AASHTO PP 115-2023 - Certification of High-Speed Macrotexture Measurement Equipment

Standard No.: AASHTO PP 115-2023
Release Date: 2023
Published By: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials US / AASHTO
Latest: AASHTO PP 115-2023

Introduction

Analysis of the Technical Framework of the AASHTO PP 115-231 Standard

The PP 115-231 standard, first published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 2023, provides systematic technical specifications for the certification of pavement macrotexture measurement equipment at highway speeds. This standard, affiliated with the Pavement Measurement Technology Subcommittee (5a), marks an important step towards standardization and normalization of pavement texture detection technology.

Scope of Application and Technical Positioning of the Standard

The PP 115-231 standard focuses on the certification procedures for high-speed macrotexture measurement equipment, covering the repeatability and accuracy verification of project-level and network-level data collection. The standard clearly applies to various types of equipment equipped with single-point laser sensors, line laser systems, and 3D measurement systems, with mean profile depth (MPD) designated as a key evaluation indicator.

According to the definition of PIARC (World Road Association), macrotexture refers to the irregularities in the road surface, with horizontal dimensions ranging from 0.5mm to 50mm and vertical dimensions ranging from 0.2mm to 10mm. This texture feature directly affects the interaction between vehicle tires and the road surface, and has an important impact on driving safety, noise control and fuel efficiency.

Comparative Analysis of Core Certification Technical Requirements

Maintenance of a calibration verification log is a key requirement of the standard, which must record height sensor test results (minimum 30-day intervals), any maintenance records, component replacements, and native software version changes. Electronic logs need to be backed up and stored in a secure location to ensure data traceability.

Technical Requirements for Implementation of Certification Tests

Chapter 7 of the standard specifies the specific test procedures for equipment certification. It is recommended to establish at least two test sections covering the most common pavement types in the agency's highway network, such as dense-graded asphalt concrete, open-graded anti-skid surface, stone matrix asphalt, etc. One of the test sections should have a low MPD value and the other should have a high MPD value.

The test section is 161 meters long and requires sufficient approach distance to allow the vehicle to reach a speed of 80 km/h before entering the test section. Test sections with significant horizontal curvature or superelevation should be avoided to ensure stable measurement conditions.

Technical requirements for reference data collection

Reference data collection uses walking reference devices, which can be equipped with single-point laser or line laser sensors. For single-point laser devices, it is required to be able to collect data at intervals of 1mm or less; for line laser devices, the longitudinal distance interval is required to not exceed 25mm.

The standard specifically emphasizes that walking reference devices equipped with single-point lasers cannot accurately capture the shape features of road surfaces with longitudinal textures (such as longitudinal grooves and longitudinal diamond grinding) and should not be used on such road surfaces.

Repeatability and accuracy evaluation standards

Device repeatability is determined by evaluating the standard deviation of MPD at each wheel track in each test section. The standard deviation of MPD calculated based on 5 runs must be less than 0.04mm. Equipment accuracy requires that the average MPD calculated by the high-speed device must be within 10% of the average MPD of the reference device.

The standard specifically states that certification of a single-point laser device on a road surface with an isotropic texture does not guarantee that it will collect repeatable and accurate data on a road surface with a longitudinal texture. Studies have confirmed that single-point laser sensors are unable to collect accurate macrotexture data on road surfaces with a longitudinal texture.

Optional Test Item Technical Extensions

Chapter 8 of the standard provides optional test items for evaluating the performance of the device under different operating conditions. These tests include:

Speed Effect Test:Evaluates the change in MPD values at different constant speeds from 16 to 112 km/h
Speed Variation Effect Test:Evaluates the effects of braking, acceleration, and acceleration after braking on MPD calculations
Stop Effect Test:Evaluates the effect of a complete vehicle stop on the collected data
Alternative Performance Test:Evaluates equipment performance using an artificial surface with features of known dimensions

These optional tests provide a supplementary means for the comprehensive evaluation of equipment performance, helping users to gain a deeper understanding of the equipment's performance characteristics under different operating conditions.

Standard Implementation Recommendations and Industry Impact

The implementation of the PP 115-231 standard will significantly improve the standardization of pavement macrotexture measurement. Recommendations for equipment manufacturers, testing agencies, and highway management departments:

Establish a comprehensive equipment certification management system to ensure the effective implementation of annual certification and re-certification after maintenance
Rationally set up certification test sections based on the characteristics of the pavement types in the jurisdiction, covering different texture feature ranges
Strengthen operator training to ensure the standardized execution of calibration verification and certification testing
Establish an equipment performance monitoring mechanism to promptly identify and resolve sensor performance degradation issues
Promote the standardized application of test data to provide reliable technical support for pavement maintenance decision-making

The promotion and application of this standard will promote the standardized development of pavement testing technology and lay a solid foundation for the scientific management of highway infrastructure. As testing technology continues to advance, the standard will continue to be updated to adapt to new technological developments and changing industry needs.

AASHTO PP 115-2023 Referenced Document

ASTM E1845 Standard Practice for Calculating Pavement Macrotexture Mean Profile Depth
ISO 13473-1:2019 Characterization of pavement texture by use of surface profiles — Part 1: Determination of mean profile depth

AASHTO PP 115-2023 history

2023 AASHTO PP 115-2023 Certification of High-Speed Macrotexture Measurement Equipment

Certification of High-Speed Macrotexture Measurement Equipment

Standard and Specification

AASHTO PP 115:2023 Macrotexture Measurement Equipment AASHTO PP 116-2023 Standard Practice for Operating Equipment for Measuring Macrotexture at Highway Speeds AASHTO MP 48-2023 Equipment for Measuring Macrotexture of Pavements at Highway Speeds PD CEN/TS 15901-15:2014 Road and airfield surface characteristics - Part 15: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal SN-CEN/TS 15901-15:2014 Road and airfield surface characteristics — Part 15: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal LST CEN/TS 15901-15:2014 Road and airfield surface characteristics - Part 15: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal DS/CEN/TS 15901-14:2016 Road and airfield surface characteristics Part 14: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal SN-CEN/TS 15901-14:2016 Road and airfield surface characteristics — Part 14: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal PD CEN/TS 15901-14:2016 Road and airfield surface characteristics - Part 14: Procedure for determining the skid resistance of a pavement surface using a device with longitudinal

Certification Items	Technical Requirements	Test Methods	Qualification Criteria
Height Sensor Calibration	Static Block Inspection and Static Dynamic Test	Refer to PP 116 Section 5.3.2	Meets manufacturer’s specified standards
Distance measuring instrument accuracy	5 repeated runs on a 305m test section	80km/h constant speed	Mean absolute deviation <0.15%
Equipment repeatability	5 repeated measurements MPD standard deviation	161m test section	Standard deviation <0.04mm

AASHTO PP 115-2023Certification of High-Speed Macrotexture Measurement Equipment