Configurable Automated Pavement Distress Survey Systems

Vexcel Corporation, together with the Ohio State University Center for Mapping, propose the development of a system for gathering and processing pavement surface distress data including the automated generation of pavement surface distress information suitable for input to a pavement management system (PMS). The proposed system will provide the flexibility of direct support for multiple data inputs including use of video, digital camera and analog film products. Additionally, system elements for recording and processing the data can take on different configurations including options for storage capacities, vehicle speed, stereo imaging and real-time operations. The approach applies machine vision and precise positioning technologies to the field of pavement surfave condition evaluation that will provide unique advantages over current practices. These advantages include dramatic increased processing throughout afforded by direct digital imaging and the use of automated image processing techniques. In addition, photogrammetric methods may afford accurate, useful, 3-D measurements that can supplement the 2-D imagery used in the distress computations. Anticipated Benefits: Results of the proposed research have direct applicability for use by Federal government agencies in areas of roads in Federal lands such as national parks and forests and roads, airports and ports on military facilities. In addition to the FHWA requirements for pavement management utilizing distress data acquisition, there are approximately 5 million other lane miles of state, city and country roads for which distress data acquisition is becoming increasingly important. Roadways and parking areas in parks, schools, shopping malls, etc. often require distress data acquisition in connection with the planning and programming of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation activities.