Feasibility and Reliability Assessment of Inexpensive Solid-State Lidar for Rutting Measurement in Asphalt Pavement

Rutting in asphalt pavements, characterized by longitudinal surface depressions in wheel paths, poses significant safety concerns. Accurate identification and measurement of rutting are crucial for maintaining road safety, ensuring ride quality, and reducing fuel consumption. Traditional methods, such as manual assessments, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. High-frequency laser systems, while precise for pavement monitoring, are expensive, require specialized training for operation, and involve substantial maintenance costs, making them less accessible and convenient for many highway agencies and municipalities, underscoring the need for more affordable and practical solutions. This article introduces an accurate, efficient, and cost-effective alternative for rut depth measurement using inexpensive, commercial solid-state lidar (SSL) technology. The study is an investigation of the feasibility and reliability of SSL technology for measuring rutting distress in asphalt pavement. Measurements obtained using SSL technology were compared with measurements obtained using a laser rut bar system, as well as manual measurements. Specifically, for a specified road test section, the SSL system achieved a coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.81, a mean absolute error of 0.07 in., and a root mean square error of 0.08 in. Additionally, comparing SSL performance with manual measurements, the error in rut depth measurement was less than 20%. A network-level survey in Columbia, Missouri, demonstrated the SSL system’s capability for extensive pavement condition monitoring at highway speeds.