Regional Engineering Postgraduate Conference (EPC) 2011

ADVISORY EXPERT SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AIRFIELD PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A.D.Hamed, A.Riza and I. Amiruddin Department of Civil and Structural Engineering National University of Malaysia, Malaysia.

ABSTRACT In this paper, the decisions concerning implementation of airfield pavement management system (APMS) require advice from pavement management experts of many different disciplines. Much of the information required from these pavement management experts are i.e. APMS users and their needs, data collection equipment, software/hardware, etc. The main goal of the study will to build a knowledge-base that to assist inexperienced users to optimally implementation airfield pavement management system. Advisory expert system for APMS embodies user interface, users and their needs, process/technology selection, and estimation parameter needs for APMS implemented method. For represent expert knowledge objective-oriented, Frame-based and IF-THEN rules will be used. Fuzzy logic based knowledge representation also will applied to play role with uncertainty in the knowledge of APMS implemented method. This proposed will be using a KAPPA- PC shell and MATLAB to design advisory expert system to support decision maker on the implementation APMS. Keyword: Airfield pavement management system, expert system, objectiveoriented, Frame-based, IF-THEN rules, Fuzzy logic.

INTRODUCTION The best design of airfield pavement management system based on the intergrades of three main mechanisms: Manners, Persons and Technology. If any of these mechanisms are massing, the system will not be effective. The challenge to implement greatest technology is implemented in an environment where there are no persons to run it, or where the procedures are not in desirable level (Chan 2005; McPherson 2006).However the extensive effort through design stage or/and implement led to best choose sustainability of APMS. This paper proposed to build knowledge-base for expert system that allows select best method to successfully implement airfield pavement management system for agencies that still not have and/or need to improvement APMS, rather than to the inexpert user . It embodies user interface, users and their needs, process/technology selection, and estimation parameter needs for

APMS implemented method. The parameter needs comprised i.e. experience users or need training, equipment feature and specification, software capabilities and support etc. The knowledge-acquisition will be obtained by knowledge discovery; web-based access, telephone, literature review and interviewing with domain experts. Knowledge representation will include objective-oriented, Frame-based and rules to represent expert knowledge. Fuzzy logic based knowledge representation is applied to play role with uncertainty in the knowledge of APMS implemented model .There are several software tools available that could supply the inferring mechanism with an empty knowledge base to be filled in by the customer. These are generally called as shells. This study will be using a KAPPA- PC shell and MATLAB to design advisory expert system to support decision maker on the implementation APMS. . LITERATURE REVIEW There is no unique definition of pavement failure. There are so many reasons for the continuously changing performance condition changed continuously such as, traffic data, roughness and friction and so on (Garg et.al 2004). The Airport pavements need constant maintenance and rehabilitation works so as to prevent deterioration occurred by recurring aircraft loading, besides the impact of nature. Though there are no enough funds, for airport pavement work, the need to use these funds most effectively is also vital. To carry out this, a systematic procedure for scheduling maintenance and rehabilitation works to optimize benefits to aircraft pilots, passengers, etc. and minimize costs to the agency responsible for pavement management is recognized as a useful measure, known as APMS. Some of the major issues recognized in the employment of an APMS are adequate funding, sufficient training, satisfying diverse needs, and sustaining the database. So as to overcome these hurdles, APMS needs commitment from all levels of management prior to application. This commitment comprises of resources like persons to maintain the database and capitals to continue supporting the APMS. Furthermore, it is requisite that ample training is accessible and provided to all personnel related with the APMS with respect to data collection, developing models, or understanding program outputs. Lastly, the APMS must be flexible to accommodate future user requirements and development (Tighe et.al 2008). In 1968, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL) began developing the mainframe pavement maintenance management systems known as PAVER (Shahin, M. Y., 1990). This system created pavement condition index (PCI),which based on distress evaluation, network-level operation and existing literature review on APMSs revealed that almost of PMS working today developing and enhanced based on PAVER system approach (Gendreau et al 1998 and http://www.cecer.army.mil/ paver/ Support .htm). Dynatest has in 1997 developed a unique Airport Pavement Management System that employs technically advanced mechanistic pavement performance
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models with the traditional distress base called AIRPORTS. The system use PCI that import from paver system, structural, skid resistance and Surface profiler data for analysis. The AIRPORTS system operates in any of eight languages including Chinese (http://www. dynatest. com/ software/ airpp ms. htm). AIRPAVE was developed by RAMBOLL in close cooperation with Copenhagen Airport (Hede 2001). This system is use of three condition rating parameters, namely Structural Index (reflecting bearing capacity), Functional Index (reflecting ride quality) and Mechanical Index (reflecting wearing course condition). Each condition index has a unique deterioration curve and each represents vital properties of the pavement. Furthermore Airport traffic, type and frequency of take-off and landing are reported to the system. The AirScene pavement management system of the contemporary invention automatically tracks data essential to determine various factors in an assessment of present and upcoming pavement maintenance necessities and uses this data to measure the pavement damage produced by each individual aircraft movement and consequently figure pavement condition based on an initial survey and the calculations of accumulated damage over time. (Breen et al, 2008). PAVEAIR have the same functionality of MicroPAVER version 5.3 and be designed to run in Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6.0 and above web browser. In additional this system embodies US FAA software to overcome structural and functional pavement performance and design (Albert, et al 2010a; Albert et al 2009; Albert, et al 2010b; ACRP Synthesis 22, 2011). The above literature review of the APMS appearance backlog experience and researching that need extensive training and commitment to implement it.

