements. priority-based maintenance operation and pavements with
lower pavement condition index requires maintenance on
Adlinge S. Sharad et al. (2013) [4] In terms of reducing priority. It was concluded that the emphasis should be on
serviceability caused mainly by the creation of cracks and developing guidelines that are versatile enough for use in a
ruts, pavement failure was identified. The author described variety of circumstances that are systematic, straightforward
modules on the number of projects in India learned from and easy to comprehend.
pavement failures and issues encountered in recent years.
Different pavement maintenance strategies and initiatives Andrei Radu et al. (2015) [8] using basic pavement
that will help enhance the serviceable life of the pavements condition metrics, assessed the efficiency of flexible
have been addressed on the basis of previous experience It pavements. The pavement serviceability index (PSI),
was concluded that a major cause of cracking is the rapid pavement condition index (PCI), skid resistance (SR) and
increase in traffic loading, especially on new roads where the pavement damage were different parameters used in the
design is focused on lower traffic, the provision of weak analysis (consumed life). The PSI was assessed using the
shoulders leads to edge failure and poor sub-grade AASHTO road test. That ranges from 0-5.0 being the worst
corrugation effects on the surface. Bad drainage was also pavement condition and the best condition being 5. The
considered as the key issue causing the maximum pavement entire pavement is first divided into small sample units for
surface failure. the pavement condition index (PCI) and determined by
deduct values and correlated correction curves, SR by the
Katkar R. S et al. (2014) [5] investigated the ultimate aim skid resistance tester and pavement damage is a measure of
of the Maintenance Management System (MMS) is to the percentage of life absorbed at any given moment during
maximize the resources needed to update this utility. 70 the pavement's service life. Some ratings for these versatile
pavements were studied and the relationship between the pavements and suitable treatments were provided after
quality of the pavement and the corresponding cost of operating on all these parameters.
maintenance was given. The results of the research include a
clear and practical technique for categorizing the condition Karim M. A. Fareed et al. (2016) [9] examined the state of
of the pavement in terms of repair cost. They developed a surface of roads, recognize repair and rehabilitation needs in
Yemen. By using PAVER software (1982) condition rating

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 12 | Dec 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

procedure as defined in technical manual TM 5-623, the not be widely accepted. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI)
author assessed pavement condition in terms of surface should be unique to the road network, tailored by road
distress. First, they inspect the sample device, identify the category, traffic type, environmental condition, etc.
type of distress, the degree of intensity, and then calculate
the density. Then the deduct value curves were used for each REFERENCES:
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