Advanced monitoring technologies are transforming the way road infrastructure is inspected and maintained. In this workshop, Mehdi Kalantari and Léo Sotto from the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute (BASt) demonstrated how innovative measurement techniques can improve pavement condition assessment and support more proactive maintenance of highway networks.
Monitoring Pavement Condition on German Highways
The workshop explored how advanced technologies are being used to monitor the structural condition of pavements on German highways and how earlier detection of damage can lead to better maintenance decisions.
Participants were introduced to a new generation of deflectometers capable of measuring the bearing capacity of pavements with high resolution at traffic speed. These technologies make it possible to identify early signs of structural deterioration in flexible pavements more efficiently than traditional inspection methods. By capturing pavement responses and structural behaviour, engineers gain valuable insights into both the road surface and the condition of the underlying layers.
By combining advanced measurement technologies with modern data analysis methods, infrastructure managers can detect potential issues at an earlier stage, enabling more effective, data-driven and proactive maintenance planning.
The discussion extended beyond the German context, with participants exploring how these technologies and methodologies could be adapted for use in other countries and across different road networks. The exchange of experiences highlighted the value of international collaboration in advancing smarter infrastructure management.
The workshop demonstrated how innovative inspection technologies are helping road authorities move from reactive maintenance towards more predictive and resilient asset management practices.