Abstract Manager

Transition of Automated Pavement Data Collection Vendors – Challenges and Strategies

In North America, a rising number of municipalities have adopted automated pavement condition data collection and analysis, moving away from traditional windshield surveys. As agencies adopt automated pavement condition data collection and analysis they are now relying on vendors for this service because of the complexity and cost of the equipment and technology. The City of Toronto transitioned from internal manual to externally sourced automated pavement evaluation in 2017 and subsequently switched automated data collection vendors in 2023, through competitive procurement.

Many vendors are utilizing modern high-speed scanning three-dimensional (3D) laser technology in their equipment and have developed proprietary algorithms and software for identifying and calculating faults, rut depths, crack metrics such as types, lengths, severities, and other distresses from the data. The resulting distresses are then used to determine the overall pavement conditions .in accordance with the agency’s requirements. While many transportation agencies and municipalities have gained experience in the implementation of an automated network data collection program, changing from one vendor to another comes with unique challenges from both data reproducibility and validation standpoints. This paper discusses some of these challenges and the strategies to address them through procurement and data quality management plans.