Risk-Based and Cost-Effective Agency Verification of Contractor-Collected Pavement and Bridge Profiles

State departments of transportation (DOTs) recognize that pavement and bridge smoothness is a key indicator of performance and public satisfaction. As state DOT staffing levels have declined, contractors have become increasingly responsible for collecting profile data, calculating smoothness indices, and sometimes determining pay factors. While federal regulations require independent verification of contractor data used for acceptance decisions, agencies remain uncertain about the level of verification needed to ensure accuracy and judicious allocation of public funds. Current practices for validation and verification vary widely across state DOTs. Some agencies collect independent profiles on a subset of projects, while others rely on partial sampling, comparisons with contractor data, or limited review processes. The statistical reliability and risk implications of these approaches are not well understood. Additionally, advances in data collection technologies, such as high-speed profilers, have increased the volume of data, challenging traditional verification approaches. There is a need for research that helps state DOTs accurately determine pavement life through the potential use of emerging technologies and improved verification of contractor-collected pavement and bridge profile data. The objective of this research is to develop a guide and supporting tool to assist state DOTs in conducting cost-effective, risk-based verification of contractor-collected pavement and bridge profiles.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6042
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 10-160

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Crichton-Sumners, Camille

• Start Date: 20260608
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Contract administration; Data collection; Pavements; Smoothness; State departments of transportation; Validation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992200
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 10-160
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 5:10PM