Project analysis and collation of urban and rural roads using calibrated HDM-4 models: a case study of Rajasthan

Abstract

Abstract India’s road network, the second biggest globally, encounters considerable difficulties in preserving its pavements. Pavement maintenance management systems (PMMS) are implemented to handle these tasks, with the Highway Development and Management (HDM-4) system being a popular tool for investment, maintenance planning, and programming. However, calibration of HDM-4 models is necessary to predict realistic outcomes in different conditions. This study aims to create a road network of urban and rural roads in Rajasthan, compare the distress onset and progression in rural and urban areas, and use calibrated HDM-4 models to decide maintenance strategies for those sections (Project Analysis). Long-term pavement performance data of 20 urban and rural road sections, consisting of 79 kms of flexible pavement, were collected from the Jaipur district. The pavement surface roughness progression was found to be more rapid in rural areas (compared to urban), with micro surfacing being the most viable maintenance option for rural roads and overlaying (responsive) as the optimal maintenance strategy for urban roads. The global calibration factors (GCF) reveal distinct distress patterns across rural and urban pavements. Rural roads show higher crack (K ci = 1.73) and pothole initiation (K pi = 3.13) factors than urban roads (K ci = 1.16, K pi = 1.605), indicating earlier distress onset. However, progression rates, particularly for potholes (K pp = 0.20 vs. 0.915), are lower in rural areas. The findings will also aid in understanding the differences in roughness progression patterns between urban and rural roads, as well as supporting decision-makers in allocating enough and timely funds to preserve Rajasthan’s urban and rural road networks.