When it is needed
For pavement deterioration, maintenance disputes or determining the scope of further inspection.
What we examine
- Carriageway
- Shoulders and junctions
- Local damage
Materials to prepare
- Section diagram
- Repair documents
- Dated photographs
- Load and event information
Sample questions
- What damage is present on the section examined?
- What are its locations and dimensions?
- Which features allow the development of defects to be assessed?
- Is the damage consistent with the repair information supplied?
- What additional examinations are needed to establish the cause?
Build a set of questions →
How the work is carried out
- Locating the section on site
- Inspection and measurement of damage
- Analysis of technical features
Result
A report with a defect schedule, location diagram and reasoned findings within the agreed scope.
What affects the conclusions
Inspection of current condition does not automatically establish the road's condition on a past date.
Frequently asked questions
Can a short section be inspected?
Yes. Identify its boundaries and the question for which it was selected.
Is a pothole photograph enough?
It helps record a defect, but dimensions, location and condition at the relevant time may need additional data.
A defect record for a road section
The examination begins by unambiguously identifying the road and section boundaries. For every damaged area, identify direction, lane or side, distance from a stable landmark and its diagram label. Coordinates and photographs supplement this location reference, but their accuracy and acquisition date must be understood.
Defects are recorded separately: a crack, pothole, settlement, rut and edge or junction deterioration have different features and dimensions. A general description such as “bad asphalt” does not allow comparison with a contractual schedule or earlier inspection. If only part of an area is inspected, its boundaries must remain clear in the final document.
- The defect number and diagram position.
- Damage type, boundaries and measured dimensions.
- General and detailed photographs identifying the recording time.
- Known information about repairs, load changes and water exposure.
- Condition of adjacent areas relevant to checking the cause.
A current inspection describes condition on the inspection date. A finding about a past date needs material from that time: maintenance records, original photographs, videos and information about changes. If the section was repaired after the event, this is considered separately. A matching location alone does not mean that the damage's dimensions and nature remained unchanged.
For a dispute about the cause of deterioration, define the task separately from defect recording: which explanations are checked, which initial conditions are known and what additional data may be needed.
