When does a road begin to deteriorate, and how much time is available to intervene?
Understanding how pavement condition changes over time is fundamental to effective road asset management. However, different deterioration models can produce significantly different predictions of when maintenance becomes necessary.
This technical note introduces the Australian Deterioration Curve (ADC), developed by examining international pavement deterioration research and comparing model predictions with measured Australian road condition data.
It explores how pavement ageing, environmental exposure and structural deterioration influence the rate of condition loss, and why accurately identifying the middle of the deterioration curve matters for maintenance timing, treatment selection and long term investment planning.
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