Corrugations, potholes and simple bumps in the road are the bane of grey nomads’ lives as they traverse the endless highways and byways of the Outback … but a new technology could be about to change all that!
An Intelligent Pavement Assessment Vehicle, iPAVE – a world-first technology – has started collecting information to be used to help determine future road maintenance and prioritise repairs and upgrades.
Developed in Denmark, the iPAVE technology is fitted to a truck and uses a series of lasers and video cameras to assess road texture, condition and bearing capacity in a single pass while travelling at highway speeds.
The iPAVE truck, deployed in South Australia for the first time, will cover nearly 400 roads across SA, providing rapid data collection without the need for traffic control.
Will new technology mean caravanners and other motorists will be enjoying pothole-free driving experiences? PIC: Cizza
The cutting-edge system will provide a clear insight into what’s happening on the road surface, such as cracking, along with ground-penetrating radar to assess structural conditions underneath – allowing maintenance crews to make faster informed decisions on where works are needed most.
Data obtained will be used to assess the bearing capacity of the pavement, including the impact of flooding and water ponding, pinpointing areas where the pavement may be subject to failure and guiding long-term investment to improve safety.
South Australia’s Minister for Regional Roads, Geoff Brock, said the idea was to ensure future generations had access to well-maintained, reliable road networks.
“This is a road safety game changer for our state and will allow us to assess and maintain roads more efficiently than ever before,” he said. “Not only will the iPAVE help our maintenance teams make faster informed decisions, the fully-equipped truck will also help us undertake road evaluations safely and without disrupting the flow of traffic.”
Since its launch, the iPAVE has completed more than 2,500 kilometres out of 18,000km as part of a joint survey between the National Transport Research Organisation and Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
Areas covered include Glen Osmond Road, the South Eastern Freeway and parts of Stott Highway and Karoonda Highway. Further surveying will next take place in the Murray and Mallee, Fleurieu and North Adelaide regions.
The survey on South Australians roads is due to be completed in April next year.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
Judging from our last Winter return trip up thru VIC, NSW & QLD via two different routes we’d say that they haven’t improved at all. Particularly in Outback QLD where some of the highways are in horrific condition.