Infrared thermography, video imaging, global positioning, frame capture digitization will be incorporated with an automated pavements management computer program to perform innovative, rapid, pavement surveying and data logging. Infrared thermography is a viable means to survey pavements rapidly; however the images are normally from video recordings and not digitized into a computer software image-management format. As an additional innovation, global positioning satellites will be used to identify the location of distressed areas with at least 30 cm accuracy. The distressed areas will be categorized and all data will be collected on computer and linked to a developed engineered pavements management program. Currently, pavement condition data is collected by manual and visual means. This new method will benefit NASA by providing a rapid and accurate method of locating, categorizing, and prioritizing distressed areas, both visible and nonvisible,for maintenance purposes. The savings in labor, time, maintenance, and repair costs will be substantial. Broad potential applications would include inspection and maintenance of paved roads, bridges, aircraft runways, parking areas, and industrial and military facilities.pavement, thermography, G.P.S. locating, frame capture, automated evaluation
