UKPMS - United Kingdom Pavement Management System

 

United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) is a standard for computer systems that support the management of programmed maintenance through the monitoring of condition on local authority road networks within the UK.There is no single UKPMS but a range of commercial highway management systems that have been accredited as meeting the UKPMS standard.

PTS use UKPMS to produce Best Value Performance Indicators, as required by central government and, also in the planning of investment and maintenance treatments.

PTS can assist in achieving these goals by providing one or more of the following services.

Network Creation

A network is made up from a series of spatially located numbered node points usually at junctions, these nodes are connected by sections which have unique labels. A network is of paramount importance as it forms the blue print for all subsequent survey work to be located accurately. A network can be created by extracting the information from OS plans or by using one of the many GIS packages. Networks need to be robust, simple to maintain and have flexibility to accommodate physical and hierarchal changes without the need to re-reference. PTS have the expertise to produce networks at local, regional or national levels.

Route Building

Using UKPMS software, individual sections are linked together in an ordered way to create survey routes. These routes allow the inspection vehicle to survey long lengths of the network, thus optimising the surveying process to provide a more efficient and cost effective service.

Visual Inspections

There are two types of visual inspections, Coarse Visual Inspection (CVI) and Detailed Visual Inspection (DVI). CVI's are generally carried out from a slow moving vehicle and defects are measured and recorded using equipment from within the vehicle. DVI's are carried out on foot; the defects are measured on the ground and loaded onto a DCD, before being automatically up-loaded onto our UKPMS.

Machine Measure Rutting

This information is used in conjunction with visual survey data and provides an accurate measurement of rut depth without the need to walk on the carriageway. Rutting can be either be surface or structural. To determine which, measurements should be compared from previous years. If there is a substantial increase then more than likely it will be structural. Transverse coring will confirm.

Scrim

Is used to measure the skidding resistance of the road surface and together with accident data provides the base information for possible safety schemes.

Deflectograph

The Deflectograph is a tool used to assess the structural condition of the carriageway by measuring its deflection under load. It is, however being slowly superseded by the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), which produces more accurate information and is the machine now favoured by the Highways Agency on the Trunk Road and Motorway network.

Production of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI's)

Best Value dictates that every local authority is required to produce BVPI's of which 4 are produced using UKPMS. These are extracted from the system and reported in the standard way.

Inventory:

The majority of local authorities have inventory information on attributes that can be seen and measured, but very few have comprehensive information on construction. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), is a non-destructive, traffic speed survey which allows construction thickness of bound and unbound layers to be calculated. A GPR survey allows the authority to produce accurate estimates for treatment options but is also a key requirement for the determination of deterioration models and whole life costing.

Forward Programmes:

One of the functions that is often overlooked or not fully utilised is the ability to take vast amounts of survey data and rationalise it to prepare forward programmes that are directly related to budget allocations. This then allows the user to perform “what if” analysis.

At PTS we have taken this one step further, using our in-house developed software we can provide a priced prioritised programme for structural and safety schemes. This programme forms the basis for the LTP submission and is updated annually as part of the Annual Performance Review.

PTS are a specialist consultancy in the production, interrogation and interpretation of survey data –and our experienced and professional team can assist in the organisation of UKPMS surveys.