Designation: E 1656 – 94

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Guide for

Classification of Automated Pavement Condition Survey
Equipment1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1656; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope E 1170 Practice for Simulating Vehicular Response to Lon-

1.1 This guide covers information for classifying the mea- gitudinal Profiles of a Vehicular Traveled Surface3
surement capability of pavement condition survey equipment 3. Terminology
or instrumentation that measures longitudinal profile, trans-
verse profile or cracking of pavement surfaces while operating 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
at or near traffic speeds. 3.1.1 characteristic—a directly measurable distinguishing
1.2 The measuring equipment or instrumentation, addressed property of the pavement surface. Examples are pavement
by the guide, samples and stores measurement data while longitudinal profile, transverse profile, and separations in the
operating at or near traffic speeds. continuity of a pavement surface.
1.3 This guide does not address equipment that operates at 3.1.2 dynamic intermediate precision—the precision of the
traffic speeds but is incapable of measuring profile or indi- measurement of a characteristic determined under dynamic
vidual crack characteristics, such as response-type roughness intermediate precision conditions in which the same equipment
measuring systems and semi-automated distress recording moving at operating speed measures the characteristic at the
systems. same location repeatedly, in accordance with the procedure
1.4 This guide provides measurement criteria and classifi- specified in 7.2.
cation for use in a range of applications. 3.1.3 longitudinal profile—the perpendicular deviations of
1.5 The measurement criteria apply to longitudinal profile, the pavement surface from an established reference parallel to
transverse profile, or the cracking of pavement surfaces. the lane direction, usually measured in the wheel tracks.
1.6 This guide does not address the processing of measured 3.1.4 resolution—the smallest increment that a
data. characteristic-measuring process must distinguish and display.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.5 stationary repeatability precision—the precision of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the measurement of a characteristic determined under repeat-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- ability condition with the instrumented equipment stationary,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- in accordance with the procedure specified in 7.1.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.1.6 tolerance—the defined limits of allowable (accept-
able) departure from the true value of a measured quantity.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 177 Practice for the Use of the Terms Precision and Bias 4.1 Highway agencies, equipment manufacturers, and other
in ASTM Test Methods2 organizations can use this guide to classify the measuring
E 456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics2 capabilities of pavement condition survey equipment that
E 867 Terminology Relating to Traveled Surface Character- operates at traffic speeds and collect some of the data useful in
istics3 characterizing pavement conditions.
E 950 Test Method for Measuring the Longitudinal Profile 4.2 The vertical measurement resolution, sample interval,
of Vehicular Traveled Surfaces with an Inertial Profilome- and crack width capabilities as specified in Section 5 are
ter3 subject to user verification.
E 1082 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Vehicu- 5. Guidelines
lar Response to Traveled Surface Roughness3
5.1 Classification:
5.1.1 Attribute Measurement Category:
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-17 on Vehicle- 5.1.1.1 The measuring capability of condition survey equip-
Pavement Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E17.41 on ment is described by a set of attribute measurement categories,
Pavement Management.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 1994. Published February 1995.
each designating the capability of measuring an individual
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. pavement attribute. The designated attributes covered are:
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03. (1) longitudinal profile,

