AUTOMATIC ROAD ANALYZER
(ARAN)
The Automatic Road Analyzer
(ARAN) is a multi-functional data collection vehicle which gathers
information while traveling at highway speeds. Maine DOT has purchased
3 ARAN's from the Roadware
Corporation. Our third ARAN was delivered in July 2004. Our
previous ARAN was traded up, but used from 1998-2003 and our first
ARAN was purchased in 1989 and traded up in 1998.
The ARAN data collection
team is a part of the Pavement Management Section in the Bureau
of Planning. The ARAN data collection team (a manager/operator and
a driver) collects highway data on about 9000 miles of the State's
public highway network. The condition of highways in the southern,
mid-coastal, and western regions of the State is collected during
even numbered years. The conditions in the northern, down-eastern,
and central regions are collected in odd numbered years. The Interstate
system Northbound and Southbound is monitored annually. Also, the
pavement condition of 32 state airports is collected on a 2 year
cycle.
 The
ARAN is also used to obtain shim quantities (leveling) needed for
the Department's pavement resurfacing projects, and recently is
being utilized to obtain ride quality (road smoothness) of new pavement
on completed projects.
The ARAN
supports informed decisions by collecting consistent, accurate data
quickly, safely, and cost effectively. A wide variety of data for various
agencies can be collected continuously at highway speeds:
TASK / TOOL
On a weekly basis, all
video images stored on removable hard drives, plus the data, with
the physical properties of the pavement surface are brought into
the office. The images and data are analyzed to assign a Pavement
Condition Rating (PCR), predict future deterioration, and make recommendations
on where pavement expenditures should be made.
|
