CONDITION OF RUNWAYS AT AIRPORT MAPPED BY AERIAL IMAGERY TECHNIQUE AT LOW COST

Technology for inexpensive monitoring of the condition of runways at both civilian and military airports, using aerial imagery, has been demonstrated by Calspan. The technique involves comparison of the red and blue reflectance of the surface area. The new method has been used to map extensive cracking of taxiways and runways at Thule Air Base. The survey correctly predicted both the runway cracking and deterioration found by profilometer traces along the runway, and the flow of subsurface moisture verified by eight borings made in the main runway area for the Air Force Systems Command. Patterns of subsurface drainage in the soil surrounding the runway also were shown. The analysis was done on a unique photointerpretation console designed and built by Calspan for the Rome Air Development Center. The company has equivalent equipment at its Advanced Technology Center in Buffalo for civilian projects. One advantage of aerial imagery is that the data can be gathered without interfering with landing and takeoff traffic. /ART/

• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 2
• Serial:
  • Calspan News
  • Issue Number: 16
  • Publisher: Calspan Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerial photography; Aerial surveying; Airport runways; Costs; Drainage; Forecasting; Mapping; Moisture content; Pavement cracking; Subsurface drainage; Taxiways
• Old TRIS Terms: Aerial surveys
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Finance; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Pavements; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00152365
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 1977 12:00AM