Enhancing sustainability for pavement maintenance decision-making through image processing-based distress detection

Abstract

Road maintenance sustainability entails implementing practices that reduce the impact of road accident. while simultaneously ensuring the durability and functionality of the road infrastructure. Pavement distress is a major concern for transportation agencies as it affects the safety and comfort of road users. This paper presents a novel approach for prioritizing pavement distress through the application of image processing techniques and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The proposed method involves capturing images of the pavement surface using a high-resolution camera and analyzing them using image processing algorithms. The images are processed to identify different types of pavement distress such as cracks, potholes, and rutting. The severity of each type of distress is then quantified. AHP is utilized to prioritize the identified distress based on its severity and impact on road users. The proposed approach has been tested on real-world pavement images, and the results demonstrate its effectiveness in accurately identifying and prioritizing pavement distress. This method can assist transportation agencies in making informed decisions about maintenance and repair activities, leading to improved road safety and reduced maintenance costs. This automated method achieved an accuracy percentage of about 95%.