Calibration and system error evaluation of a high-accuracy 3D pavement profilometer based on interference fringe

Abstract

In order to realize the accurate calibration of pavement profilometers and trace the pavement profilometry error sources according to the metrological standard, a high-accuracy interference fringe-based 3D pavement profilometer is developed. Based on the known dimensions of the standard component, the measurement accuracy of the proposed system is assessed. Moreover, the measurement errors of the system at different measurement heights are obtained. Finally, the error sources are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the system has better resolution and accuracy than most 3D pavement profilometers currently used in pavement evaluation. The experimental evaluations indicated that the highest resolution is 5.3 × 10−5 m and the best accuracy can reach ± 2.8 × 10−4 m. The system errors come from the measured height error and background light intensity. The proposed system paves the way for achieving the accurate calibration for the pavement profilometers used in pavement condition assessments.