The Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program is currentlyin the eighth year of a twenty year project to monitor and collectpavement data on approximately 800 general pavement studies (GPS)sections across the United States and Canada. This paper focuseson GPS 1 sections (asphalt surfacing on a granular base) locatedin the Dry-Freeze and the Dry-No Freeze zones of the Western UnitedStates. Approximately 50 sites were selected from these two zones.

Using data collected from the LTPP sites, this paper presentsthe analyses used to develop pavement performance prediction models.Performance is measured in terms of individual distress types,such as roughness and fatigue cracking. A discussion of the problemsinherent in such a process is also included.

The authors concluded that although it was possible to recognizeperformance trends, developing meaningful prediction models wasnot feasible for GPS sections. It was recommended that futureanalysis along similar lines focus on specific pavement study(SPS) sections.