Soft computing-based infrastructure life-cycle cost analysis tools

Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is a key component in the transportation infrastructure management process. Both deterministic and probabilistic LCCA approaches have been used by transportation agencies. Probabilistic methods allow decision makers to evaluate the risk of an investment utilizing uncertain input variables, assumptions, or estimates. However, if the uncertainty in the input is of an ambiguous rather than random nature, soft computing techniques can be more appropriate than the probabilistic methods. This paper discusses the framework to develop enhanced infrastructure LCCA tools using soft computing techniques. The feasibility and practicality of the approach is illustrated with a prototype LCCA algorithm (considering only agency costs) that uses fuzzy logic for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) treatment selection and timing.