The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Method for Evaluating Pavement Distresses of The Roads in Iraq- A Case Study in Al- Nasiriyah City

Abstract

The pavement condition index (PCI) method provides a simple way for determining maintenance and repair (M-R) needs and priorities. The PCI procedure was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1997. In this study, an attempt was made to adopt the PCI method to evaluate the pavement state and suggest suitable maintenance and repair (M-and-R) works for the 13 damaged roads. The area of the study is roads net damaged with raveling distress in Al-Hadharat Quarter in the city of Nasiriyah which located in the south of Iraq. The pavement had divided into branches which sub-divided into sections. The type and severity of pavement distress were assessed by visual inspection. The distress data used to calculate the PCI for each sample unit. Then the PCI of the whole pavement section is determined. The calculated PCI was assessed with the pavement condition rating. The results show that the PCI Rating evaluation was ranging from fair to poor roads, very poor and one case of serious, but never reached to fail case in any of the studied roads. The study shows that the (PCI) method provides a suitable measure of the present condition of the pavement. The main conclusion of the study is the ability to conduct the PCI method to diagnose pavement distresses and evaluate pavement condition in the studied area. The use of (PCI) method is efficient in the prior evaluation of road condition in order to implement suitable maintenance to the distressed pavement