Electro-optical sensor evaluation of airfield pavement

Safety is the top priority at an airfield: it is the goal of any airport to provide safe, reliable service for all users. Foreign Object Debris (FOD) on the airfield poses a threat to aircraft and personnel. Technology has advanced to develop radar-based and electro-optical FOD detection systems which alert an operator when FOD is present. Airfield pavement needs to be closely monitored for FOD generation as well. As pavement deteriorates, its potential to create FOD increases. The relationship between airfield pavement management and FOD detection systems has not been explored in detail, but the benefits of using a detection system to monitor pavement condition are numerous. Pavement Condition Index surveys could be safer and faster, with distress data archived for future use and comparison. This study explores the possibility of using an electro-optical sensor for airfield pavement management applications. This thesis presents a multiple phase study. First, a Pavement Condition Index survey was investigated at O’Hare International Airport. The data collected was used for image processing and various comparisons. In addition, a cracking simulation study was conducted in an attempt to find an object to approximate a pavement distress on pavement where few distresses are found. Archived pavement images were analyzed and compared to recent data. The Pavement Condition Index survey performed on Taxiway MM at O’Hare International Airport yielded a value of 22 out of a possible 100. The distresses recorded in the Pavement Condition Index survey were identified on the images captured by the iFerret. They were also compared to vertical images captured by a standard digital camera. The cracking study showed that spray-painted steel strips served as close approximations to pavement cracks when cracks were not readily available for testing. Critical parameters were identified for sun angle, crack orientation, distance from camera, width of crack, and aspect ratio. The distress images compared showed that for low and medium severity, longitudinal cracks were easier to detect on images. Transverse cracks were easier to identify at high severity. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of airfield pavement management using FOD detection systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Graves, Stephanie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Buttlar, William G.

• Pavement
• Foreign Object Debris (FOD)
• Electro-Optical
• Airfield
• Distress
• Stratech Systems, Ltd.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Stephanie Graves

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/30980

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F30980