Monitoring Bituminous Layers Using Thermal Images

The importance of mastering the temperatures of laying and compacting the bituminous layers is addressed by a multitude of researches in the field, but the treatment of their control possibilities throughout the work surface is less addressed. Checking the temperatures through classical methods (usually point measurements with a manual thermometer or on the direction of the thermometer attached to the beam of the spreading-finishing machine) can outline an image of the working temperatures, but cannot certify that the entire surface of the layer is at the same temperature.

This article presents a new method for monitoring bituminous layers during execution, on an experimental road sector, with the help of a UAV (UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), equipped with two image capture cameras (for the visible area and for the infrared field). Following the qualitative analysis of the thermal images, information is obtained regarding the place where there are anomalies of the temperature uniformity, on the surface of the freshly laid bituminous layer.