Today marks the publication of the new PAS 2161:2024 Road Condition Monitoring (RCM) data specification. This new standard will impact all councils in England, with its primary purpose of specifying the requirements for RCM data used in national reporting categories of road conditions to the Department for Transport. At next week’s Strictly Highways, we will hear from Laura Murphy, Head of Road Network Statistics at Department for Transport, where she will provide further insights into the standard.
While the national reporting categories of road condition are required for national reporting, they can also be applied by Highway Authorities for broader road asset management purposes. However, as the application of RCM data for road asset management varies by authority, according to their local approach to the management of road assets, the PAS does not specify requirements for asset management purposes, but it does provide some guidance on the topic.
The aim of the PAS is to specify requirements for those involved in the collection, procurement and application of RCM data, specifically in relation to:
a) Establishing categories of condition for road networks;
b) Adopting a consistent approach to RCM data capture, processing, and reporting;
c) Classifying the types of technology applied in the collection of RCM data;
d) National reporting of condition categories;
e) Standardising the format of the deliverables for national reporting; and
f) Demonstrating the capability of RCM technologies to report condition categories.
Several stakeholders including LCRIG, councils and suppliers, have contributed to the development of this standard and LCRIG have supported the Department for Transport throughout the process by facilitating meetings and focus groups to assist both councils and suppliers.
LCRIG’s CEO, Paula Claytonsmith, emphasised the importance of this new standard for councils: “This is a hugely important new reporting standard for all English councils, and it originates from the 2018 Local Roads Funding and Governance report by the Transport Select Committee, chaired by Lilian Greenwood, MP. It will also mark a change to councils’ previous road condition reporting processes, one that suppliers have been fully engaged with.”
Download PAS2161:2024 Road condition monitoring data specification here.