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Pavement Condition Index: History
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Contributor: Eng Editorial Office

The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is a numerical rating on a 0–100 scale that expresses the surface condition of a pavement section, where 100 denotes a pavement in perfect condition and 0 denotes a failed pavement [1]. The PCI is derived from a standardized visual survey in which trained inspectors identify visible surface distresses, classify each by severity level (low, medium, high), and measure its quantity over defined sample units [2]. Deduct-value curves convert the distress inventory into weighted deductions, which are then combined by an optimized combination procedure — originally developed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — to yield a single PCI value for each sample unit and, by aggregation, for the section or network [1][3]. The PCI is an indirect measure of structural integrity and functional surface condition; it is not a direct measure of structural capacity, skid resistance, or ride roughness [2]. The method applies to both asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete pavements, each with its own distress catalog, and is standardized in ASTM D6433. It is distinguished from profile-based indices such as the International Roughness Index by being distress-based rather than measurement-based.

  • Pavement Condition Index
  • pavement distress
  • pavement condition rating
  • pavement survey

References

  1. Shahin, M.Y. Pavement Management for Airports, Roads, and Parking Lots, 2nd ed.; Springer: New York, 2005. [CrossRef]
  2. ASTM International. Standard Practice for Roads and Parking Lots Pavement Condition Index Surveys; ASTM D6433-20; ASTM International: West Conshohocken, PA, 2020.
  3. Shahin, M.Y.; Kohn, S.D. Development of a Pavement Condition Rating Procedure; Miscellaneous Paper C-76-11; US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station: Vicksburg, MS, 1976.
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