The feature called Analysis-Ready Datasets provides users with integrated data in a more consistent format that is directly available for download. The primary goal of this new data feature is to assist users with assembling data needed for pavement design and performance modeling by reducing data-wrangling efforts. The Analysis-Ready Materials Dataset (ARMAD) is the first dataset included in the feature.⁽¹⁾ ARMAD integrates pavement structure and materials property information for asphalt concrete, portland cement concrete, unbound granular base and subbase, stabilized base and subbase, subgrade, and other layers such as surface treatments and engineering fabrics. When downloading ARMAD data, users are also accessing supporting information such as data statistics, data sources, and a variability indicator. The second dataset—Analysis-Ready Performance Dataset (ARPED)—contains information on distress and ride quality where outliers in trends have been flagged. The third dataset—Analysis-Ready Climate Dataset (ARCLD)—is a collection of Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications data about precipitation, temperature, wind, humidity, and solar variables that influence pavement performance.⁽²⁾ The data are available at varying levels of aggregation—from hourly to annual. The fourth dataset—the Analysis-Ready Traffic Dataset (ARTRD)—consists of three assemblages of data: The first assemblage consists of input data needed for AASHTOWare® Pavement ME; a second provides annual time series truck volumes and loading; and a third provides summary statistics for truck volumes and loading that can be used to represent the conditions experienced by the section while part of a specific experiment.^(3,4) The traffic statistics are flagged with information about the sources and reliability of the inputs.

1. FHWA. 2022. Introduction to the LTPP Analysis-Ready Materials Dataset (ARMAD). Report No. FHWA-HRT-22-114. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.


2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2017. “Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA)” (web page). https://gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/reanalysis/MERRA/ , last accessed July 11, 2023.


3. Selezneva, O. I., and M. E. Hallenbeck. Facilitating Analysts’ Use of Traffic Data From the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program. Report No. FHWA HRT 22 074. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.


4. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. n.d. AASHTOWare® Pavement ME Design (software). Version 2.x.