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Chapter 4. CONCLUSIONS <br />The objective of this research, Heavy Vehicles Impacts Tool, was to develop an analysis method <br />and tool for the evaluation of pavement impacts due to unanticipated large volumes of heavy <br />axle loads. This report describes the problem and reviews the relevant literature on this topic and <br />proceeds to document the development of the analysis method and the associated tool for this <br />evaluation. The analysis method does not include any new pavement analysis or design methods, <br />although it utilizes existing methods in different ways that allow for this type of evaluation to be <br />conducted. <br />The tool that implements the analysis method is a standalone Microsoft Excel spreadsheet in <br />which the default data, user -entered data, pavement management data, and many user -entered <br />analyses are stored. The spreadsheet opens a user screen within which all of the tool's operations <br />are conducted. Associated with the analysis and tool is a training module to teach the operation <br />of the tool and to provide general ideas for its use. Case studies are included that use real -life <br />scenarios (with identifying information redacted) from which users may develop ideas for further <br />analysis in other specific situations. <br />Recommended future improvements to the tool include the following. <br />• Include portland cement concrete pavements in the analysis, <br />• Utilize newer pavement design and analysis methods as they become more accepted, <br />such as mechanistic -empirical methods, <br />• More direct importing methods from pavement management systems, <br />• Develop improved vehicle definitions for vehicles and axle loads for empty, full, and <br />half -full modes, <br />• Add ability for users to include pictures of their custom vehicles, <br />• Allow users to associate cost and other inputs to specific analyses, not universally to the <br />overall tool. <br />39 <br />