METHODOLOGY The typical architecture of expert system consists of knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, and knowledge base. During the process of implementing APMS, there are two important tasks. One task is defining APMS to get adopted and the other one is preparing the requirements for implementation technique (Papaleo 1998). The proposed of Prototype advisory expert system that will be developed for the implementation of airfield pavement management system illustrated in figure 1 and includes the following stages. 1. Knowledge-acquisition of APMS currently used. Knowledge-acquisition will be obtained by knowledge discovery; webbased access, telephone, literature review and interviewing with domain experts. Ability, cost/benefit, risk, availability, reliability, detectability, sustainability and complexity used to examination APMS component that common being used in the worldwide. In the current study, APMS examination will be focused on resources, requirement of preparation and implementation of the systems. Resources will be classified into three as: 1) Human mission, needs and decision

support requirements that include elected representatives, administrators and

FIGURE 1 The Prototype of advisory expert system for the implementation of airfield pavement management system technical staff(Cowe et al 2001), 2) Evaluation of physical resources like hardware, software, equipment etc., 3) Financial, that involves financial support requirement and allocation, feasibility /market study and potential of investment. From the discovery, capture and examination of APMS, we intend to be able to
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understand the strength, weaknesses and commonalities of the current APMS practice as well as establish knowledge-base. 2. APMS Knowledge representation To generate a feasibility APMS process plan, it is necessary to analyses system resource; human, finical and physical directly related to APMS under consideration. Knowledge representation will include objective-oriented, Framebased and rules to represent expert knowledge using KAPPA-PC. For example the system can select nondestructive tests device based on type deflection or nondeflection then to deflection load (dynamic or static) then to type of function force(vibratory or impulse or static-state) and also non-deflection; electromagnetic, sonic/ ultrasonic, seismic and thermal method can hierarchy to different device. Fuzzy logic based knowledge representation using MATLAB will be considered uncertainty in the knowledge of APMS implemented model. The membership of human, process and technology will present for all component of the system to be selected. For example at data collection stage the majority of time is vial on busy runway, semi-vial on taxiway and non-vial on apron. So, the collection data broadly can be (sensory or physically) both need human to manipulated with the data process. The chief aim of such a system is to encourage the decision makers to select best method and to think on all the factors that affects APMS implementation.

CONCLUSION The APMS technology is already extensively applied in many airports throughout the world. In the current research we will address advisory expert system prototype focusing on inexpert environment to play a crucial role for enhanced decision making for implementation of APMS. In general, this research will have a noteworthy impact on the selected suitable method of APMS for implementation in developing countries.

REFERENCES Albert, L., Gordon, F.H., Guo, E. 2010a. FAA PAVEAIR, A New Web-Based Pavement Management Software and a Discussion of Anomalies in Calculating Pavement Condition Index Using the ASTM Standard. FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer. Atlantic City, New Jersey, US. Albert, L., Gordon, F.H., Qingge, J. 2009. Federal Aviation Administration Airport Pavement Management and Airport Pavement Roughness Evaluation. NDTCE09, Non-Destructive Testing in Civil Engineering Nantes, France.

Albert, L., Gordon, F.H., Qingge, J. 2010b. FAA PAVEAIRan Internet Airport Pavement Evaluation and Management Program.12th WCTR. Lisbon, Portugal. Breen, T. J., Smith, A. E. 2008. The AirScene Pavement Management System. US Patent, 7437250. US Class, 702/34; 404/17.International Class, G01B 3/44; E01C 7/00. Chang, A.C., Krugler, P.E., Smith, R.E. 2005. A Knowledge Approach Oriented to Improved Strategic Decisions in Pavement Management Practices. 1st Annual Inter-university Symposium of Infrastructure Management. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Cowe, F.L., Haas, R., McNeil, S., Tighe, S. 2001. Using Common Elements of Asset Management and Pavement Management to Maximize Overall Benefits. Transportation Research Board 80th Annual Meeting .Paper No. 01-2415.Washington, D.C. Dynatest, Pavement Engineering Specialists and Equipment. 2011. htt://www. dynatest.com/airpms.htm. Garg, N., Guo, E., McQueen, R. 2004. Operational Life of Airport Pavements. Report No, DOT/FAA/AR-04/46. Office of Aviation Research. Washington, D.C.20591. Gendreau, M., Soriano, P. 1998. Airport Pavement Management Systems: An Appraisal of Existing Methodologies. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 197 214. Elsevier Science Ltd. Hede, J. C. H., Andersen, J. 2001.Airpave ManagementAn Innovative Integrated Pavement Management System for Airport Pavements.5th International Conference on Managing Pavements, Seattle, Washington. McPherson, K., Bennett, R.C.2006. Success Factors for Road Management Systems. Transport Note No. TRN-29. The World Bank, Washington, DC. MicroPAVER, pavement maintenance management system.2011. http://www. cecer. army.mil/paver/Paver.htm Papaleo, S. Airport Pavement Maintenance Management Systems. 1998. Frank Magee Scholarship, Airport Planning Pty Ltd.ACN005 119 826, Australia. Shahin, M. Y., Walther, J. A. 1990. Pavement Maintenance Management for Roads and Streets Using the PAVER System. USACERL Technical Report M90/05. Tighe, S., Covalt, M. 2008.Implementation of an Airport Pavement Management System, Transportation Research Circular E-C127, Washington, D.C., 18 pp.
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