A knowledge-based analysis process for road pavement condition assessment

This paper presents a process for the evaluation of the structural integrity of bituminous road pavements at project level. Consideration is given to the various types of information that may be collected during field testing and to the interrelationships which may exist between them. Their effects on the structural analysis process are considered and, as a result, a knowledge-based system is proposed which seeks to perform the functions of a skilled engineer using conventional techniques. Both the operation and the modules of the research 'proof-of-concept' prototype of the full-scale system are described, together with the very real problems faced in the implementation of such systems. The logical design of an enhanced system is also presented.