Quantitative analysis and visual presentation of segregation in asphalt mixture based on image processing and BIM

Abstract Segregation of asphalt mixture is one of the main concerns causing early-stage failure of asphalt pavement. However, currently, the generation and degree of segregation are mostly judged according to the visual observation which is highly subjective and only applicable to large particle size and coarse asphalt mixture. Otherwise, facing to tedious and huge detection results, inefficient traditional recording and Excel presentation methods reveals a poor productivity. Therefore, this study proposes a new framework for quantitative analysis and visual presentation of segregation in asphalt mixture by integrating both digital image processing (DIP) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies. In this method, a new algorithmic language is established for DIP approach, which could extract more image information, such as segmentation number and edge length in each area. Furthermore, a quantitative index is proposed to evaluate extent of segregation in asphalt mixture, which classifies segregation of asphalt mixture into mild, moderate and severe segregation. Besides, the framework incorporates BIM as a supporting technology to visualize the detection results of pavement segregation on 3D images. Meanwhile, warning points are generated for future maintenance. Finally, a case study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed framework. This paper contributes by offering a new approach for the detection of the segregation in asphalt mixture by an easy operation and low cost way. Additionally, this approach also represents the DIP result by an intuitive review based on BIM, which improve the efficiency and decrease time-consuming during the construction phase.