Digital video assessment (dva) as catalyst for skill transfer in the road and airport visual condition survey environment in rsa

Abstract

Government clients require that 30% of work be done by Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) and Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) sub-consultants and can be difficult to achieve in high technology environments such as specialist pavement condition assessment. Tender requirements for experience with a proven track record as pre-qualification qualification work against such capacity-building objectives. Multi-Functional-Vehicles (MFV’s) used for instrument surveys typically already have accurate Geographic Positioning Systems (GPSs). The addition of high definition video cameras enables a technology coupling innovation approach to the normal manual visual survey methodology. The Digital Video Assessment (DVA) software system was developed with pre-calibrated camera settings to enable accurate measurements of grabbed photos at pre-set length intervals. The TMH 9 for Visual Condition Index (VCI) and also the American Society Test Method (ASTM) for Pavement Condition Index (PCI) survey templates are used to record the various forms of distress in terms of degree and extent. The survey data is analysed by the DVA software in the safety and comfort of an office environment. Surveys can thus be done with initially inexperienced EME and QSE sub-consultants. The DVA allows “on the job training” as their surveys can be checked by a qualified experienced visual surveyor numerous times with no additional travel and stay cost until they are trained and quality ensured. A recent comparative study using manual visual surveys versus this DVA survey methodology found that this DVA survey is not only more accurate and better quantifiable but can provide more detail with geo-referenced image records than what is required at project-level investigations. This DVA software and survey approach offer tremendous opportunity for capacity building of new entrants to this specialized field of visual survey with accuracy in a safe survey mode.