MAMH Intervention Plan

Since 2005, municipalities in Quebec have been working on their first intervention plans. They completed inventories of their drinking water and sewer networks and performed assessments to evaluate their condition. The knowledge of underground infrastructure has significantly improved, and municipalities have adopted a more progressive approach to renewal.

A key update in 2014 was the inclusion of interventions on roadways and storm sewers, alongside those for drinking water and wastewater systems, as one of the primary objectives of the intervention plan.

The addition of the roadway component to the intervention plan allows municipalities to better understand the condition of their road networks, enabling them to plan maintenance interventions more strategically.

Using RUBIX to Measure CH-1, CH-2, and CH-3 Indicators

The working committees involved in the guide’s development identified four indicators to evaluate pavement segments that contain drinking water or sewer pipes. Each indicator is classified into five levels, ranging from Excellent to Very Poor, with a rating from 1 to 5. These ratings are assigned to linear segments, as determined by a predefined geometric breakdown (e.g., Québec Address), and are prioritized based on the guide’s framework.

CH-1 Surface Defects Indicator

Surface defects are collected following the PCI ASTM D-6433 methodology, which recommends sampling only part of a segment for assessment. For network assessments, the recommended coverage ranges between 10% and 30% of the segment’s length. Defects are recorded using the rInspector iPad app, designed to maximize efficiency during data collection. The app allows for archiving images, quality control, drawing diagrams, and adding additional comments. It also features navigation tools to assist the inspector. Daily performance of 10–15 km of inspected segments has been achieved.

CH-2 Ride Comfort Indicator

Ride comfort data (CH-2) is collected using the rUNI iPhone app. The device is securely mounted in a service vehicle (or similar), and no manual intervention is required during the assessment (comfort is measured as the vehicle moves). Once calibrated, the data provides an estimated IRI (International Roughness Index) as prescribed by the World Bank for Class-3 response-type profilometers. This estimated IRI is used to calculate the CH-2 classification according to the MAMROT guidelines.

CH-3 Frost Susceptibility Indicator

The CH-3 indicator, frost susceptibility, is derived by comparing the estimated IRI from the summer and winter periods. By measuring ride comfort multiple times, it’s possible to model the annual comfort curve, determining the maximum and minimum comfort levels. For example, measurements taken on the same segment over different periods make it easy to observe its degradation.

Additional Indicators

Agencies that perform structural capacity evaluations using a deflectometer or other tools can use the RUBIX rAPI interface to upload collected data and obtain the CH-4 classification. For more information, contact Rival Solutions.

Pavement Intervention Class

The pavement intervention class integrates the four sub-indicators (CH-1, CH-2, CH-3, CH-4) and determines the priority level for intervention on a pavement segment. For example, a class D rating indicates that immediate action is recommended. Notably, only one CH-X indicator is required for this calculation, though MAMROT guidelines recommend at least CH-1.

Other Uses of RUBIX

While RUBIX was designed for pavement assessments, it can be used to evaluate and inspect a wide range of urban infrastructure. This can be done by defining a specific inspection form (XML) for the rInspector app if it doesn’t already exist, allowing the inclusion of desired inspection parameters.

Currently, the following default forms are available with the app:

• Flexible pavements (PCI-ASTM, PCI-Québec, DMI-Ontario methodologies)
• Sidewalks and curbs
• Gravel roads (PASER methodology)

On request, the following forms can also be made available:

• Bike paths and pedestrian trails
• Vertical and horizontal signage
• Safety barriers
• Culverts
• Overpasses

Why Use RUBIX Even with a Subcontractor?

Although RUBIX was designed to facilitate the assessment process and allow agencies full autonomy in inspecting their infrastructure, there may be cases where a lack of personnel or resources requires outsourcing the inspection. By owning the RUBIX solution, the agency retains full control over the data, allowing them to:

• Periodically update the data for specific segments of the road (especially segments with a class C intervention rating)
• Complete a detailed inspection of a segment before an intervention to determine the optimal approach (project-specific assessment)
• Assess roads that do not contain underground infrastructure (non-priority assessment)
• Use RUBIX for preventive maintenance, such as using raw data to evaluate the scope of a crack sealing campaign

Municipalities wishing to maintain control over inspection data have two options:

1. Own the RUBIX license and equipment and provide it to subcontractors. The data collected would be immediately available on the municipality’s dashboard.
2. Request that subcontractors upload data to the municipality’s dashboard, ensuring the municipality has real-time access to the inspection results.