Proactive sinkhole risk assessment in urban asphalt pavements using wavelet transform and the international roughness index

This paper proposes a dual method integrating the wavelet transform and the International Roughness Index (IRI) for proactive detection of sinkholes in urban roadways. Longitudinal profiles of asphalt pavements were employed, based on the premise that sinkhole-induced amplitudes and wavelengths are manifested in the profiles. Four sinkholes, with wavelengths from 2 to 20 m, were derived from reported cavity data and engineering inferences and superimposed onto in-service profiles (IRI 0.7 to 4.6 m/km) to simulate sinkhole progression. The discrete wavelet transform was applied to 152.4-m profiles at 0.15-m intervals, decomposing them into seven wavelet levels. Localized increases in wavelet coefficients enabled identification of sinkhole locations, and the method successfully distinguished sinkholes from other pavement distresses with similar wavelengths. Wavelet energy facilitated sinkhole size estimation. The findings confirm IRI as a valuable complementary tool for assessing roadway safety. These findings have potential applications in both pavement management and construction management domains.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2026.106818
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580526000592
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09265805
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Bae, Abraham
  • Park, Joo-Young
• Publication Date: 2026-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 106818
• Serial:
  • Automation in Construction
  • Volume: 184
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0926-5805
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09265805

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Detection and identification; Pavement distress; Risk assessment; Roughness; Sinkholes; Wavelets
• Identifier Terms: International Roughness Index
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01980130
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 20 2026 9:02AM