Fuzzy multi-attribute decision making in pavement management

A methodology for ranking pavement sections according to maintenance urgency has been developed using fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making concepts. First. the pavement sections in a highway network are grouped according to their maintenance needs, using fuzzy pavement serviceability indices. Then, the attributes relevant to each category of maintenance are identified, and an expert knowledge base containing priority values for selected combinations of attribute values is formed in collaboration with decisionmakers. Finally, it is shown how the fuzzy attribute values for each pavement section can interact with the expert knowledge base to produce a unique set of rankings for these sections. This ranking scheme is capable of handling possible fuzziness in the priorities assigned by the decision makers.