New Web-Based Tool Uses FHWA Pavement Smoothness Data to Compare Maintenance Options, and Life-Cycle Assessment Impacts.
Smoother pavements are associated with improved fuel economy, reduced wear-and-tear on vehicles, greater driver comfort and satisfaction, and longer pavement life. With the new web-based tool IRI Explorer, road owners, pavement designers, academics, and other users can draw upon extensive pavement smoothness data to examine how different pavement treatments act over time in different environments.
IRI Explorer www.iriexplorer.com makes it easy to study different pavement sections, their history, and the International Roughness Index (IRI) data recorded for each pavement. Pavement sections can be compared based upon materials used, maintenance applied, climate or region, and other factors.
IRI Explorer also includes an Emissions Estimator life-cycle assessment tool that helps project potential greenhouse-gas emissions for a roadway during construction and maintenance, as well as the emissions associated with use. Annualized emissions data can be used to directly compare pavements with different life cycles and maintenance strategies.
Beyond the LTPP data, agencies and road owners can have IRI data for their road networks added to the tool. This data can be made public or access can be restricted to chosen users.
