The Exploratory Advanced Research Program

Use of Vehicle Noise for Roadways, Bridge, and Infrastructure Health Monitoring Workshop Summary Report August 20-21, 2013

Panel Discussion

Topic: Asset Management Current Practices, Key Issues, and Near-Term Advances

Panelists

Shane Boone, Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Dr. John Popovics, University of Illinois
Jack Stickel, Alaska Department of Transportation

Goals

Panel members began by discussing goals for using vehicle noise as a measure of infrastructure health. The following considerations were agreed upon:

• Detecting defects. The ultimate goal is to detect defects, such as potholes, before they become issues.
• Evaluating at speed. Researchers need to evaluate materials at highway speed, which may preclude physical contact with the materials.
• Calibrating messages and alerts. Collecting both acoustic and location data from many passenger vehicles in real time allows for calibration of location messages and degradation alerts.
• Specifying a threshold. Data should be collected all the time but only reported at a specified threshold.
• Understanding degradation and deterioration. Continual data collection will allow for trending over time and a better understanding of degradation and deterioration.

The panel then discussed the needs for the facilitation of these goals as outlined in the following sections.

Integration

The panelists highlighted that interaction between research and practice can result more quickly in infrastructure managers who can manage maintenance with minimal interruption.

Data Management

To process the large quantities of data collected by these systems, the panelists suggested first identifying how to sort through the data so that the information will be most useful. They also noted that the main purpose of collecting the data is to predict when materials need to be replaced.

Technology Needs

Current Technology
The panel members initially highlighted the  the Robot-Assisted Bridge Inspection Tool™ (RABIT™), an FHWA LTBP robot that integrates real-time acoustic, optical, radar, and other sensors to gather information about the condition of bridges while it travels along them. This tool provides near real-time information about the condition of a concrete bridge deck, and the precise location and nature of the damage.² This was noted by the panelists as a step in the right direction.

Panel members then discussed current features on vehicles with the potential to be used for these goals. For example, active suspension is one feature that could indicate the density of the materials by evaluating the damping properties of the material.

Other sensors that could be used in conjunction with acoustic sensors include optical sensors to visually confirm anomalies identified in data, depending on the quality and price point of cameras. During discussion, the panel members noted that infrared (IR) cameras can remove shadow from the images. According to the panelists, Illinois Department of Transportation uses a van with optical cameras to document pavement status. The panelists also highlighted that the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) frequencies required for appropriate data collection may not be available for private or commercial fleet vehicles because of interference with other entities.

In summary, panelists discussed tracking the location of vehicles. They highlighted that, although commercial or maintenance vehicles could use differential Global Positioning Systems (GPS) so that their position in lanes are known, passenger vehicles would be more likely to use GPS found on mobile phones. This is because the cost of differential GPS to determine position, which cannot currently meet the required level of accuracy.

New Technologies
According to the panelists, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is exploring several new technologies, as follows:

• Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and digital imaging and how to integrate with other operations.
• Road weather and traffic cameras.
• Maintenance decision support system (DSS).
• Side-fire radar for traffic volume.
• Quasi-real-time crash data.
• Geographic information system (GIS) capabilities.
  • The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is developing a new roads-and-highway application for linear referencing.
• Expanded collaboration and data sharing using ESRI’s ArcGIS tool online.
  • The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) technology implementation group collaborated with the University of Connecticut to develop a program called “UPlan” (visit http://tig.transportation.org/Pages/UPlan.aspx for more information).
  • Remote data collection and remote power sources.
  • Remote power supplies.
    • Looking at fuel cell technology.
    • A brand new system by Q Technology that uses natural gas or propane.
  • FHWA’s Road Weather Management Program.
    • Weather-responsive traffic management.
    • Strategies for road weather changes.

Asset Management

Known Efforts
Each State is required to develop a risk-based asset management plan for the National Highway System (NHS) to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and performance of the system (23 U.S.C. 119(e)(1), MAP-21 § 1106). The asset management plan for the NHS includes data collection, maintenance, preservation, and integration. Additional subtasks include developing a base map of all public roads with a linear referencing system that will be integrated with the Transportation for the Nation dataset.

Recommended Resources
Panelists recommended the following additional resources:

• Transportation Research Board. (2013). AASHTO Transportation Asset Management Guide: A Focus on Implementation (FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HIF-10-023). Washington, DC.
• Transportation Research Board. (2010). National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 666: Target-Setting Methods and Data Management to Support Performance-Based Resource Allocation by Transportation Agencies. Washington, DC.

Gaps and Research Areas
Panelists suggested that integrating and linking all different asset classes and transportation information—by creating an enterprise road network with a linear referencing system—would be one approach to further research. One area noted for improvement is developing a governance framework within agencies. Other critical issues that require attention include data silos, integration, and establishing common definitions. Panelists suggested that a useful strategy would be to “collect once, use many times.”

Current Research
Transportation Research Board research topics regarding asset management include the following:

• Expansion of capability maturity model.
• Roadway safety data partnership.
• Real-time system operation.

2 For more information, visit https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/infrastructure/structures/ltbp/ltbpresearch/rabit/index.cfm