Seamless data visualization for frost detection

Multimedia networking has been expanding its definition beyond communications of text, image, audio, and video as the Next Generation Internet evolves from social networks to cyber-physical networks. One application related to transportation infrastructure includes health monitoring of existing paved and un-surfaced roads. Embedding remote sensing and spatial information technology into roadways facilitates constant observation of road conditions and automatic detection of frost and thaw fronts during the spring thaw and recovery period. A system is being developed which provides critical quantitative data to eliminate or supplement components of current visual inspection procedures, and thus greatly assists transportation agencies in making spring load restriction (SLR) placement and removal decisions. This paper presents the data visualization module of a Decision Support System for Spring Load Restriction (DSS-SLR). After temperature data are collected by underground sensors and transferred by wireless/wired networks to a central database, a user can view the spatial and temporal temperature patterns via a Web browser. An embedded interpolation routine and a graphical user interface (GUI) enable the user to view a cross section showing frost and thaw depths over time. Our work pioneers this new frontier of multimedia networking, which will have significant applications with regard to health monitoring of existing paved roadway systems, as well as un-surfaced road evaluation and maintenance.