Advanced technology to better monitor the conditions of Europe’s roads
Maintenance is considered to be a highway operating agency’s most expensive task. Commercial off-the-shelf test equipment exists and is currently being used by highway operators. However, there is a clear, identified need for developing new and automated non-destructive testing (NDT) tools and systems for evaluating road pavements and bridge decks. Given the EU’s emphasis on traffic safety, the time for early detection of deterioration and potential defects through more advanced road pavement inspection technology is now. With EU funding, the RPB HEALTEC (Road pavements & bridge deck health monitoring/early warning using advanced inspection technologies) project developed an integrated, NDT solution to assess and monitor the structural condition of pavements and bridge decks. The NDT system combines three technologies: ground penetrating radar, air-coupled ultrasound and infrared thermography. For assessment and monitoring of pavement structures, data from these components is captured at traffic speeds of up to 60 km per hour. The system not only enhances monitoring conditions in terms of time and accuracy, it also lessens the unnecessary maintenance of pavements and bridge decks. All three innovations are mounted on the same vehicle, thus helping to avoid unnecessary data collection and traffic delays. Several different tests are carried out simultaneously and automatically to gather data and results in an efficient way. Intelligent software detects the presence of surface and subsurface defects as well as the extent of deterioration. It provides information for assessing the stability and serviceability, and evaluating the cost effectiveness of various remedial measures. This information is provided in real time without causing traffic disturbances. RPB HEALTEC technology upgrades and optimises the inspection and maintenance of European roads. This should reduce the operating costs of future construction and upkeep while increasing the life expectancy of road infrastructure.
