1.

Automatic evaluation of pavement condition and side area evaluation

ViaPPS is based on a high-resolution 3D point cloud of the road surface and the
surroundings. A 360 degrees Laser scanner and an advanced positioning platform are
used to generate a high-resolution 3D point cloud (1 millon points per sec). The point
cloud is used for automatic analysis aimed at evaluation of the conditions for the
pavement and side area. The system is operating in normal traffic speed.

Figur 1. Point cloud

Figur 2. Principle of the system

1.1 Features for 360-degree laser scanner:

✓ Sampling rate: 200 profiles /sec

✓ Measurement speed: 10-100km / h
✓ Measuring range: minimum 100m
✓ Horizontal resolution: 1100 points / profiles – 4m
✓ 360 degrees resolution: 5000 points/profile
✓ Accuracy of reading (vertical rangefinder): 0,5mm based on the distance 2-5
meter
✓ The ability to measure in day or night time
✓ Laser class 1 (Eye safe)
✓ High performance position and orientation system
✓ The laser beam is phase based
Examples of components of the measuring device – laser and IMU

The measurement is carried out at a vehicle speed of 5 - 100 km/h, which (at a
frequency of 200 Hz) allows to capture profiles with 0.007-0.14 m intervals. The survey
may be carried out in air temperatures 0 - 40C. The surface has to be completely dry in
order to guarantee the highest possible accuracy.

1.2 Features for the single point laser measurement system:

To achieve the MPD (Mean Profile Depth) and IRI (International Roughness Index) the
following features are made available

✓ The laser is mounted in the front of the vehicle- left or right wheel path
✓ The laser is measured in the wheel path
✓ Sampling rate: More than 32 kHz
✓ Measurement resolution 0.005 mm
✓ Operating temperature 0° to 40° C
✓ The ability to measure in day or nighttime

2. Registration system of the road corridor

2.1 Image cameras

The system is equipped with 1 front camera to record images of the road corridor; taking
an image every 10 m. The registration of colour images provides a resolution of at least
2500x2000 pixels. The quality of the allows identification of all normally visible elements
of the road lane.

2.2 Time synchronization system

The vehicle is equipped with a time synchronization system on all devices used for
measurements. All data events from all sensors is time-synchronized with the accuracy of
0.001s.

2.3 Distance measuring system

The vehicle is equipped with a distance measuring system based on incremental sensor
installed on the wheel of the vehicle. Sensor resolution is 900 pulses per wheel rotation.
The system performs a precise master calibration. The calibration procedure is carried
out in the field without the need of using special tools. Distance measurement is
synchronized with the data from the GPS and road network reference system.

2.4 Software for recording images

The control of the system for recording images is possible from the monitor available in
the vehicle. The role of the operator is limited only to handle START / STOP buttons
without the need for additional configuration during recording sessions. The user
interface presents information about the statuses of the individual subsystems. In case of
an error, proper information is displayed.
2.5 Image processing software

Tools for the production of the combined material provides the user with problem free
and fully repeatable process of processing of the source material in relation to the
location of images on the road network. The user is able to determine the beginning and
end of the measurement road section. The image viewer is a component of the delivered
system. GPS coordinates included in meta data of JPG files.

3. The enhanced PC unit for calculation of registered files

3.1 The computer unit (PC) - office analysis of data

Included in the system is a PC with specialized software. The PC is used for automatic
data analysis. The unit, in standalone housing, with the following configuration:

The Computer Unit, which is the current state-of-the-art:

- 8-core I7-5960X CPU with 2011-3 socket

- X99 Intel Chipset Motherboard
- 64 GB RAM
- 1 TB SSD System Disk
- GeForce GTX960 4GB Graphics Controller
- 4-port Gigabit Ethernet Server Controller
- Ruggedized 1000W power supply
- Ruggedized Cabinet
- 24” LCD IPS panel
- Mouse/rollerball and keyboard

In addition, the system comprises a Storage Unit:

- 4 6TB disks installed, which gives a total of 12 TB of RAID1 (mirroring) storage in

pairs.
3.2 Data analysis (automatic detection)

Software for data analysis of data enables automatic detection of the following
parameters of the pavement:

✓ Longitudinal and transversal profile

✓ Rut depth, rut area and rut area volume
✓ Crossfall & curv radius vs. Requirement
✓ Curve radius
✓ Local longitudinal deflection and bumps
✓ IRI
✓ MPD
✓ Width of the lane (input to calculations also)
✓ Crack parameters (Crack level, Crack area level, position)
✓ Vertical height to bridges/crossings or in tunnels
✓ Crossfall influenced by rutting
✓ Relative differences in texture (Homogeneity) of the width of the lane,
see picture

Figure 1. Homogeneity for the whole width of lane with a pie chart of result in %

Blue = dense structure

Red = Open structure

The format of the generated reports is csv text files.

3.3 Software

Text elements seen on the monitor screens and printouts is in English (or native
language).

Desktop Application

The main purpose of the desktop application is to generate text reports in csv format and
to perform analysis of the road surface. Both the point cloud in 3D and transversal profile
at a given position is displayed.
Figur 3. Point cloud and transversal profile

Figur 4. Crack detection analysis

3.1 Image viewer

This component is the post session viewer of images captured from overview cameras
and point cloud. The viewer has following features:

• No license limitations
• Display a list of road sections available in the database
• Presentation of images with laser scanner association
• Display information about local mileage of the road section and global mileage of
the road
• Possibility of making measurements in images.
• Possibility to read out geographical coordinates in any selected coordinate system

The example of viewer screen

4. The navigation system and GPS

4.1 The positioning and navigation system (POS)

The positioning and navigation system is a compact, fully integrated, turnkey position
and orientation system, utilizing integrated inertial technology to generate stable, reliable
and repeatable positioning solutions for land-based vehicle applications.

Designed to operate under the most difficult GPS conditions found in urban and suburban
environments, POS enables accurate positioning for road geometry, pavement inspection,
GIS database and asset management, road surveying, and vehicle dynamics.
The POS system components:

• IMU: Inertial Measurement Unit generates a true representation of vehicle motion

in all three axes, producing continuous, accurate position and orientation
information
• PCS: POS Computer System enables raw GPS data from as few as one satellite to
be processed directly into the system, to compute accurate positional information
in areas of intermittent, or no GPS reception
• DMI: Distance Measurement Indicator computes wheel rotation information to aid
vehicle positioning
• GPS Receivers: Embedded GPS receivers provide heading aiding to supplement
the inertial data
• GPS Antennas: Two GPS antennas generate raw observables data

4.2 GPS System

The vehicle is equipped with GPS positioning system 200Hz to record the geographical
coordinates of the vehicle with an accuracy of <0,35 m with available GPS signal in real
time. After possible post processing the accuracy is <0,03 m.

Basic features:

- Coordinate measurement 200 HZ

- Accuracy of measurement: less than 0.35m
- The receipt of correction signals EGNOS, WAAS and OMNISTAR
- 2 x RS232 output for communication with a PC (NMEA output)
- Input and output RTCM

The system has possibility for post processing to gain better accuracy.

5. Warranty on components of the measuring apparatus

Warranty for 2 years on components of the measuring apparatus can be provided.