Repeatability analysis of road roughness measurements: Fid-Bau Portal

Repeatability analysis of road roughness measurements

Divinsky, M.

A roughness of the road profile as an inherent pavement surface characteristic is of importance in pavement management. Roughness measurements are used for dividing the road section into statistically homogeneous units, establishing the preferences for maintenance and rehabilitation, and in other aspects of pavement surface characterization. Roughness characteristics are variable, and the method of obtaining the measurements as well as equipment specifications have significant effect on the processing and interpretation of the results. The most basic aspect of measurement capability is repeatability, and the measurement system cannot be accepted without a relatively high level of repeatability. For the purposes repeatability studies, paired series of roughness measurements have been collected at the Israeli Public Works Department at the same road section under the same conditions for the section, device, and operator. The results of the repeatability studies include descriptions of statistical peculiarities of roughness measurements for each profile involved in the analysis, mutual behavior of compared measurements, as well as repeatability characteristics of the measurement system.