IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman yesterday unveiled a new hi-tech survey vehicle that will be developed to collect road condition data from England's major roads 30 times faster than previously possible.

The new Traffic Speed Deflectometer can survey the structural condition of roads at speeds of up to 50mph, leading to fewer delays for drivers caught behind the survey vehicle. Advances in technology mean the quality of the data is still as good as before.

The information, when combined with data gathered by other types of survey, will give the Highways Agency a more comprehensive picture of the condition of the strategic road network, making it easier to target maintenance and allocate resources where they are most needed. The entire 4,500 miles of motorways and major A roads are surveyed for surface condition and skid resistance at least once every year.

Stephen Ladyman said: "Projects such as this demonstrate the Government's forward looking approach to using new technology. The new equipment will be used to target resources as effectively as possible, ensuring road users continue to benefit from safe road surfaces, without unnecessary delays to drivers while this vital work is carried out."

During his visit to TRL (the Transport Research Laboratory), the Minister also saw other innovative technologies, including a simulator that uses 3D laser scanned models of road scenes so investigators can replicate accident sites and drive through them under different lighting and weather conditions. TRL also operates a Truck Simulator to develop best practice and train HGV drivers in safe and fuel efficient driving.

The prototype Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) has been acquired from Denmark by the Highways Agency for around £1 million. Following development into a practical operational tool by TRL, such equipment, or its equivalent, is planned to come into routine operation on England's motorways and major roads during 2009.

The TSD measures the structural strength of roads at traffic speed. It measures the response of the road structure under a 10 tonne axle load, allowing engineers to classify the strength of the road infrastructure and identify locations with structural weaknesses.

Structural strength is currently measured using a Deflectograph, which takes measurements at 3 - 4 metre intervals along the road and moves at up to 1.5mph (2.5 km/h).

Other research systems used by the Highways Agency to collect road condition data include: HARRIS (Highways Agency Road Research Information System) which collects road surface condition data at traffic speed and the SCRIM and Pavement Friction Tester (PFT) for measuring road surface skid resistance.

The Highways Agency traffic information website at this link.

Quelle/Source: Publictechnology, 13.06.2006