The geographical information system (GIS) applied to the sounding of road surfaces was created to develop a sounding contract for some 20 000 km of highways. The main objective in this paper is to describe the methodology used in developing the geographical information system for the management of 20 000 km of highways throughout Spain. Pavement assessment systems provide exhaustive data on highway conditions. A multi functional equipment such as the one used in the above-mentioned contract, provides information on the IRI, ruts, megatexture, macrotexture, microtexture, cracks, curve radius, transverse section and crossfall. Some of these parameters are in turn divided into data on each rut or different intermediate levels. All of these data may also be taken with a broad sample rate, every 10 cm. All of this information, which is very useful for having detailed knowledge on highway conditions, may end up not being so useful (because of its reduced manageability) if the appropriate tools are not used which provide Highway Management with a rapid analysis of the highway network. These tools must be able to collect different types of information, depending on the study being carried out. These tools should also provide graphic information representation. This regrouping must be significant for each type of information, average values, variance, maximum value, minimum value, etc. The maps and the graphics have proven to be good analytical tools enabling a quick and easy review of any set of networks, making it easier to locate problem areas or dangerous areas along its extension. Once these areas have been pinpointed, a more detailed analysis can be carried out by reanalysing the information on a reduced scale. At the same time, the system is able to integrate various types of information (traffic, deflections, etc.). In this regard, the reference system is flexible and allows for its use with different types of information and scales. This reference system is easily adaptable to the Spanish National Highway Network which is entirely referred to in kilometric guideposts. (A)
Samenvatting