Roaming mobile sensor platform for collecting geo-referenced data and creating thematic maps

Abstract

A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and/or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution.

1 . A roaming sensor system for mapping a condition of a roadway, the system comprising:
 a vehicle capable of traveling on the roadway;   a positioning subsystem on the vehicle, wherein the positioning subsystem collects geoposition data of the vehicle as the vehicle travels on the roadway;   a sensor subsystem on the vehicle, wherein the sensor subsystem collects roadway condition data as the vehicle travels on the roadway; and   a computer that correlates the geoposition data and roadway condition data and produces a map of the condition on the roadway.