TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 531 documents agency practices, challenges, and successes in conducting automated pavement condition surveys.

The report also includes three case examples that provide additional information on agency practices for conducting automated pavement surveys.

Pavement condition data is a critical component for pavement management systems in state departments of transportation (DOTs). The data is used to establish budget needs, support asset management, select projects for maintenance and preservation, and more.

Data collection technology has advanced rapidly over the last decade and many DOTs now use automated data collection systems.