A Routine Monitoring Method Using Weighted Longitudinal Profile

Weighted Longitudinal Profile (WLP) which is a new index for characterizing longitudinal evenness was introduced in SURF 2008. As a result of sensitivity analysis of the WLP method using longitudinal profile data from the Japanese motorways, each of road surface distress showed its own identical tendency in a relationship between ΔWLP and σWLP. Moreover, since data sites with larger ΔWLP of bridge joint tend to emerge upward in the relation between profile variation Δ and standard deviation of profile σ in octave bands #3 and #4, both octave bands are considered to give critical values to the original surface profile. Because a laser profiler and a mobile profiling system, named STAMPER showed a similar slope of regression between Δ and σ, STAMPER can be used as alternative of laser profiler. By driving a STAMPER-equipped rent-a-car for 5 days on Autobahn, it was observed that IRI is distributed quite similarly between Autobahn and NEXCO motorways. It was also found that octave bands #5 and #6 are prevailing when profile variation Δ is low, or road surface is less deteriorated. Finally if STAMPER can be used routinely and WLP is calculated for surface distress type, this will be an innovative monitoring method.