TRB’s Transportation Research E-Circular E-C156: Automated Imaging Technologies for Pavement Distress Surveys documents state-of-the-art techniques and technologies in the acquisition of pavement surface images, and basic requirements needed to automatically identify and classify pavement surface distresses.
The basics of film or magnetic tape–based image acquisition are presented in the circular. The circular also discusses digital acquisition and reports on the new laser-based imaging system with its high-quality image and low-power usage, as well as the potential for using 3-D laser imaging technology for pavement surveys.