Pavement Matters

In pavement management, quick fixes refer to reactive, surface-level treatments—such as thin overlays, minor patching, or superficial sealants—applied without addressing underlying structural or subgrade issues. Short-term budget constraints or schedule pressures often drive them, but they bypass critical processes like condition assessment, design verification, and material suitability.While these solutions may temporarily improve ride quality or visual appearance, they fail to resolve the root causes of deterioration, leading to accelerated fatigue, rutting, moisture ingress, and repeated intervention cycles.In this episode, We are joined by Firas Noun, Senior Project Engineer at Pavement Management Services, to unpack why these shortcuts lead to:Technical failures – early cracking, base instability, and structural failureEconomic waste – frequent rework, inflated lifecycle costs, and poor return on investmentLegal exposure – safety breaches, environmental non-compliance, and liability riskCompromised safety – increased hazards for road users due to degraded performanceWe also explore best practices for long-term performance:✅ Qualified engineering input✅ Durable, fit-for-purpose materials✅ Preventive maintenance and asset planning✅ Compliance and regular condition monitoringLet's start the year by committing to sustainable, evidence-based road maintenance—not reactive fixes.

In this episode, Jim Mahood shares his expertise on assessing asset conditions, making decisions on maintenance or replacement, and optimising financial aspects like budgeting and cost efficiency. He also discusses key trends in the industry and reveals how he overcame significant challenges in his career, offering valuable lessons for all.

In today's episode with special guest Sue McNeil, we dive deep into how asset management strategies can evolve to address natural hazards and climate change impacts on infrastructure. Hear insights on managing aging roads, coordinating maintenance for shared facilities, and setting top priorities for resilience in transportation asset management.

On this episode of Pavement Management Services, Lachlan and Dr. Yeaman travel back in time to 2007 when PMS was involved in a major asset management contract in the Middle East. Dr. Yeaman recalls the major engineering challenges, including drainage, differing perspectives on sustainability, and the need to improve the asphalt mix's quality. Stick around to the end to hear a fundamental piece of advice from Dr Yeaman distilled from his 40 years of experience in the pavement industry.

Join Mary Johns and special guest Dr. Yeaman on Pavement Matters as they dive deep into pavement engineering. From the origins of PSI calculation in the AASHO road test to the latest LCMS Technology, discover how these advancements shape pavement management. Explore the World Bank's use of PCI for simulation and learn from a case study on Sydney's innovative "green worm" approach. We'll also trace the evolution of pavement testing technology and speculate on its future.

In this episode, Susan Tighe explains why sustainability is so important in every stage of constructing road infrastructure, from designing, building, maintaining and rehabilitation, to end-of-service life of the road.

Are you an engineer who wants to take their career overseas? This episode gives you great tips to help you plan for a successful international career. Our special guest, Leanne Wray, walks us through her transition from the Royal Australian Navy to working with Dynatest in Denmark.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of infrastructure Asset Management. Dr. Chris Raymond joins us today as a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in construction management, pavement design, engineering materials and quality management.

In this episode, Susan Tighe shares her insights to help you excel in the field of civil engineering. With decades of experience under her belt, Susan offers incredibly valuable advice for students and those aiming for a career in civil engineering.

The Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) is the key to understanding the structural integrity of the pavement. Firas, PMS' very own Pavement Engineer, discusses the practical applications of using the FWD based on his experiences on the field.