UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 1 Research Projects

Project No.: CY1-LSU-01
Title: Integration and Deployment of Novel Tools for Rapid Assessment of Pavement Conditions and Remaining Life
Performing Institution: Louisiana State University
Principal Investigators: Mostafa A. Elseifi and Mahmood Jasim
Start and Anticipated Completion Dates: 10/1/2023-9/30/2024
Project Description: Pavement condition evaluation is an essential component of a Pavement Management System (PMS) facilitating planning for necessary maintenance and rehabilitation activities and preserving the road network in acceptable conditions. The timely detection and accurate quantification of pavement distresses assist PMS engineers in forecasting future pavement deterioration and planning for needed repair strategies. Road surveying vehicles that are equipped with computers, sensors, cameras, and lasers, are commonly used to automatically collect high-definition pavement images and have found wide acceptance by highway agencies. However, the cost of such a survey is high and cannot be afforded by many agencies, such as those responsible for city streets and rural roads.

The ultimate goal of this study is to provide small to medium-sized road agencies (e.g., city and county roads) that are responsible for a local road network with a simple tool with the ability to predict pavement condition indices, roughness, and remaining service life based on a limited set of inputs such as pavement age and classification. These inputs are commonly available to road agencies. This AI and data analytics-based tool may be used in the case of the unavailability of inertial profilers and other sophisticated and expensive tools.
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