Rate Roads Using PASER

The Laptop Data Collector (LDC) allows for easy recording and tracking of road conditions and makes identifying and organizing maintenance needs faster. One way the LDC makes data gathering easy is road ratings, which allow users to see quick summaries of their road conditions and analyze how these conditions change over time. The ideal system for rating paved roads in the LDC is the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating System (PASER). The PASER system is a visual survey method for rating paved roads based on their surface condition. Rating roads makes it easier to identify roads in need of maintenance or reconstruction, and plan work accordingly. For more information on using PASER ratings with specific road surfaces, see the PASER manuals for asphalt, concrete, sealcoat, and brick available from the Center for Technology & Training’s (CTT) website.

An additional use of Roadsoft ratings is for fulfilling Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council’s (TAMC) requirements. The TAMC requires agencies to submit ratings for all of their Federal-aid-eligible roads over a two-year cycle, and they must rate paved roads using the PASER system. These ratings need to include the road’s surface type, PASER score, number of lanes, and the names of the crewmembers that rated the road. Agencies that use Roadsoft and the LDC to record their road ratings can record and submit this information quickly and easily. However, the original PASER system designed for use in Wisconsin has some differences with the TAMS’s version. See the TAMC Data Collection Manual for more information about rating roads and submitting data to the TAMC, and for more information about the differences between TAMC and PASER definitions.

Before using the LDC, export a data collection network from Roadsoft. For instructions on exporting and importing data between Roadsoft and the LDC, see Import and Export LDC Data - The Data Cycle. For help connecting a GPS to the LDC, see Connect a GPS.

Select the Road tab.

Select the desired road segment from the map.

Select the Rating tab.

Select the Surface Subtype drop-down list to select the road surface’s subtype.

Selecting the left and right arrows will cycle through the list of surface subtypes.

Select a paved surface subtype to make sure the rating tab uses the PASER system.

Select the Number of Lanes field to enter the number of lanes the segment has.

Selecting the Up or Down Arrow button will also increase or decrease the number of lanes, respectively.

Select a rating from the Surface Rating section.

The LDC requires a Surface rating to complete a PASER rating.

A rating of 10 indicates that the road is in excellent condition and requires no maintenance, while a rating of 1 indicates that the road has failed and is in need of rebuilding.

Add a treatment

Select the Add Treatment check box to open the Add Treatment drop-down list.

Select the Drop-down list to select the desired treatment.

Select a rating from the Base Condition section.

Select a rating from the Drain Condition section.

Select a rating from the Ride Condition section.

A rating of 10 indicates that the road is in excellent condition and requires no maintenance, while a rating of 1 indicates that the road has failed and is in need of rebuilding. A rating of NR means that the condition has no rating.

Select the Save Rating button to save the rating or select another road segment to discard it.

When updating an existing road rating the Save Rating button will change into the Update Rating button.