Developing Pavement Maintenance Strategies and Implementing Management Systems
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper divides maintenance strategies into two phases—pavement index grading and pavement maintenance prioritization. It uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as the theoretical basis, calculating the maintenance weights of different pavement indices through expert interviews. Based on the calculated results, pavement indices are graded, and the prioritization of pavement maintenance is sorted. Additionally, a provincial highway pavement management system is proposed. This study has practical implications for improving pavement maintenance in Taiwan Province. I proposed the following suggestions to further improve the paper.
(1) In situations where resources are limited, determining maintenance priorities is essential. For the formulation of pavement maintenance strategies, traffic volume is also an important consideration. Roads with high traffic volumes, due to their importance and frequent use, should be given priority in maintenance strategies. I suggest that incorporating traffic volume parameters into the analysis will make the results more closely align with actual conditions, thereby providing more effective and precise maintenance strategy recommendations.
(2) To ensure the cutting-edge nature and relevance of the research, it is recommended that the author consult and cite studies published in the last five years. This will not only help the paper reflect the latest advancements in current research but also strengthen the persuasiveness of the paper's arguments.
(3) The current paper has relatively few citations, which may affect the depth and breadth of the academic work. It is recommended that the author expand the literature review section to cover a wider range of relevant studies, in order to provide a more solid theoretical foundation for the research hypotheses and conclusions.
(4) Why were only 25 questionnaires distributed, please explain it. To ensure the accuracy and persuasiveness of the results, it is recommended that the number of questionnaires be increased.
(5) The secondary title 2.1 and tertiary title 2.1.2 are duplicates. Please select the appropriate title and make the necessary modifications.
(6) In the section 2.1.1, Line 69: The “Indicators” should be deleted.
(7) In the section 3.3.1, Line 346: The “Table 3.8” should be revised to “Table 3.9”. Please check the serial numbers of the tables after table 3.9 and revise them.
(8) The conclusion section should directly and succinctly summarize the core findings and contributions of the study. It is recommended to eliminate information that is not directly related to the main findings and avoid repeating detailed data analyses already mentioned in the discussion section.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageNo
Author Response
1.Considering that a comprehensive traffic volume data system has not yet been established for Taiwan's provincial highways, traffic volume factors were not included in the maintenance factors. We have included a recommendation on this matter in the conclusion, suggesting that future provincial highway maintenance units should collect traffic volume data and establish a corresponding database (see P24 for details).
2.We have supplemented relevant literature from the past five years (see P4-P8 for details).
3.We have supplemented relevant literature from the past five years (see P4-P8 for details).
4.To ensure that the questionnaire results meet the analytical requirements, the majority of the respondents for this study were managers responsible for decision-making in provincial highway maintenance. These respondents possess extensive experience and expertise in provincial highway maintenance. The limitation on the selection of interviewees resulted in fewer than 30 valid questionnaires. However, this selection process ensures the reliability of the interview results.
5.The title of section 2.1.2 has been revised (see P3 for details).
6.The content has been adjusted accordingly (see P2 for details).
7.The table numbers throughout the text have been adjusted.
8.The conclusion has been adjusted accordingly (see P23-P24 for details).
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript integrates two approaches "Pavement Indicator Rating" and "Pavement Maintenance Prioritization" to develop Provincial Highway Pavement Maintenance Strategies and implement them into Pavement Management Systems. The manuscript is well-organized and informative. In addition, the research can enhance maintenance management efficiency, and ensure the overall quality and longevity of provincial highway maintenance efforts. However, certain issues must be clarified before submitting for publication.
(1) The graphics and textual content are mismatched. Specifically, on page 20, line 613, figure 13 mentioned lacks a corresponding image, and similarly, on page 21, line 653, figure 15 referenced in the text suffers from the same issue.
(2) It's essential to maintain consistency in the formatting of the manuscript content. For instance, in the text spanning lines 427 to 430 on page 12, the left alignment is inconsistent and should be addressed.
(3) In line 188 on page 5, it is suggested to enrich the narrative of the current situation of pavement management systems at home and abroad in 2.3 to increase the persuasiveness of the article.
(4) In line 341 on page 10, when conducting the expert questionnaire survey, the number of relevant research scholars among the selected survey subjects can be appropriately increased to reduce the influence of subjective factors caused by the small sample size.
(5) It is advisable to thoroughly verify the accuracy of chart references throughout the document. For instance, there are duplicate chart numbers '3.8' in lines 337 and 346, which results in incorrect labeling for the entire third section. Additionally, please ensure that the chart numbers cited in the main text are accurately corrected.
(6) The text content is repeatedly expressed. For example, in line 427 to 435 on page 12, equation (3) has the same meaning as the variable in equation (4) and is recommended to be marked only once.
(7) On page 13, line 454, it is advisable to enhance the aesthetics of the flowchart for section 4.1.
(8) It's crucial to ensure the alignment between the graphics and textual descriptions. For instance, in section 4.3.2, it would be advisable to reverse the order of points (3) and (4) on lines 563 and 571 to reflect the layout of the system interface depicted in Figure 4.3.
(9) It is recommended to enrich the number of references.
Please make appropriate adjustments and improvements based on the actual research situation.
Author Response
1.The figure and table numbers throughout the text have been adjusted.
2.The formatting has been adjusted accordingly.
3.Relevant literature on pavement management systems has been supplemented (see P6-P8 for details).
4.To ensure that the questionnaire results meet the analytical requirements, the majority of the respondents for this study were managers responsible for decision-making in provincial highway maintenance. These respondents possess extensive experience and expertise in provincial highway maintenance. The limitation on the selection of interviewees resulted in fewer than 30 valid questionnaires. However, this selection process ensures the reliability of the interview results.
5.The figure and table numbers throughout the text have been adjusted.
6.The equation notations have been adjusted accordingly.
7.The flowchart in Figure 4.1 has been adjusted (see P15 for details).
8.The sequence has been adjusted accordingly (see P19-P20 for details).
9.We have supplemented relevant literature from the past five years (see P4-P8 for details).
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe author has made good revisions and the paper has greatly improved.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageNo
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNo further comment.
