GPS WITH AN ATTITUDE: A METHOD FOR COLLECTING ROADWAY GRADE AND SUPERELEVATION DATA

This paper discusses the application of using a specialized Global Positioning System (GPS) unit to conduct high speed surveys of roadway alignment, grade and cross-slope characteristics. The system uses a single GPS receiver that has 24 channels capable of monitoring four separate antennas (six channels each). Accurate grades, superelevation, and crown measurements are possible without differentially correcting the GPS data. However, to gather precise positional data that correspond to the roadway measurements, differential correction is required. This paper addresses the design and use of the attitude GPS unit. Accuracy specifications for static testing are provided along with techniques to maximize this accuracy. Kinematic data collection is depicted for a local road and a freeway off-ramp. The use of digital terrain model technology provides promising graphic database representation of the roadway characteristics.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Awuah-Baffour, R
  • Sarasua, W
  • Dixon, K K
  • Bachman, W
• Conference:
  • Ninth Symposium on Geographic Information Systems for Transportation (GIS-T)
  • Location: Kansas City, Missouri
  • Date: 1996-3-31 to 1996-4-4
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 92-103

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Attitudes; Data collection; Digital computers; Digital simulation; Global Positioning System; Highway grades; Kinematics; Mathematical models; Measurement; Slopes; Superelevation; Surveys
• Old TRIS Terms: Road grades
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00727017
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 1 1996 12:00AM