Microcomputer Implementation of Pavement Network Optimization System

Abstract

The award‐winning network‐optimization system NOS has been the primary instrument used by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) in planning its highway preservation program since 1980. This paper presents the microcomputer implementation portion of a research development for an enhanced NOS model in a 32‐bit operating environment by using a newly developed linear optimizer, NOSLIP. The desktop implementation of the enhanced NOS encourages use of the model for extensive sensitivity analysis and testing. This paper demonstrates that the results from steady‐state runs should not be used for actual highway preservation program. Instead, a pseudo steady state, when the budget based on NOS multiperiod runs stabilizes after a transition period, is used for budget planning. Rules to set up an infeasible action list were established to improve the effectiveness of the model. The enhancements made during the development of the new system improve the reliability and efficiency of the ADOT NOS for preservation of over 7,000 mi of federal and state highways.