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Inventory Assessment
In order to properly execute a cost-effective management program for pavements, it is important to have a comprehensive inventory of the facility's pavements. Prior to the fieldwork, the pavement area should be categorized into various sections by type of use, location, or condition. These various sections allow for more detail to be noted and will assist in the budgeting process.

During the assessment, the condition of the pavement is rated numerically using a variety of methodologies. In addition to rating the pavement condition, consideration should also be given to adjacent elements such as curbs and sidewalks, as well as drainage structures. It is imperative that during the assessment, issues pertaining to pedestrian access be taken into consideration. This is an excellent time to identify any safety items requiring immediate repair.

The next step is to generate a report describing the original pavement construction and its current condition by section. The condition rating and use of the pavement will assist in determining the appropriate rehabilitation requirements or maintenance activity, and the year in which it should be completed. This information is then converted into and five-year budget, on a year-by-year basis with reinspections every other year. (Updates become necessary based on changes in the pavement condition, local construction cost variability, and funding levels.) A well-documented condition summary, combined with accurate cost estimates, is an effective tool in obtaining funding and reducing overall costs to maintain pavements.

Plans and specifications
The next step is to initiate the work outlined in the report. Over the years we've received phone calls from owners who have called three contractors to "give them a bid to fix the lot." At best, their efforts result in trying to compare proposals that offer various construction procedures that are not comparable, including significant variations in cost.

In some situations, the contractor is asking them to spend an amount in the low six figures based upon a one-line proposal that reads "Clean, patch, and pave the south parking lot," fully expecting an owner to commit large sums of money based on little information. Either situation is a lose-lose proposition for the facility manager.