Data Collection Launch GBP 1 Million Vehicle to Map Britain's Road Surfaces
Written by LBSzone
Monday, 22 January 2007
PORTSMOUTH, England, January 22 -- Highways surveying company Data Collection has purchased a GBP 1 million (US$1.8m) vehicle to laser map road surfaces across Britain. The vehicle is an Anglo-Canadian development and is equipped with a state-of-the-art laser scanner and military-grade satellite positioning technology. The vehicle will be used to map the condition of road surfaces in more detail than ever before, helping highway authorities to improve road maintenance.
Named ARAN2 and incorporating technology from Canadian firm Roadware, the vehicle is the second ARAN in the company's fleet and the 87th ARAN built worldwide. Data Collection is just one of three UK companies equipped to undertake government-specified surveying as part of a program called Surface Condition Assessment for the National Network of Roads (SCANNER). These automated road surveys are required on all major roads in mainland Britain to provide data used to improve the way road maintenance is targeted.
The ARAN's can survey at traffic speed and the vehicle is equipped with new technology seen for the first time in the UK. The system offers highly accurate satellite positioning using high specification GPS technology that requires special permission for use from the US military. The vehicle also employs ground penetrating radar and an advanced surface laser scanner to capture profile data that is considerably more accurate than before.
SCANNER surveying captures data such as road geometry, surface profile, surface texture, edge deterioration and cracks. The survey data collected to support the government's Best Value Performance Indicators for highway maintenance and is used in the United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) which is used by Highway Engineers to better target expenditure for road repairs.
One of the main benefits of the ARAN is that data can be processed more accurately for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The accurate location information allows the survey data to be matched with other highways data such as records from on-foot highways defects surveys undertaken by local authorities.
"ARAN 2 is a significant advance in road surface surveying technology and a success for Anglo-Canadian collaboration. The vehicle can capture new levels of detail on road condition and will allow highways authorities to better manage highways maintenance to improve roads for everyone." says Steve Batchelor, Director of Data Collection Limited.
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