Stakeholder-Oriented Optimization of Pavement Maintenance Interventions Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach

Pavement asset management system (PAMS) is a stakeholder and data-driven approach that uses engineering tools to select strategies for rehabilitation and maintenance interventions. However, the impact of maintenance interventions on stakeholders’ satisfaction is seldom considered in decision-making. For a given road network, the degree of interest, power, and influence of stakeholders on the suggested maintenance decision vary and hence causes dissatisfaction due to inefficient stakeholder management practices. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a multi-criteria decision-making approach-based optimization model to select pavement maintenance interventions with an aim to endeavor a balance between PAMS decisions and stakeholders’ satisfaction. First, engineering analysis was performed to ascertain the maintenance interventions without stakeholder participation. Second, a systematic stakeholder-centric analysis on pavement maintenance interventions was performed. Finally, an optimization tool that balances engineering analysis and stakeholder satisfaction was developed using the analytic hierarchy process and VIekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) methods. A set of four road sections as a case study in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, was used to develop and test the model. It is anticipated that the optimization tool could be used to ascertain optimum maintenance intervention that equilibrates stakeholder needs and manages budgetary constraints. Also, this study is envisioned to provide evidence that the proposed methodology will be a rational approach to improve stakeholder participation in the overall PAMS process.