Road-Scanning technology gives Prince George a clearer picture of infrastructure needs

The equipment consists of several specialized cameras working simultaneously. Three 12-megapixel planar cameras capture images from different angles around the vehicle, including two positioned on the sides and one underneath. Mounted on the top is a panoramic “Ladybug” camera featuring five individual five-megapixel sensors that provide a complete view of the surrounding environment.

Together, the cameras create an incredibly detailed record of every road they travel.

The work has taken the Eagle Mapping team across the country. Hay says a recent project in rural Newfoundland required approximately 7,500 kilometres of driving. Closer to home, the company has already logged more than 20,000 kilometres of roadway data collection in the region.

Now their focus is on Prince George, where the City has contracted Eagle Mapping to collect and analyze information on approximately 600 route kilometres of roadway.

Using a digital map displayed on his laptop, Ebbett points out the progress made so far.

“All the blue lines are what we need to drive,” he explained. “And the red lines are what we have been able to tackle thus far.”

There is still plenty of blue remaining on the map. Ebbett estimates the fieldwork alone will require another eight to 10 days to complete. Once the data collection phase ends, the work is far from over.

“It’ll take twice as long to process that, at least,” he said. “Then we do a report on what the findings are and deliver it to the client.”

In this case, the client is the City of Prince George.

For city officials, the information gathered is an important tool in managing one of the community’s most valuable and costly assets: its road network.

Project Manager Michael Mehni says the detailed condition data helps the city determine which maintenance strategies make the most sense for each section of roadway.

“With condition data, we use it to understand and make decisions about what kind of treatments make sense for each segment of the road,” said Mehni.

The results help city staff identify where simple maintenance may be sufficient and where more expensive reconstruction work could be required. Instead of relying solely on visual inspections, planners can access objective data to support long-term budgeting and maintenance plans.

The assessment focuses on identifying common roadway problems. According to Hay, some of the most frequent issues include rutting caused by vehicle traffic, surface cracking and spider cracking that can develop as pavement ages.

And, of course, there is one road defect every northern driver knows all too well.

“Potholes,” said Hay with a laugh.

However, the project delivers much more than a report card on pavement conditions.

The advanced imaging and mapping technology also produces a highly detailed three-dimensional model of streets and surrounding infrastructure. That means city staff can examine a variety of assets without leaving the office.

“We collect more information that goes beyond the pavement itself,” said Mehni. “It captures a 3D model of the road, and based off of the model, we can collect more information about the other assets, such as traffic signs, lane markings, slopes and drainage features.”

The ability to capture so many details in a single survey provides significant value for municipal planning. Engineers and transportation staff can measure changes over time, track deterioration rates and identify emerging issues before they become costly problems.

Perhaps most importantly, the growing database allows the City to compare road conditions from one neighbourhood to another and from one year to the next. By understanding how roads are aging and deteriorating, city planners can better predict future maintenance needs and prioritize spending where it will have the greatest impact.

As the survey vehicles continue driving the streets of Prince George over the coming days, residents may continue to wonder about the unusual camera-covered equipment passing by. But while it may look odd, the technology is helping provide the detailed information needed to keep the city’s transportation network safer, more efficient and better maintained for years to come

by Cheryl Jahn

Road-Scanning technology gives Prince George a clearer picture of infrastructure needs

What's Trending