Comparative Assessment of Using Visual and Close Range Photogrammetry Techniques to Evaluate Rigid Pavement Surface Distresses

Abstract

Abstract

The main task of this study is to introduce the close range photogrammetric approach for evaluation of rigid pavement surface condition, and compare the findings with the traditional visual evaluation technique. The visual inspection was conducted by walking through the roadway and evaluating the pavement surface distress visually. As for the photogrammetric fieldwork, it starts with generation of ground control points around the area of distress. A total station device (Topcon, GTS 235) was used to measure the coordinates (X, Y, and Z) for GCPs and the initial camera positions. The coordinates of two points (two base stations) referenced these coordinates. Within the study area, forty vertical stereo pair images of different pavement distresses were captured using a non- metric DSLR camera. The stereovision measurement of photogrammetric technique is performed by using ERDAS IMAGINE software. The evaluation was carried out on cement concrete pavement with different distress types such as cracking, patching, and surface defects. Pavement distresses were identified in terms of defected area, crack width, and intensity. Distress data were compared, and modeled. It was concluded that the close range photogrammetry technique is suitable for evaluation of rigid pavement distress with a high coefficient of determination ranged between (0.990–0.999), as compared to the traditional method of visual evaluation. The photogrammetric technique may be implemented in monitoring the pavement surface condition and may replace the traditional visual assessment. The photogrammetric technique will provide a permanent documentation of the pavement surface condition, which could be referred when needed.