Pavement assessment, digitalization and predictive asset management: Applus+ at the 15th ASEFMA Technical Conference

As part of the conference program, Applus+ participated in the roundtable discussion "How Can Pavement Projects Be Improved? Tools for Better Performance," where Aliseda shared the company's experience in developing solutions that combine advanced pavement assessment, road engineering expertise, and digital asset management to maximize the return on maintenance investments.

The event brought together representatives from public authorities, concessionaires, engineering firms, and specialist companies to discuss the challenges facing the maintenance of road infrastructure.

From pavement assessment to maintenance planning

Pavements are the most exposed component of road infrastructure and, at the same time, require the greatest maintenance effort. Understanding their actual condition is essential to determine when intervention is needed, and which technical solution is most appropriate before deterioration reaches levels that require far more costly rehabilitation works.

To support this process, Applus+ carries out pavement assessment programs that evaluate both the functional condition and the structural capacity of road and airport pavements. The parameters assessed include longitudinal evenness (IRI), skid resistance, pavement macrotexture, road marking visibility and retroreflectivity, as well as the detection of defects such as cracking, rutting, and potholes. From a structural perspective, the company performs Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing, a technology that determines the pavement's capacity to withstand traffic loads and enables more accurate rehabilitation planning.

This information provides the basis for designing maintenance strategies that optimize road infrastructure service life, reduce maintenance costs, and improve safety and comfort for road users.

Digitalization as a tool for predictive asset management

Beyond inspection itself, one of the sector's main challenges is converting collected data into actionable information for decision-making.

In Spain, for example, much of the data gathered during pavement assessment campaigns is integrated into the management systems of the Ministry of Transport, where it is combined with historical and traffic data to develop predictive deterioration models. These models enable road authorities to anticipate when pavements will reach specific deterioration thresholds and to schedule maintenance investments at the optimal time, maximizing the return on public investment.

In this field, Applus+ has extensive experience in developing and implementing Pavement Management Systems (PMS) using both commercial platforms and customized solutions tailored to each client's specific requirements. Notable examples include projects delivered for several public administrations, such as the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya), where customized systems have been implemented to support maintenance planning and prioritization.

This expertise is also reflected in international projects such as the implementation of an Integrated Asset Management System (IAMS) for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia, where Applus+ integrated and analyzed road network databases to develop predictive deterioration models and optimize maintenance planning for more than 80,000 kilometers of roads.

Digitalization is also driving new approaches to road asset management. Although Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodologies continue to gain prominence across the infrastructure sector, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) remain the most cost-effective solution for managing extensive road networks. These georeferenced models enable efficient management of all road assets, continuous monitoring of their condition, and optimization of maintenance activities without the need for costly three-dimensional models.

International expertise supported by landmark projects

Applus+ participation in the 15th ASEFMA Technical Conference reflects the company's extensive experience in pavement and road asset inspection and management for public authorities and concessionaires responsible for the operation of roads and airports.

Internationally, the company has established a strong presence in the Middle East, where it delivers large-scale projects related to road network assessment, asset management, and consultancy services for public organizations. These include the award of a road management contract and the delivery of technical studies for a municipality in the United Arab Emirates, aimed at assessing the condition of the road network and supporting maintenance decision-making through advanced data capture technologies.

Applus+ has also delivered consultancy and engineering projects in Saudi Arabia focused on sustainable transport network planning and the implementation of pavement management strategies, contributing both to the development of new transport infrastructure and the optimization of existing road networks.

Whenever project requirements demand it, Applus+ deploys its specialist teams to countries including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Panama, Portugal, and Papua New Guinea to carry out high-precision inspection and assessment campaigns. This international mobilization capability has positioned Applus+ as one of the world's leading specialists in pavement assessment and management.

Innovation to maximize infrastructure value

By combining advanced pavement assessment technologies, specialist engineering expertise, and digital asset management systems, Applus+ helps public authorities and concessionaires make better-informed decisions, optimize maintenance resources, and extend the service life of roads and airports, contributing to safer, more sustainable, and more resilient infrastructure.