To operate a business, parking lots, streets and sidewalks are required. As a result, business owners must develop a comprehensive pavement evaluation as part of their effective management strategy. RAM Companies inspects parking lots and roads objectively to identify conditions, defects and potential hazards caused by damaged pavement. This evaluation serves as the foundation for funding prioritization and cost-effective decision-making.

Our experienced team of professionals have conducted numerous distress surveys and audited hundreds of existing pavement inventories, gaining the knowledge and experience required to ensure consistency and precision. Our ability to create technical plans, specifications and budgets for pavement repair and replacement projects means we can provide our customers with a one-stop shop. Additionally, by using modern pavement design techniques, our professional consultants prioritize the quality and durability of your systems.

When you choose RAM Companies for your paving project, you can rest assured that we will take a comprehensive approach. This will include conducting an accessibility analysis and providing recommendations for creating a barrier-free environment under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Distress In Asphalt Pavements

Clients frequently asked about identifying and measuring specific distress during field condition surveys and PCI validation. Here are some of the answers to those questions.

• In the same area, alligator cracking and rutting are recorded separately
• When measuring bleeding, polished aggregate is ignored
• For sags and bumps, use linear feet
• Cracks on ridges and bumps are recorded separately
• Distress in a patched area isn’t recorded, but its impact is considered
• A substantial amount of polished aggregate should be present before it is counted
• Potholes are measured by their diameters, not square feet

Taking Pavement Higher with Aerial Assessments

RAM Companies performs aerial pavement assessments using cutting-edge technology and a systematic approach to provide clients with information on critical factors and issues affecting the performance of their pavement assets. We use fixed-wing aircraft and sometimes drones to collect and analyze infrared thermography (IR) and visual imaging data when necessary. In addition, we use a falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and other non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods. This includes our high-speed vehicle-mounted ground penetrating radar system. We use this to detect pavement layer thickness, changes in the pavement structure and subsurface voids, moisture and stripping and the relative density of new asphalt pavements.