Détection des dégâts routiers à l'aide de capteurs LiDAR

La Finlande compte environ 51 500 kilomètres de routes asphaltées. Environ 8 000 kilomètres de routes étaient en mauvais état à la fin de l'année 2022. Les causes sous-jacentes des dommages peuvent être déterminées à l'aide de la technologie de mesure et d'analyse des routes et des chemins développée par Roadscanners. Cela permet d'initier des mesures préventives pour réduire les coûts du cycle de vie d'une route.

Conseils, logiciels et appareils de Roadscanners

Roadscanners est une entreprise internationale de conseil, de logiciels et de vente d'équipements de recherche et de mesure pour la gestion et l'entretien des infrastructures routières. Elle se concentre sur la surveillance et l'analyse de l'état des routes, des chemins, des ponts et des aéroports. La méthode employée par Roadscanners s'est avérée efficace tant pour l'inspection des réseaux routiers des petites municipalités que pour celle des réseaux routiers plus importants couvrant des milliers de kilomètres. Plus le réseau routier est grand, plus les économies potentielles sont importantes.

La technologie RDLS Grid est également utilisée pour le balayage laser des lignes électriques à partir d'hélicoptères afin d'éviter les dégâts causés par les tempêtes. Elle permet d'identifier les zones où les arbres ou la végétation doivent être enlevés pour éviter les dégâts causés par les chutes d'arbres lors des tempêtes.

Analysis by video, ground radar, laser scanner or thermal imaging camera

The research and analysis technologies used by Roadscanners include video, ground radars, laser scanners, thermal imaging cameras and accelerometers. The ground radar can penetrate up to three meters under the road surface. The road surface above the ground, including the embankment, is analyzed using a laser scanner. The laser scanner used by Roadscanners is a LMS5xx 2D LiDAR sensor from SICK. Currently, either one or two simultaneously operating laser scanners are used in the vehicles depending on the measurement requirements. The speed of the measurement vehicle is about 30–80 km/h.

The rugged 2D LiDAR sensors are ideally suited for this application because it is very easy to integrate the software into the device. Jani Irvankoski from Roadscanners remembers that his first coding task 13 years ago was to integrate a laser scanner from SICK – to this day he cannot recall any device failures occurring. The collaboration with SICK has proven very successful, and the responsible sales manager Villa Sarviaho is on site to present the trends and new product developments.

Responding before the damage is even visible

The most common and greatest risk factor for damage to the road surface is water. When the subgrade is wet, the load bearing capacity of the road is reduced and it is more susceptible to damage. The snow walls on the side of the road in winter, for example, should be cleared in a timely manner to ensure water does not penetrate into the road subsurface when it melts.

The measurements of the roads and road surroundings using 2D LiDAR sensors were carried out in spring before the roadside ditches are covered in vegetation, which would make it more difficult to take precise measurements of the depth of the ditches.

A further advantage of precision laser scanning is its repeatability, which makes it possible to monitor groove formation and the condition of the ditch bottom through repeated measurements, for example from year to year. Changes can then be responded to in a timely manner before serious damage to the road occurs. The repairs are then also less costly as a rule.

An eye on the changing seasons

The change of seasons and the freeze-thaw cycles are some of the most important factors that affect the condition of the roads in cold regions. 60–80% of road damage occurs in the spring when the road is most susceptible. Typical structural problems are caused by heavy traffic on road sections with a thin pavement and poor subgrade. Maintenance defects can generally be attributed to defective draining and inadequate winter road clearance.

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