Methodologic Recommendations to Implement Pavement Management Systems and Eco-Sustainable Solutions for Local Road Administrations

Abstract

Local Road Administrations (LRA) manage wide and fragmented road networks with constrained financial and human resources. Though LRA manage the most road networks and the relative development and maintenance have a huge impact on environment and society, frequently, LRA cannot implement new technologies and methodological advancements because innovations are generally fitted to different kinds of users. For these reasons, the adoption of a customised pavement management system (PMS) for LRA is strongly recommended to define workflows, make investments, and find long-lasting and cost-effective solutions. Considering the goal of a sustainable development, new complex aspects must be also considered in the PMS matching policies, investment strategies and engineered solutions. Eco-sustainable techniques for the maintenance of road pavements and utility trenches must be gradually introduced in PMS involving stakeholders to preserve natural resources, to reduce atmospheric pollutions and to stimulate the local economic growth. The definition of a PMS guideline for LRA considering new concepts of a circular economy is a contemporary and open challenge. This paper shows a new PMS approach for LRA, including the strategy and requirements for environmentally friendly road materials that can be progressively adopted by each LRA to lessen the negative effects of maintenance activities on the environment.