STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF VIDEO LOGGING WITH PAVEMENT CONDITION EVALUATION

The Florida Department of Transportation needs a higher frequency of comprehensive data acquisition related to highway operation in Florida and an efficient centralized system to manage, process, and store such data. In response to these needs, an automated high-speed pavement evaluation vehicle has been developed. This evaluation vehicle is a Class I profiler van equipped with laser profiling, land navigation, and imaging subsystems consisting of three cameras: front-view and side-view digital area-scan cameras for capturing images of traffic signs and right-of-way safety features, and a downward-view digital line-scan camera for capturing images of the pavement surface. In addition to the 3-laser and accelerometer-based profiling system, the vehicle is also equipped with differential global positioning system (DGPS) equipment and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for cross-slope, curvature and grade measurements. The quality and accuracy of images, and the precision of GPS, IMU and laser measurements were investigated during a limited testing program conducted at the University of South Florida. A field survey of Hillsborough County's highway network was accomplished within a four-week period to probe the functionality and reliability of the vehicle and its subsystems.