2022 - Sri Lanka - Pavement Degradation Model for Paved and Unpaved Roads in Sri Lanka

Pavement degradation prediction is essential for road management systems to predict the most effective maintenance time. The existing degradation prediction models are calibrated for different countries; therefore, they cannot be used directly for the local condition to predict the maintenance requirements. In Sri Lanka, this is causing many difficulties during the maintenance activities of road infrastructure and drainage systems running along the roadways. Therefore, in this study, a pavement degradation model for unpaved road infrastructure in Sri Lanka is proposed using Markov analysis. The analysis consists of identifying performance parameters, condition stages of the road sections, Transition Probability Matrix (TPM), and finally prediction of the road lifetime and level of maintenance requirements. Developed Unpaved Condition Index (DUPCI) is proposed for the unpaved roads as the performance parameter which includes all the possible deterioration types of gravel roads such as potholes, corrugations, overexposed aggregates, erosion, roadside drainage, and rutting. Development of the TPM is proposed based on the data collected at three gravel roads in Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha. Calibrated HDM3 model is proposed for Sri Lankan paved roads based on the data collected at A9 road. Both models were calibrated and validated using the collected data for Sri Lankan unpaved and paved roads.