National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

Texas' coastline faces increasing risks from natural hazards, necessitating efficient and effective infrastructure response strategies to mitigate impacts and ensure rapid recovery. This research aims to investigate the effects of coastal hazards on pavement conditions and to use network analysis for optimizing pavement infrastructure response, maintenance decisions, and treatment allocation to achieve equitable and resilient coastal communities. The study focuses on Houston which is a key urban center exposed to frequent coastal hazards. Hurricane Harvey was selected as a case study for in-depth analysis. Initially, the research team will conduct a comprehensive literature review of existing studies focusing on methods used for evaluating pavement conditions before and after coastal hazards. This review aims to identify best practices and effective methodologies for enhancing pavement durability and performance. Following this, the team will analyze historical pavement condition data from Houston before Hurricane Harvey, focusing on different pavement types (ACP, CRCP, JCP) and utilizing statistical models to understand data variability and characteristics. Subsequently, the team will analyze pavement conditions in Houston following Hurricane Harvey. This analysis will involve comparing pre- and post-Harvey data to assess the impact on pavement performance. Statistical methods will be applied to evaluate distress distribution and severity of pavements. Additionally, the research will evaluate the effectiveness of pavement condition analysis models for better maintenance prioritization post-coastal hazards. This step aims to understand how maintenance strategies evolve post-disaster and to enhance decision-making for maintenance planning. The final phase of the research focuses on developing tailored strategies for improving infrastructure resilience. This involves reviewing existing strategies including customizing them for Texas' coastal context and assessing their effectiveness through scenario analysis. The expected outcome of this research is to provide valuable insights into pre- and post-coastal hazard pavement conditions in Houston. By leveraging network analysis models, the study aims to inform maintenance decisions that prioritize fair and efficient response measures. The findings will contribute to developing strategies that enhance resilience for coastal pavement infrastructure.