Innovative Crack Sealing Analysis and Cost Estimation for Airport Runway Shoulders Using 3D Laser Technology and Automatic Crack Detection Algorithms

To accurately estimate the cost for crack sealing on airport runway shoulders, an automatic approach using 3D line laser imaging technology, automatic crack detection, and width measurement algorithms is proposed. Based on their widths, cracks can be categorized in terms of the routing depths. Then, accurate cost estimation can be made according to the total length in each crack category using different routing depths. Other than the cost estimation, the detected crack maps and the crack classification information can also be used to guide construction operations and provide a means for agencies’ quality checking. Using the proposed method, a case study has been performed on a 30.5-m (100-ft) runway shoulder at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The results show that the proposed method is very promising for providing an automatic approach that cost-effectively and reliably generates categorized crack maps with different crack sealing methods and accurately estimates crack sealing cost.