4.1 This guide provides potential and current pavement management users with an outline of the process and steps to follow when implementing and operating pavement management systems.

4.2 This guide may be used by the following:

4.2.1 Individuals within agencies interested in finding information about pavement management to determine if they want to pursue implementation;

4.2.2 Pavement engineers, maintenance supervisors or other persons trying to get agency management personnel to commit to implementing a pavement management system within their agency;

4.2.3 Personnel in an agency in which the decision to implement a pavement management system has been made but where the pavement management processes, pavement management decision support software or data collection procedures, or both, have not been selected;

4.2.4 Personnel in an agency that is developing a database and beginning use of a newly adopted pavement management system; and

4.2.5 Personnel in an agency that have a pavement management system in place and are trying to make the pavement management process a routine part of the agency decision making.

1.1 This guide covers basic procedures to follow in implementing an effective pavement management process. Pavement management includes activities and decisions related to providing and maintaining pavements, many of which must be made with supporting information that should be generated from a pavement management system (PMS). Implementation is considered complete when pavement management is a routine part of the management process, and the agency utilizes the pavement management process to make relevant decisions, including funding decisions.

1.2 The guide is intended for use by agencies that manage pavements including those on airfields, highways, parking lots, roads and streets.

1.3 Pavement management, as discussed in this guide, is exercised at network and project-level as described in Guide E1166, and the AASHTO Guidelines for Pavement Management Systems.

1.4 No reference is made to the time needed to complete the implementation. The amount of time will depend on the size of the pavement network and the resources available to support implementation.

1.5 This guide is not a standard method or practice, that is, it is not intended to provide exact steps that must be followed by every agency implementing a pavement management process. It is expected that each agency will use the material in this guide to develop an implementation plan to meet the needs and constraints unique to the agency.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.