Data Collection

This ReCAP manual describes the nature and collection of data for climate change risk assessments, which is normally not part of the routine data collection for asset management purposes. This includes issues such as erosion, problem soils, drainage from the road and its near environment as well as from outside the road reserve, instability of embankments and cuttings, construction issues and maintenance problems. For expedience and to minimise costs, this should be done during the routine visual condition assessments, by the assessment teams or others trained specifically for the purpose. Based on the typical problems expected, the assessments are probably best done by those with a geotechnical, engineering geological or geomorphological background. A standard form for recording the data is provided with a worked example and photos of the rated distresses

This project aimed to improve practices related to the asset management of unsealed roads by focusing on the data required to quantify the performance and maintenance needs of unsealed road networks. Data collection and management of unsealed roads are still focused on operational processes because of their fast-changing nature and lack of useful information and guidance on management at the tactical and strategic levels.

Austroads has published 15 updated asset management test methods and spcifications.

Specification for Pavement Roughness Measurement with an Inertial Profilometer

This specification provides minimum equipment, calibration, validation and survey method requirements for the conduct of network level pavement roughness measurement using an inertial profilometer.

Specification for Pavement Rutting Measurement with a Laser Profilometer

This specification provides minimum equipment, calibration, validation and survey method requirements for the conduct of network level pavement rutting measurement using a laser profilometer.

Specification for Pavement Surface Texture Measurement with a Laser Profilometer

This specification provides minimum equipment, calibration, validation and survey method requirements for the conduct of network level pavement surface texture measurement using a laser profilometer.

Pavement Roughness Measurement with an Inertial Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for measuring the roughness of road pavements, determined from the direct measurement of the longitudinal profile of the road surface using an inertial profilometer.

Validation of an Inertial Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Roughness (Reference Device Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement roughness determined using an inertial profilometer, by comparing them to the measurements from a static or manual reference device.

Validation of an Inertial Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Roughness (Loop Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement roughness determined using an inertial profilometer.

Pavement Roughness Repeatability and Bias Checks for an Inertial Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for conducting repeatability and bias measurement checks for roughness measurements made by an inertial profilometer.

Pavement Rutting Measurement with a Laser Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for measuring the rutting of road pavements, determined by the direct measurement of the transverse profile of the road surface using a laser profilometer.

Validation of a Laser Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Rutting (Reference Device Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement rutting determined using a laser profilometer, by comparing them to the measurements from a static or manual reference device.

Validation of a Laser Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Rutting (Loop Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement rutting determined using a laser profilometer.

Pavement Rutting Repeatability and Bias Error Checks for a Laser Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for conducting repeatability and bias of measurement checks for rut measurements made by a laser profilometer.

Pavement Surface Texture Measurement with a Laser Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for measuring the surface macro-texture of road pavements, determined by the direct measurement of the road surface profile using a laser profilometer.

Validation of a Laser Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Surface Texture (Reference Device Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement surface macro-texture determined using a laser profilometer, by comparing them to the measurements from a static or manual reference device.

Validation of a Laser Profilometer for Measuring Pavement Surface Texture (Loop Method)

This test method defines the procedure for performing validation checks of the measurements of pavement surface texture determined using a laser profilometer.

Pavement Surface Texture Repeatability and Bias Error Checks for a Laser Profilometer

This test method defines the procedure for conducting repeatability and bias of measurement checks for pavement surface texture measurements made by a laser profilometer.

Different types of data are required for managing the road infrastructure. Inventory data describe the physical elements of a road system. Condition data describe the condition of elements that can be expected to change over time. There are a wide range of technologies available to the road manager for measuring attributes of the road network. The challenge is to select the appropriate equipment, given local conditions and the way in which the data are expected to be used. Too often, agencies have adopted data collection technologies which are not sustainable and this has compromised the quality or usefulness of their pavement management system (PMS). This paper presents basic principles for data collection which should be considered in a PMS, highlights key technologies, and presents a method by which an agency can select the most appropriate technology given their specific requirements.

This paper was presented at the 2008 International Conference on Pavement Management in Calgary.

Presented at the PIARC 6th Symposium on Pavement Surface Characteristics. 

For over 20 years the World Bank has supported clients in developing countries to procure pavement condition monitoring equipment and/or services.  The success of these projects has been mixed. While some countries have successfully institutionalized sustainable data collection, too many have failed either due to the adoption of overly complex equipment or inadequate institutional capacity.

As a result of this, the Bank has put forth a number of key concepts in an endeavour to ensure appropriate and sustainable pavement condition data collection. These include concepts such as the \\\'Information Quality Level\\\', which indicates the appropriate level of data detail given the intended purpose, to developing generic specifications for the procurement of data collection equipment and services.

The paper presents some of the experiences of the Bank in these different projects, highlighting the key lessons learned and how agencies can better ensure sustainable and appropriate data collection.

The presentation which accompanies the paper can be downloaded here.

Report prepared for the World Bank describing road, bridge and traffic data collection technologies. Also covers principles of data collection. The associated web site for obtaining further data is www.road-management.info.

Prepared for the World Bank, Transport Note TRN-30 summarizes the major report \'Data Collection Technologies for Road Management\'.

Technical note is to give a general view of the currently available survey technologies applied to pavements, bridges and traffic. This includes an assessment of the applicability of these technologies in developing countries. Summary of the report Data Collection Technologies for Road Management.

Report describing different road data collection technologies

Article from Transearch on how rut depth measurements from different instruments were harmonised

How data from profilometers with different numbers of sensors can be harmonised. Provides a theoretical analysis of the systematic bias that arises with different profilometers and then uses software to predict the implications of different sensor configurations on systematic bias and other errors.

The phase 2 report which built on the original work can be found here.  The software used for the analysis is also available for download.

Asia Roads Conference. The use of ROMDAS for collecting pavement condition data

Road Profiler User's Group. Describes how transverse reference profiles were established in NZ for pavement deterioration model calibration

Paper by Amara Loulizi. Objectives: to determine the dielectric properties of concrete over the used GPR frequency range; to synthesize the reflected air-coupled radar signals and compare them with measured waveforms; to model and study the effects of simulated defects in concrete on the reflected air-coupled and ground-coupled radar signals; and to validate the research results in the field by predicting layer thicknesses of flexible pavements and detecting moisture in flexible pavement systems.

Investigation of the viability of using statistical techniques to assess road data quality

>Presentation describing data collection issues for PMS.

How data were adapted and modified for the NZ dTIMS PMS project.

Presentation to the Department of Highways on road data collection methodologies.

3rd International PMS Conference. How the ROMDAS Transverse Profile Logger was tested to confirm its measurements

IRF Conference. How one collects key data for feasibility studies

ARRB Journal. Implications of sampling on rut depth calculations

Report comparing deflections from two instruments

Comparison of calibrations between three roughness measurement vehicles in New Zealand

Paper on differences in roughness measurements between two different roughness vehicles

Overseas Road Note 7 - Inspector's Handbook. The purpose of this note is to provide a district engineer with guidance on the establishment and operation of an effective bridge and culvert record system. The two main elements of this programme are the bridge data and recording methods and bridge inspection.

Overseas Road Note 7. The purpose of this note is to provide a district engineer with guidance on the establishment and operation of an effective bridge and culvert record system. The two main elements of this programme are the bridge data and recording methods and bridge inspection.