Technology Overview on Validating 3D Transverse Profile Data and Measurement of Pavement Surface Distresses

With the advancement of 3D line laser imaging technology (“3D technology”, hereafter for the sake of brevity), high-resolution 3D transverse profile data (“3D data”, hereafter for the sake of brevity), has gained widespread interest from researchers, industry and highway agencies and has been used for collecting pavement surface distresses. However, the study of data characteristics, e.g. data noise, and methods for validating the accuracy of data itself and the derived pavement distresses is limited in literature. A comprehensive understanding of 3D data characteristics, especially the noise impacting data accuracy and the validation of the collected pavement distress data using 3D data, is crucial for the successful implementation and utilization of 3D technology for automatic pavement distress data collection. The objective of this literature review is to summarize the existing research and to study 3D data characteristics, especially the data noise and the methods used to validate the accuracy and performance of pavement rutting and cracking measurement using 3D data. The review results will benefit researchers and transportation agencies by enabling them to identify future research needs for better implementation and utilization of 3D technology and data.