Realistic characterization of pavement layer properties and responses under in-situ field conditions is critical for accurate airport pavement life predictions, planning pavement management activities as well as for calibration and validation of mechanistic-based pavement response prediction models. The recent advancements in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensor (MEMS)/Nano-Electro-Mechanical Sensor (NEMS) technologies and wireless sensor networks combined with efficient energy scavenging paradigms provide opportunities for long-term, continuous, real-time response measurement and health monitoring of transportation infrastructure systems.

This paper presents a summary review of some recent studies that have focused on the development of advanced smart sensing and monitoring systems for highway pavement system with potential applications for long-term airport pavement health monitoring. Some examples of these potential applications include: the use of wireless Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for determining thermal gradients in pavement layers; self-powered MEMS/NEMS multifunction sensor system capable of real-time, remote monitoring of localized strain, temperature and moisture content in airport pavement that will eventually prevent catastrophic failures such as blow-ups on runways during heat waves.