Road analysis, an advanced integrated survey method for road condition evaluation

摘要

This paper describes the new Road Analysis technique developed by Roadscanners Oy in cooperation with the Finnish National Road Administration (Finnra) for network and project level road evaluation. This technique based on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and other non-destructive test methods has been successfully applied in road rehabilitation projects in Finland and Sweden. Road Analysis comprises the evaluation of frost fatigue of road structures, the condition of pavement structure, asphalt pavement quality, drainage and local damages, such as settlements. The analysis is based on the survey results of GPR measurements with 500 MHz ground coupled antenna and 1.0 GHz air coupled antenna together with the supporting information gathered from core samples, rutting and roughness information and FWD measurement data. Pavement distress data and other reference information such as video images from the road are also used in the Road Analysis The paper gives also a short review of the latest results of the research projects focused on the relationship between the dielectric properties on the other hand, and the strength and deformation properties of road materials and subgrade soils on the other. Results of these surveys have showed that high dielectric values are always indicators of some kind of problems in roads, such as permanent deformation due to moisture sensitive base material or frost susceptible subgrade.