Potholes are among the most visible signs of road deterioration, but repairing them does not necessarily address the underlying causes of pavement failure.
This IPWEA conference paper examines the financial consequences of reactive road maintenance and the opportunities available through earlier intervention.
Drawing on Australian council data and network modelling, it explores the limitations of camera-based defect detection, the value of detailed pavement condition surveys and the importance of identifying roads while cost-effective treatments remain possible.
The paper also introduces a practical approach to combining pavement assessment, treatment planning and maintenance funding to improve long-term network performance.
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