Spectral characteristics of asphalt road aging and deterioration: implications for remote-sensing applications

We integrate ground spectrometry, imaging spectrometry, and in situ pavement condition surveys for assessment of asphalt road infrastructure. There is strong spectral evidence for asphalt aging and deterioration. Several spectral measures derived from field and image spectra correlate well with pavement quality indicators (e.g., a pavement condition index). However, the potential for mapping is limited by fine spatial resolution requirements (as fine as 0.5 m) and by the spectral confusion between pavement material aging and asphalt mix erosion on the one hand and structural road damages (e.g., cracking) on the other.