This website presents the background, methodology and application of concepts relating to pavement structural evaluation for asset management, maintenance, rehabilitation design and construction of new pavements. It encompasses mechanistic methods and recent advances for construction quality control.
What’s New?
This year, New Zealand has the Laser Measure Deflectometer into production mode, providing a world first in pavement technology. Both Network and Project Level structural evaluation of our roads (non-destructively collecting data from 30,000 kilometres) has now been implemented with what is effectively a “5th Generation” Traffic Speed Deflectometer Device, the Laser Measure Deflectometer (LMD). This uses the latest Danish technology with stronger intensity and frequencies more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than any of the previous generations. Coverage of highways and urban streets from Kaikohe to Invercargill has been underway for the last year.
Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation requirements with Forward Work Plans are being generated and the higher resolution now available enables even incipient potholes to be detected many months before any visual indication develops. Intervention after running the Pothole Prevention Routine is now practicable, identifying all potential defects including those as small as 100mm in diameter, on any type of surfaced road as well as new routines for risk management of bridges.
The local equipment has been configured to allow testing of not only paved surfaces but also granular bases and firm cohesive soils so that every layer of new construction can be tested progressively with rapid but intensive proof loading. The process brings in 3 orders of magnitude more detail, in two orders of magnitude less time and more than an order of magnitude less cost! There is no longer any impediment to traffic flow hence there are no longer any delays or associated costs for traffic management.
The precise quantification and fidelity of this technology is such that the last decade of notable premature failures of new highways (20% within 4 years or less of initial construction) should now be history.
For information about the technology and location of current coverage near you, click the link below:
LMD Coverage - October 2024
Email: PaveState@geosolve.co.nz
Online GIS Platform: www.pavestate.com
The requirement for accurate and reliable evaluations of pavement structure led to the historic adoption of the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) test, which for many situations provided both fast and cost-effective results. In some cases (usually smaller projects) it has been appropriate to use the instrumented Benkelman Beam (GEOBEAM), as necessary.
The demand for the FWD technique prompted the creation of this site, which aims to provide information for practitioners using or carrying out structural analysis using deflection data.
This site includes:
Documentation on basic principles of testing and mechanistic design
Complimentary downloads of published papers on FWD structural evaluation
Pavement analysis tools
A section for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
More recently Traffic Speed Deflectometer devices such as the LMD have enabled very cost-efficient production of essentially continuous structural data usually from only one wheelpath. The latest design now provides even greater accuracy and both wheelpaths may be tested. The latest technology totally transforms the discipline of pavement engineering and an entirely new approach is now warranted for all highways. Local authority roads (low volume, slow speed or with significant corners) were not suitable for older TSD’s but the latest technology can be used almost anywhere.
For more information click the links below to our ‘services’ and ‘FAQ’ pages
All photography provided by Google
