Investigating Runway Roughness

The UGPTI and the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission are pioneering the use of automated highway pavement assessment techniques to measure the roughness of airport runways.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires all general aviation airports to conduct pavement distress surveys every three to four years. In 2005, the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission asked the contractor conducting the surveys to collect roughness information on all surfaced runways in the state. Because of his experience assessing ride quality on the state's highways, Kurt Johnson, director of the UGPTI's Department of Transportation Support Center, was called to help.

The contractor used a specially equipped N.D. Department of Transportation van to collect the data. Then Johnson worked closely with the engineering firm Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson to analyze and interpret that data. Nilesh Paliwal, an NDSU civil engineering graduate student, is also assisting Johnson with the analysis.

When comparing roughness measurements to pavement distress measurements, Johnson found that either method provided a good overview of runway condition. Consequently, he worked with the commission to develop roughness reports for all of the airports measured.

Johnson is working to develop a mathematical relationship between the International Roughness Index and the Pavement Condition Index. Such a relationship might make it possible to use roughness measurements in alternating assessment cycles to meet FAA assessment requirements, making the process faster and cheaper. The challenge will be in gaining FAA approval.

In addition, Johnson is developing roughness performance standards for evaluating various runway rehabilitation strategies and is investigating the impact of roughness on different types of aircraft.

ND LTAP Plans Workshops

The North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program (ND LTAP) offers workshops on road construction, repair and maintenance to professionals within local units of government.

Upcoming workshops include:

• Culvert Installation
  • Oakes, April 4
  • Stanley, April 11
• Asphalt Pavement
  • Dickinson, April 24
  • Carrington, April 25

Several other topics, including a winter road maintenance workshop, are being scheduled for fall. For updated workshop schedules and registration forms, visit the ND LTAP website at www.ndltap.org and follow the "Events" link.

The workshops will count toward completion of the ND LTAP Road Scholar Program, and is designed for road and highway practitioners employed by local units of government in North Dakota. It recognizes each participant's achievement of knowledge and skills at various levels in subjects and topics essential to efficient and effective local road maintenance and management.

The Road Scholar Program includes three training levels. Completing five courses (30 hours) from basic workshops qualifies participants for Road Scholar I status. Completing two additional basic courses (12 hours) plus three elective courses (18 hours) qualifies participants for Road Scholar II status. Road Scholar III requires two additional basic courses (12 hours) plus three elective courses (18 hours).

For more information, visit www.ndltap.org/programs/scholar.php or call 1-800-726-4143.