Guidance for surveys for BV187 in 2007/08

This indicator is based on the collection and analysis of Detailed Visual Inspection (DVI) measurements, processed using Version 8.01 ¹ of the national Rules and Parameters for UKPMS.  It is designed to provide the percentage length of the footway network with a Footway Condition Index greater than a defined threshold value (see below).  This threshold is indicative of the need for an investigation to determine whether maintenance is needed to preserve the footway serviceability.  These rules cover different footway types and the defects associated with the type of footway (e.g. bituminous, flags) on different footway categories (hierarchies).

Authorities should measure the percentage length of the footway Category 1, 1a and 2 network with a Footway Condition Index greater than or equal to a threshold value of 20, calculated using the Variable Length Merge method set out within UKPMS through Version 8.01 of the Rules and Parameters, and expressed to the nearest whole percentage. Footway categories are defined in the current version of the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management.

Footway identification process

Identify those UKPMS sections with Category 1, 1a or 2 footways. If a detailed record of footway hierarchies has been collected against inventory in an authority's UKPMS system, then any occurrence of such a footway would qualify a section for inclusion.  If footway hierarchy is recorded against the section, then all those sections with a "Default Footway Hierarchy" of 1, 1a or 2 are included.  Those authorities that have not previously allocated footway hierarchies will have to identify the 1, 1a and 2 Category footways prior to this step.

Inventory data for BV187

Footway inventory data must be available for all sections identified with Category 1, 1a or 2 footways.

Condition surveys for BV187

DVI surveys must be carried out in accordance with the current version of "Visual Data Collection for UKPMS", Volume 2 of the UKPMS User Manual. 

Each year authorities should survey at least 50% (by number rather than by section length) of the sections identified with Category 1, 1a and 2 footways so that over each two-year period the entire network has been surveyed (with a minimum survey coverage of 90%). For 2007/08 authorities are required to base their BV187 results on all data collected since 31 March 2007 and this must cover at least 50% of the network.

Note that the condition data and the inventory data must be collected using the same cross sectional positions (XSPs) in order for the data to be processed together.

All inspectors carrying out visual surveys for BV187 and all Data Capture Device (DCD) software used to collect the data must be accredited in accordance with the current UKPMS accreditation procedures.  Further information is available from the UKPMS Support Consultant, telephone 01483 304364 or see www.ukpms.com for further information.

It is the intention that any survey data collected on or after 1st April 2008, and used for BV187, should have been collected by inspectors that have been accredited under the new UKPMS inspector accreditation scheme, set up by the UKPMS Steering Group. Full details of the accreditation scheme are available on the UKPMS web site.

The UKPMS system used to produce the results must be accredited by the UKPMS Annual Health Check to produce BV187 for 2007/08 and configured using the UKPMS Rules and Parameters 8.01.

The following information should also be provided to support the BVPI: 

UKPMS System & Version
Version of Rules & Parameters Used
Name of Inspector & Accreditation Date
DCD Software & Version Used
Reasons for reduced survey coverage (if applicable)
Other Comments

¹ UKPMS Rules and Parameters Version 8.01 will be the version of the UKPMS Rules and Parameters released to UKPMS Developers on 30 September 2007 for implementation by 31 December 2007.  UKPMS Rules and Parameters Version 8.01 will form the basis of both the BVPIs for 2007/08 and the 2007 UKPMS Annual Health Check.