??Functional pavement considerations are fundamental to the performance and management of pavements. In addition to structural and durability requirements, an optimum pavement wearing surface should provide a combination of a good riding quality, adequate safety, and a low noise level. All these responses are highly influenced by the various components of the pavement surface texture. Previous phases of the program demonstrated that a collaborative research program can provide an accessible and efficient way for highway agencies and other organizations to conduct research on pavement surface properties. The collaboration helped the participating agencies explore new technologies, verify the operation and accuracy of the equipment currently used for evaluating pavement surface properties, and enhance the methodologies for developing and implementing proactive friction management programs.

??The mission of the Surface Properties Consortium has been to conduct applied research focused on enhancing the level of service provided by the roadway transportation system by optimizing pavement surface characteristics.  Practical and tangible results were well documented and disseminated.

·         Phase I [TPF-5(141)] included regular verification and validation of the participants’ equipment, opportunities for technology transfer, and the accumulation of a significant body of knowledge on the measurement of pavement surface properties.

·         Phase II [TPF-5(345)] continued to support the members’ effort to produce high-quality surface properties measurements, but focused mainly on emerging friction and macrotexture measurement technologies and the integration of these measurements into the next generation of pavement asset management systems.  

·         Phase III [TPF-5(463)] continued to support the implementation of asset management approaches and tools that help improve the safety of our road networks and brought pavement design and evaluation experts together with maintenance and safety professionals to maximize the contribution of the pavement community Towards Zero Deaths on US highways.

Phase IV will continue to support the implementation of asset management approaches and tools that help improve the safety of our road networks by reducing the number of crashes and related fatalities. Examples of collaborative efforts may include equipment comparison and verification experiments, harmonization of data processing, evaluation of friction improvement treatments, and development of innovative analysis approaches and implementation strategies of friction management program in pavement and asset management.  Specific products may include field demonstrations, implementation case studies, standards for measurement, equipment and data processing, and guidelines for implementation. The CFME certification initiative is expected to be completed too.

??Within this new focus, the consortium will continue to host equipment rodeos with focus on measuring safety-related characteristics of the highway surface, verifying the equipment, refining existing standards, and understanding how surface properties affect crash risk. The rodeos provide a valuable opportunity for the verification and calibration of the equipment, as well as, to explore specific questions through carefully designed experiments. The annual gatherings also provide a forum for discussion of common challenges, a unique opportunity to seek solutions for these challenges, learn from each other, and be exposed to emerging practices and technologies. The consortium researchers will help plan and conduct experiments associated with the annual equipment rodeos in the two sites that are expected to be completed in the near future to support the certification of CFME devices.

In addition, the consortium will also support the members with evaluation, enhancement if necessary, and demonstration of emerging technologies and will continue to support technology transfer activities by facilitating the participation of the consortium members on peer-exchanges and related conference and symposia.

Additional support may include help with pilot programs, equipment loans, and development of specifications for the acquisition of equipment or services. The consortium will also provide support for developing and deploying pilot pavement friction management programs (PFMP), including data collection and analytical approaches, which can be integrated into the agencies’ asset and performance management processes.

??For the core functions of the consortium, we are seeking at least 8 to 10 partners at a contribution level of $30k per year (more partners would be welcome). We likewise anticipate programming for a 5-year timeframe. Some specific benefits of participating in the consortium include:

·         Core program and significant physical resources already in-place. Operation costs shared by many.

·         Consortium participants have priority and free access to the facility during the pre-accorded dates.

·         Consortium participants will select key areas of program emphasis, as well as specific research projects.

·         Workforce development - scientists/engineers trained on pavement surface properties through master’s and doctoral thesis funded through the consortium.

·         Yearly attendance to the annual Road Profiler Users’ Group (RPUG) meeting, including simplification of the travel procedure for two state travelers.

Agencies interested in demonstrations of CFME, evaluation of the effectiveness of friction improvement treatments, and/or development of pilot pavement friction management programs in their states will be expected to contribute additional resources to support the data collection and analysis. For example, a 1,000-mile demonstration would require $120-150k of additional funding for data collection and analysis.