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 E 1656
(2) transverse profile, and TABLE 2 Equipment Capability—Measuring Transverse Profile
(3) crack width. Characteristic Code Description
5.1.2 Code: Measured Attribute T Transverse Profile
5.1.2.1 The measurement capability in each category is Vertical measurement Stationary Repeatability Precision
designated by the sequence of codes each representing a type 1 Less than or equal to 0.1 mm (0.004 in.)
or level of measurement capability, as follows: 2 Greater than 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm (0.004 in. to
0.008 in.)
(1) First code—Measured attribute (alphabetic), 3 Greater than 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm (0.008 in. to
(2) Second code—Stationary repeatability precision (nu- 0.020 in.)
meric), 4 Greater than 0.5 mm (0.20 in.)
Longitudinal sampling Interval
(3) Third code—Longitudinal sampling interval (numeric), 1 Less than or equal to 300 mm (1 ft)
(4) Fourth code—Transverse sampling interval (numeric), 2 Greater than 300 mm to 3 m (1 ft to 10 ft)
and 3 Greater than 3 m to 30 m (10 ft to 100 ft)
4 Greater than 30 m (100 ft)
(5) Fifth code—Transverse coverage (numeric). Transverse sampling Interval
5.1.3 Code values: 1 Less than or equal to 25 mm (1 in.)
5.1.3.1 The values of each code are defined in the following 2 Greater than 25 mm to 100 mm (1 in. to 4 in.)
3 Greater than 100 mm to 300 mm (4 in. to 12 in.)
sections: 4 Greater than 300 mm to 600 mm (12 in. to 24 in.)
5.2 Equipment for Measuring Longitudinal Profile— 5 Greater than 600 mm (24 in.)
Equipment capability is defined by vertical-measurement sta- Transverse coverage Width
1 Greater than 3.7 m (12 ft)
tionary repeatability precision, transverse sampling frequency, 2 Greater than 2.7 m to 3.7 m (9 ft to 12 ft)
and longitudinal sampling interval. Equipment capability is 3 Greater than 1.8 m to 2.7 m (6 ft to 9 ft)
4 Less than or equal to 1.8 m (6 ft)
divided into the classes shown in Table 1.
5.2.1 If equipment can measure vertically with a stationary
repeatability precision of 0.15 mm (0.06 in.), a moving sampling interval. The capability of equipment is divided into
longitudinal sampling interval of 125 mm (5 in.) and a the classes shown in Table 3.
transverse sampling of three profiles per pass, it is a Code L221 5.4.1 If equipment can measure vertically with a crack
unit. width stationary repeatability precision of 0.7 mm (0.028 in.),
5.3 Equipment for Measuring Transverse Profile— a longitudinal sampling of 0.3 mm (0.012 in.), a transverse
Equipment capability is defined by vertical-measurement sta- sampling interval of 5 mm (0.20 in.) and a transverse coverage
tionary repeatability precision, transverse sampling interval of 2.0 m (6.5 ft), it is a Code C3253 unit.
and longitudinal sampling interval. Equipment capability is
divided into the classes shown in Table 2. 6. Applications
5.3.1 If equipment can measure vertically with a stationary 6.1 The measures addressed by this guide support pavement
repeatability precision of 0.3 mm (0.012 in.), a moving management for roads, airfields, and other paved areas. Lon-
longitudinal sampling interval of 2 m (6.5 ft), a transverse gitudinal profile, transverse profile, and crack information can
sampling interval of 150 mm (6 in.) and a transverse coverage
TABLE 3 Equipment Capability—Measuring Cracking of
of 2.0 m (6.5 ft), it is a Code T3233 unit.
Pavement Surfaces
5.4 Equipment for Measuring Cracking of Pavement
Characteristic Code Description
Surfaces—Equipment capability depends on the stationary
repeatability precision with which crack width can be mea- Measured Attribute C Cracking of Pavement Surface

sured, the transverse sampling interval and the longitudinal Crack width Stationary Repeatability Precision
1 Less than or equal to 0.25 mm (0.01 in.)
2 Greater than 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm (0.01 in. to
0.02 in.)
TABLE 1 Equipment Capability—Measuring Longitudinal Profile
3 Greater than 0.5 mm to 1 mm (0.02 in. to 0.04 in.)
Characteristic Code Description 4 Greater than 1 mm to 3 mm (0.04 in. to 0.12 in.)
5 Greater than 3 mm (0.12 in.)
Measured Attribute L Longitudinal Profile
Longitudinal sampling Interval
Vertical measurement Stationary Repeatability Precision 1 Less than or equal to 0.25 mm (0.01 in.)
1 Less than or equal to 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) 2 Greater than 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm (0.01 in. to
2 Greater than 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm (0.004 in. to 0.02 in.)
0.008 in.) 3 Greater than 0.5 mm to 1 mm (0.02 in. to 0.04 in.)
3 Greater than 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm (0.008 in. to 4 Greater than 1 mm to 3 mm (0.04 in. to 0.12 in.)
0.020 in.) 5 Greater than 3 mm (0.12 in.)
4 Greater than 0.5 mm (0.20 in.) Transverse sampling Interval
Longitudinal sampling Interval 1 Less than or equal to 0.25 mm (0.01 in.)
1 Less than or equal to 25 mm (1 in.) 2 Greater than 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm (0.01 in. to
2 Greater than 25 mm to 150 mm (1 in. to 6 in.) 0.02 in.)
3 Greater than 150 mm to 300 mm (6 in. to 12 in.) 3 Greater than 0.5 mm to 1 mm (0.02 in. to 0.04 in.)
4 Greater than 300 mm (12 in.) 4 Greater than 1 mm to 3 mm (0.04 in. to 0.12 in.)
Transverse sampling Number of profiles per pass 5 Greater than 3 mm (0.12 in.)
1 3 or more profiles Transverse coverage Width
2 2 profiles 1 Greater than 3.7 m (12 ft)
3 1 profile 2 Greater than 2.7 m to 3.7 m (9 ft to 12 ft)
Transverse coverage NAA NAA 3 Greater than 1.8 m to 2.7 m (6 ft to 9 ft)
A 4 Less than or equal to 1.8 m (6 ft)
Not applicable.

