January 07, 2009 -- Yotta, the 3D mapping division of OMG plc (Oxford Metrics Group [LSE: OMG]), has released a brand new version of MARCHpms, its innovative United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) compliant software. MARCHpms 4 is the first major release of the product in 10 years.

MARCHpms software enables visual and machine highway survey data to be processed in accordance with UKPMS logic. Users can readily define a UKPMS network, compile an item inventory and input condition surveys, either interactively, or in Highways Maintenance Data Interchange Format (HMDIF) files.

MARCHpms 4 is available in 2 versions, MARCHpms 4 Basic and MARCHpms 4 Professional. The basic version has all the same functionality as MARCHpms3 and includes the additional ability to export GIS files (shape & tab) which can then be opened in other programmes such as ESRI Arcview and MapInfo. The professional version provides a number of additional user-friendly advancements, including visualisation of results with video, a new map viewer and a customisable interface to easily identify defects, treatments and condition indices.

The software automatically processes a number of key operations, including rating, treatment selection, prioritisation by condition, and estimating and budgeting. This enables better decision-making for developing and allocating maintenance schemes. Over 200 reports are included in the standard features of the system, including the full set of Performance Indicators for England, Scotland and Wales.

All MARCHpms customers also receive access to an online help facility, password protection to manage access rights, an intuitive rules and parameters interface and priority list reports. Users also benefit from help desk support, supporting literature, multiple single-organisation installations, and opportunities to attend annual and regional user group meetings.

MARCHpms 4 is a significant step forward for pavement management systems bringing visualisation of data for the first time. Highway Managers can make more informed decisions by selecting maintenance schemes using the UKPMS compliant MARCHpms 4 with added benefit of seeing data about the road network both on a map and in video images. Seeing data in a real world environment can directly save time, money and make better use of maintenance budgets.