Local agencies have to collect distress data of their network system for building and implementing pavement management programs. Data collection for the whole network is expensive, time consuming, and dangerous, if pursued by traditional field surveys. Developments in computer technology, digital image acquisition, and image processing allow local agencies to use digital image processing for pavement distress analyses. In this project, pavement images obtained from the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program (LTPP) are used to detect horizontal and vertical cracks, crack lengths, and severity. The results are favorable for many images. Further development of the technique may allow adaptation to additional conditions in the images, such as more types of cracks, lane markings, etc.
Abstract