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 E 1656
contribute to understanding pavement performance. The appro- cision as the average of the d2s values for all longitudinal
priate measurement level depends on the application. profile sensors.
6.2 Longitudinal Profile—Applications of longitudinal pro- 7.1.2 Transverse Profile Sensors—For each transverse pro-
file data include the following: file sensor, repeat the procedure described in 7.1.1 to determine
6.2.1 Computing roughness statistics such as International the stationary repeatability precision for all transverse profile
Roughness Index (IRI) and ride quality statistics such as Ride sensors.
Number, 7.1.3 Cracking Sensors. (1) With the equipment stationary,
6.2.2 Estimating road user costs, place a flat smooth plate, which is at least 50 % larger than the
6.2.3 Modeling roughness so that future roughness can be sensed area in each dimension and has no surface discontinui-
predicted, ties greater than 0.01 mm (0.004 in.) in width or 0.01 mm
6.2.4 Identifying probable causes of pavement deterioration (0.004 in.) in depth, beneath each cracking sensor. (2) Switch
from the nature of the elevation and wave band spectra, on the crack sensor(s), record the sensor reading(s), and switch
6.2.5 Estimating the effect of pavement maintenance and off the sensor(s). Perform the measurement ten times. All
rehabilitation on roughness and ride quality, sensors may be measured at the same time. (3) Normalize the
6.2.6 Estimating material quantity for overlay treatments, measurements by subtracting the mean value of the ten
and readings from each reading. (4) Place a flat smooth plate
6.2.7 Providing a reference to determine construction quan- having the same horizontal dimensions as the plate in (1), a
tities such as areas warranting grinding, leveling to correct thickness of 20 mm (0.75 in.), and a linear slot 3 6 0.05 mm
grade and longitudinal profile, and milling requirements at (0.125 6 0.02 in.) wide and 15 mm (0.6 in.) deep traversing the
faulted joints and cracks. full width of the plate, beneath each cracking sensor. (5)
6.3 Transverse Profile—Applications for transverse profile Perform ten measurements in the same manner as specified in
data include the following: (2) and normalize them as in (3). (6) Rotate the plate specified
6.3.1 Computing rut depth, in (4) through 90°, and repeat the measurements specified in
6.3.2 Modeling rut depth to predict future rut depth, (1). (7) Determine the standard deviation of the 30 measure-
6.3.3 Using the shape of the transverse profile to indicate the ments performed for each sensor. Determine the d2s value for
cause of rutting, and each sensor as 2.83 times the standard deviation of the
6.3.4 Estimating material quantities for overlays and cor- measurements. Determine the stationary repeatability precision
recting rutting. as the average of the d2s values for all cracking sensors.
6.4 Cracking of Pavement Surfaces—Applications for crack 7.2 Dynamic Intermediate Precision—With the equipment
width data include the following: moving at normal operating speed, make ten repeat measure-
6.4.1 Estimating pavement cracking distress or condition, ments at an identified pavement location using all sensors. The
6.4.2 Estimating the quantity of crack seal material, and beginning and end of each test section shall be marked so that
6.4.3 Prediction of future cracking distress. they are identified in the data. This may be done either by
manual or automated means. Normalize the measurements by
7. Procedure subtracting the mean value recorded for each sensor from each
7.1 Stationary Repeatability Precision—For the purposes of reading of that sensor. Perform similar sets of measurements at
determining the measurement classification codes specified in a total of three locations with conditions of the measured
Section 5, this precision shall be the d2s deviation (as specified characteristics representing the range of conditions to be
in Terminology E 456) determined from a series of repeated expected under normal operations. Calculate the d2s values for
measurements of the attribute being measured as follows: each sensor from all normalized measurements from that
7.1.1 Longitudinal Profile Sensors—(1) With the equipment sensor. Determine the dynamic intermediate precision for the
stationary, place a flat level plate under each longitudinal measurement of this characteristic as the average of the d2s
profile sensor. (2) Switch on the sensor(s), record the sensor values for all sensors.
reading(s), and switch off the sensor(s). All sensors may be
monitored at the same time. Perform this measurement cycle 8. Precision and Bias
10 times without adjustment of the instrumentation. (3) Nor- 8.1 The stationary repeatability precision, determined in
malize the measurements of a sensor by subtracting the mean accordance with 7.1, shall be used to determine the classifica-
value of the 10 readings from each reading. (4) Place a tion of equipment in accordance with Section 5.
calibration block 25 6 0.01 mm (1.0 6 0.04 in.) thick on the 8.2 Since there is no accepted reference method for deter-
plate beneath the sensor. (5) Perform the measurements ten mining the bias of the equipment in this guide for measuring
times in the same manner as (2) and normalize the values as in pavement attributes, no statement on bias is being made.
(3). (6) Determine the standard deviation of the 20 normalized
measurements performed for each sensor. Determine the d2s 9. Keywords
value for each sensor as 2.83 times the standard deviation of 9.1 automated; pavement condition survey equipment; traf-
the measurements. Determine the stationary repeatability pre- fic speeds

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 E 1656
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