*Article* **Integer Search Algorithm: A New Discrete Multi-Objective Algorithm for Pavement Maintenance Management Optimization**

**Abdulraaof Alqaili 1,\*, Mohammed Qais 2,\* and Abdullah Al-Mansour 1**


**Abstract:** Optimization techniques keep road performance at a good level using a cost-effective maintenance strategy. Thus, the trade-off between cost and road performance is a multi-objective function. This paper offers a new multi-objective stochastic algorithm for discrete variables, which is called the integer search algorithm (ISA). This algorithm is applied to an optimal pavement maintenance managemen<sup>t</sup> system (PMMS), where the variables are discrete. The PMMS optimization can be achieved by maximizing the condition of pavement with a minimum cost at specified constraints, so the PMMS is a constrained multi-objective problem. The ISA and genetic algorithm (GA) are applied to improve the performance condition rating (PCR) of the pavement in developing countries, where the annual budget is limited, so a minimum cost for three years' maintenance is scheduled. Study results revealed that the ISA produced an optimal solution for multi-function objectives better than the optimal solution of GA.

**Keywords:** genetic algorithm; integer search algorithm; pavement maintenance managemen<sup>t</sup>
