The mission of the KDOT Division of Aviation is to provide a statewide airport system that meets the needs of Kansas. The focus is to maintain and improve aviation facilities, with emphasis placed on maintaining the states runway and taxiway system. KDOT Aviation uses a dated statewide PCN number system to determine not only the State’s overall pavement condition, but also in determining which airports need improvements. Benesch was retained by KDOT to update and prepare a state-wide Airport Pavement Management System (APMS). The objective of the APMS is to evaluate the functional conditions of all airports in the State of Kansas listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The assessment of the APMS was summarized in a report that allows the airport ownership as well as the State of Kansas to:
- Assess the current and projected functional condition (PCI) of pavement surfaces and catalogue of pavement distresses
- Assess the operational effectiveness of existing pavements based on PCI projections
- Prioritize rehabilitation and/or maintenance needs
- Optimize timing for pavement rehabilitation projects
- Recommend pavement maintenance procedures
Benesch was responsible for coordinating the team and ensuring that all pavement on each of the 79 NPIAS airports in Kansas. To achieve the objectives of the APMS, Benesch’s plan involved records research, development of Network Identification Drawings, site condition surveys using mobile GIS equipment, MicroPAVER evaluation and GIS implementation, Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Computation, and a recommended maintenance and rehabilitation analysis/plan for each airport.