Pavement thickness measurement on network level.

The projects lasted from 2017-2019 and 2021-2023.

Network level pavement thickness surveys for Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency

 

About ten years ago, a need for collecting data on the pavement thickness of the road network in the register arose in Finland. Information on the thickness of the pavement makes it possible to simulate the functionality of structures, among other things. This is the reason behind road authorities’ need for extensive information on the pavement thickness in the road network. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency carried out two different projects related to pavement thickness measurements. In 2017-2019 and 2021-2023, Roadscanners participated in the measurements. At the same time, in 2017-2019, Roadscanners conducted measurements in the northern region with a total measurement length of about 9,000 km. In the following years, 2021-2023, the company carried out measurements in the area of the ELY Centres in Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland with a total measurement length of approximately 8,300 km.

Pavement thickness survey: Coreless surveys

In the project, the measurement of pavement thickness was done with the Road Doctor Survey Van. The van had GSSI’s SIR30 ground radar equipment using 2GHz antennas. As a result, the measurements were possible using the so-called Coreless GPR method developed by Roadscanners, i.e. using two 2GHz antennas. Moreover, the use of this technique allowed interpretation with thick overlays and fewer reference drilling rates. This, in particular, improved occupational safety and reduced costs. It was especially important, because sample drilling with TMA safety cars could be minimized. Measurements on highways and other high-traffic locations were also safe.
The collected data enabled making interpretation from pavement bottom to define pavement thickness. The client  received the results separately in a specified format. As a result, it allowed to make the transfer of information to the register as smooth as possible.

Several Roadscanners experts participated in the project. As the project was very extensive, the project manager coordinated the work progress; this ensured the course of measurements in the field according to the plan. The project followed predefined quality control plans. The experts involved in the interpretation work conducted an interpretation test organized separately by the client to ensure the competence and homogeneity of all data interpreters. The experts’ opinion enabled the selection of reference drilling points from the sites measured at the beginning of the interpretation process and the sites where the use of Coreless GPR technology was attainable. The measured data processing was possible with the help of Road Doctor® software, where users also entered data from the reference points.

Roadscanners has also provided them with data processing and analysis of their own collected data.

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