Pavement maintenance describes all the methods and techniques used to prolong pavement life by slowing its deterioration rate.  The performance of a pavement is directly tied to the timing, type and quality of the maintenance it receives.

Rehabilitation can be defined as (ITS 2000):
Measures to improve, strengthen or salvage existing deficient pavements to continue service with only routine maintenance.  Deficient pavements exhibit distress in excess of what can be handled through routine maintenance.”