Description

This technical publication investigates the integration of tire-pavement noise measurements into standard Pavement Management Systems (PMS). As environmental noise pollution becomes a growing concern for highway agencies and urban communities, traditional PMS frameworks—which focus primarily on structural adequacy, surface roughness, and friction—are increasingly required to incorporate acoustic performance metrics. The document outlines methodologies for measuring traffic noise emission at the tire-pavement interface using Close-Proximity (CPX) and On-Board Sound Power (OBSP) testing methods across various surface textures, including open-graded asphalt, stone mastic asphalt, and surface dressings. It demonstrates how acoustic deterioration curves can be modeled over time as pavement surfaces age, aggregate polishing occurs, and voids become clogged. By treating noise level as an explicit performance indicator alongside the International Roughness Index (IRI) and rutting depth, transport authorities can optimize maintenance schedules to address both functional road quality and environmental noise mitigation. The paper includes decision-tree frameworks and multi-criteria optimization algorithms that help agency managers balance surface resurfacing costs against acoustic benefits. Case studies demonstrate that early acoustic interventions, such as low-noise thin overlays or corrective surface texturing, can yield substantial reductions in community noise exposure without requiring expensive structural rehabilitations or sound barriers. The study concludes with practical recommendations for standardization, field data collection protocols, and software integration strategies to incorporate acoustic metrics into existing network-level asset management platforms.