At the June 2025 International Airfield & Highway Pavements Conference held in Glendale, Arizona, Dr. Martin Scavone from ARRB Systems presented a poster titled “Fast Screening of Weak Joints in Jointed Concrete Pavements with a Traffic Speed Deflectometer.” This presentation highlighted a significant advancement in the assessment of rigid pavements, an area that has long posed challenges for traditional traffic-speed deflection devices. 

For many years, Traffic-Speed Deflection Devices (TSDDs), led by the ARRB Systems iPAVe, have been instrumental in assessing flexible pavement structures, providing crucial data for maintenance and rehabilitation planning. However, applying these devices effectively to rigid pavements, such as jointed concrete pavements, has presented unique complexities due to their inherent structural behaviour. 

Dr. Scavone’s poster introduced a unique new screening metric, ABMx, designed to specifically address this challenge. ABMx utilizes normalized deflection velocity data collected to rapidly detect and rank weak transverse joints within concrete pavement networks at a network level. 

The power of the ABMx approach lies in its simplicity and efficiency. It offers a fast method for identifying problem areas, and its validity has been robustly confirmed through comparison with Laser Crack Measurement System (LCMS) data collected concurrently with TSD measurements. 

The ability to quickly identify and rank weak joints across an entire rigid pavement network is a game-changer for highway authorities, airports and pavement managers. By pinpointing these critical areas, the ABMx metric can significantly help prioritize necessary repairs and optimize overall pavement management strategies, leading to more cost-effective and durable infrastructure. 

This innovation underscores ARRB Systems’ commitment to advancing pavement assessment technologies, providing comprehensive insights that lead to more efficient and sustainable transportation networks.