Semi-Automated Method to Determine Pavement Condition Index on Airfields: Fid-Bau Portal

Semi-Automated Method to Determine Pavement Condition Index on Airfields

Hafiz, Ali / Celaya, Manuel / Jha, Vivek / Frabizzio, Michael

The use of manual inspections to evaluate Pavement Condition Index (PCI) on airfield pavements is typically time-consuming and represents a logistical challenge in busy airports. Recently developed 3D laser scanner systems can detect cracks in the pavement, reduce fieldwork time, and increase safety. There is some commercially available software that use a semi-automated approach by using 3D laser data, which have been successfully implemented. However, these programs also present limitations such as wandering of testing vehicles during data collection or insufficient overlap or gaps between multiples passes. These programs also cannot incorporate point cloud data from multiple passes, which is very important for the detection of surface geometry distresses, such as rutting, bumps (blister), or depressions. This paper proposes using an alternative semi-automated approach to overcome these limitations. In the proposed method, PCI is calculated using engineering judgment, right of way images, and 3D laser scanner data. The method also resolves some of the shortcomings found on commercially available programs. The new proposed software, Distress Inspector (DI), has been used in many airports to determine PCI, and its results are comparable with PCI values from standard manual inspections.