Pavement surface distress evaluation using a terrestrial laser scanner

The accurate measurement of pavement distresses is essential for setting preservation and rehabilitation priorities. The manual measurement of surface distresses is the most commonly used method for evaluating the severity of pavement distresses. However, the manual method has low accuracy and consistency. Thus, in the present study, images of different pavement distresses – potholes, cracking, patching and ravelling of selected sections – were captured using a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The surface area of these distresses was measured using the Leica Cyclone software. The obtained results were validated by collecting a similar distress pattern at a different location using the same equipment. The measured surface area was executed in a geographic information system platform to develop an automated database for the prioritisation of selected pavement sections of Mumbai City, India for pavement maintenance. It was observed that the TLS technique could be used effectively for safer and more accurate surface distress measurement.