3-D system profiles highway surfaces

A custom laser line and CMOS-based imaging system measure road-surface smoothness.

Road-surface analysis is conducted by contractors and state and federal departments of transportation as part of safety and quality checks of new roads and as part of inventory assessments of existing roadways. The smoothness of a road surface impacts many aspects of travel by highway. For example, too much surface variance from the norm can result in an uneven ride, increased vehicle wear, a shortened road-surface lifetime, and safety concerns. Producing the correct road surface can affect as much as 5% of a multimillion-dollar paving contract.

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