Risk Evaluation and Management for Road Maintenance on Urban Expressway Based on HEML (Hanshin Expressway Logic Model)

Abstract

Hanshin Expressway is an urban expressway network accommodating more than 900, 000 vehicles per day. To sustain efficient and comfortable road traffic environment, Hanshin Expressway is performing various highway Rehabilitation and Maintenance (R&M) activities. The well-organized highway R&M activities (ex.; regular inspection, roadway cleaning, etc.) is fundamental for keeping traffic safety and provide road users with psychological satisfaction, but poor R&M may cause serious traffic accidents or defects. Due to the lacks of the sufficient budget for highway R&M, the highway administration bodies are always requested to reduce the expenditures for R&M activities.
In this paper the logic model for R&M (named HELM; Hanshin Expressway Logic Model), which was developed by the Hanshin Expressway Corporation, is presented to administrate the whole system of R&M activities in an efficient way. The model will turn out to be the indispensable platform for the introduction of the R&M contracts with the outside sectors in a near future. Some evaluation indicators for policy models comprising HELM, which are expected to be monitored and evaluated throughout the implementation of the PDCA cycles, are also illustrated in the paper. This paper shows the methodology to formulate the criteria based on risk (probability×consequence) measurement for the risk management of the potholes, sands and pebbles, upon the pavement. The criteria presented in this paper can be estimated based upon the past record on highway patrol. And the paper presents the risk management diagrams for the highway patrol, by which the administrative bodies can efficiently design the optimal patrol frequency given the predetermined risk levels. The paper is concluded by summarizing the ongoing research agenda to improve the HELM throughout the PDCA cycles of the real R&M activities.