A new approach for the optimal evaluation of runway surface properties' evolution

The assessment of surface characteristics of runway pavement plays a key role in a modern airfield pavement management system (APMS) as it affects, on one hand, safety of aircraft operations and user riding comfort on the other. Empirical degradation models for surface characteristics are of paramount importance in the planning of maintenance interventions but are usually derived from measurements carried out within several years. In this paper a more costeffective approach to develop empirical degradation models which is based on the evaluation of the transversal variability of surface properties of a runway is proposed. The methodology is based on the evaluation transversal distribution of the equivalent coverages derived from the aircraft traffic data. Main results of an extensive experimental campaign aimed at characterizing the longitudinal and transversal variability of surface properties of an Italian airport runway pavement are presented. Friction and roughness data collected by means of an high-performance laser-based profiling devices and locked wheel friction tester have been implemented in the methodology proposed. Optimal policy for measurement sampling has been investigated in order to reduce the number of data necessary to obtain reliable empirical degradation models. Preliminary results seem to indicate that the approach may represent a viable tool in evaluating the roughness and friction progression.