International Roughness Index specifications around the world

Abstract

The International Roughness Index (IRI) is an indicator used worldwide for the characterisation of longitudinal road roughness. This study summarised IRI limit values for new, reconstructed, or rehabilitated roads; for in-service (existing) roads; and road classification schemes used around the world. An overview of practices in 35 US states and 29 non-US states was provided. Limit values are a function of road surface type, road functional category, road speed limit, road construction type, or average annual daily traffic (AADT). IRI specifications are defined for a broad range of evaluation lengths from several metres to the entire length of a section. Large differences in IRI limit values were observed for the same segment length among various countries. The IRI-based methodology used in US states was compared with that used in non-US countries. Non-US countries used more often specifications as a function of road functional category and AADT, and are based on percentile of IRI observations. US states used more often pay adjustment and specifications as a function of road construction type and road speed limit.

Keywords:

• highways and roads
• surface roughness
• pavement management
• road profile
• International Roughness Index (IRI)
• threshold
• road maintenance

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Corrigendum

Acknowledgements

The author is indebted to Johan Granlund for providing information about IRI specifications in Scandinavian countries, and to Vidas Žuraulis and Allessandro Marradi.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the VEGA Grant Agency of Slovak Academy of Sciences [grant number 02/0089/16].