One of the world’s leaders in collecting and analyzing comprehensive geotechnical information, Fugro is commencing a five-year contract to undertake road pavement condition surveys in the Netherlands.
The contract has been awarded by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) and includes an option to be extended to 10 years. Collecting surface condition and road measurement data from 5,344 miles (8,600km) of principal highways each year, Fugro will use the latest generation of its Automatic Road Analyzer (ARAN) survey vehicle, which is adapted to meet European specifications and includes improved crack detection technology. The platform enables surveys to be conducted at traffic speed, providing a cost-effective, safe, precise means of pavement condition monitoring that enables asset managers to identify and predict deterioration and prioritize expenditure.
The ARAN vehicle provides fully automated collection of multiple data streams via state-of-the-art positioning, video and laser imaging systems that can be tailored to project needs. Options include profile, camber, rutting, cracking, texture and roughness, as well as pavement thickness and structure based on ground penetrating radar. Rijkswaterstaat will receive a clear picture of network condition in a format that complies with national standards. With the condition surveys repeated annually, maintenance plans can be optimized to target areas of deterioration based on high resolution and repeatable datasets.
The company’s Surveyor software tool can also use the calibrated geo-referenced images collected by the ARAN vehicle to capture, extract, measure and store data on visible roadside assets, such as school zones, drop inlets, fire hydrants, curbs and gutters, as well as lane types and bridges. Using the Surveyor software, Fugro can record asset attributes, including type, linear and GPS position, basic condition, measurements and an image, and upload them in real time to a relational database from which reports can be generated.
“We are excited to be introducing the latest and most advanced version of this survey technology to the European market and continuing our long-standing relationship with Rijkswaterstaat,” commented Richard Bun, the project lead for Fugro’s new pavement asset contract. “In line with our strategy to provide fully integrated digital solutions, the updated ARAN will further enhance the efficient transfer and usability of important data for Rijkswaterstaat’s asset management system.”
