Summary Document

The NHDOT performed a study in 1995 to investigate the relationship between the measured ride quality of bituminous pavements and the public perception of ride. The objectives of the research were to 1) verify the correlation between measured ride quality and the motoring publics perception of ride quality on New Hampshire roads, 2) determine the ride quality of a variety of roadway segments to assist in the development of pay limits for the Departments QC/QA specification for bituminous pavements, and 3) build confidence in the data collected by the Profilometer and document results. The study was designed in accordance with procedures set up in NCHRP Report 308 and involved the use of a panel to subjectively evaluate the ride quality of thirty-four bituminous pavement test sites. These same sites were then tested by the Departments KJLaw T6500 Profilometer. Results obtained by the Profilometer were compared and correlated to the average ride quality rating (MPR) from the panel.