2000 - USA - QA of Road Roughness Measurement

This report describes a study designed to establish the accuracy and repeatability of high-speed, road-profiling equipment. This effort focused on a series of roughness validation sites. The study addresses selecting the appropriate sites, determining the “true” or reference profiles for these sites, implementing high-speed testing procedures, and developing a method for processing profiles and reducing the corresponding roughness indices.

The findings suggest that laser-equipped, high-speed inertial profilers, driven by skilled operators, are capable of providing exceptional levels of repeatability within an acceptable bias for a standard reference device (the Face Companies’ Dipstick®). The study further offers some preliminary repeatability and accuracy goals for equipment used to conduct construction acceptance testing (for smoothness) as well as for network roughness surveys.